"Quantum Leap" Jimmy - October 14, 1964 (1989)

User Rating:

8.6/10   

Director:

James Whitmore Jr.

Writers:

Donald P. Bellisario (creator) and
Paul M. Belous (writer)

TV Series:

"Quantum Leap" (1989)

Original Air Date:

22 November 1989 (Season 2, Episode 8)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Family | Mystery | Sci-Fi

Plot:

Sam leaps into a young retarded man and has to keep him out of an institution.

Plot Keywords:

1960s | Character Name In Title | Number In Title | Time Travel | Amnesia

Cast

Scott Bakula	...	Dr. Sam Beckett
Dean Stockwell	...	Admiral Al Calavicci
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Michael Alldredge	...	Charlie Samuels
John D'Aquino	...	Frank LaMotta (as John DiAquino)
Laura Harrington	...	Connie LaMotta
Michael Madsen	...	Blue
Ryan McWhorter	...	Corey LaMotta
Brad Silverman	...	Jimmy LaMotta

Runtime:

60 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Company:

Belisarius Productions

Trivia:

Al had a mentally retarded sister named Trudy who was in a mental hospital. She died in 1953, and the institution claimed it was from pneumonia.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: While Jimmy (Sam) and his brother share their lunch on the pier at work, the brother grabs an individually wrapped Twinkie from Jimmy. Twinkies did not come individually wrapped in 1964. You could only purchase them in a twin-pack.

Quotes:

Al: There was a girl named Trudy. She was retarded, Sam. Her IQ was lower than Jimmy's. And all the kids in the neighborhood used to tease her. Kids can be cruel-call her names like dumby and monkey face. And I hated it, and I used to get in fights all the time over this...

we could learn from this one

*this comment assumes you know the plot and will not be offended at giving plot points*

This is a great episode with more heart than actual humor and a topic and lesson we could all stand to learn from. at this point Sam's memory is still pretty swiss-cheesed but that does not affect his conscience or his knowledge of people. in all of his leaps, I'd say this is his first real struggle. it is his task here to conquer human nature in a way. let's face it we do tend to fear what we don't understand and sometimes would rather *not* see what's in front of our faces. here Sam has a chance to change that or at least improve it.

Personally, i think one of the main reasons that this is such a good episode is that in one slightly emotionally tense scene(soliloquy really) we learn a bit about Al's past and exactly why he is holding on to this case so hard. it seems that a case of mental retardation in his own family resulted not only in separation but in tragedy. separation in this sense is tragedy I know but there is more to this story point than that.

it would be an interesting psychology or human behavior lesson to watch this episode and try to determine the motives of each character before they are revealed. but watching it for the sheer force and exciting(as well as entertaining) events works too. the glimpse into the next leap that comes in every episode had me hooked to find out. perhaps it will have the same effect on you? 5 of 5 stars!