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Sky King: Danger Point (1952)
Story a bit ambitious for 25 minutes, but still a very good Episode
"Danger Point" is a very good First Season Episode, but a notch or two below the other 1st Season shows. The plot is overly complex for the 25 minute Episode frame, and is necessarily rushed to fit the time element. The story is very involved with twists and turns, so close attention is required to stay in tune with the otherwise very good story. This story is also very serious and mature for the young audience of SKY KING, involving murder, fraud, kidnapping, threats, and more, although the excellent scripting allows even the younger audience to follow the action well. Most modern viewers would feel that this story is a bit heavy and mature for the same audience that the ROY ROGERS Show was aimed at. On the other hand, SKY KING's more mature stories easily engaged adults more effectively than ROY ROGERS. It seems that ROY ROGERS scripts were aimed at the younger end of the Saturday Morning TV audience, while SKY KING scripts were aimed at the older end of that audience, up to the adults watching. "Danger Point" does not disappoint as the story is well told and produced, even if the complex tale is a bit too ambitious for the 25 minute Episode format! Season 1 is a superb season overall, and "Danger Point" fits in well with the other stories.
Watch for Mickey Simpson, another character actor with unknown name, whose face was familiar to millions of TV and Movie viewers. Simpson was active from the late silent movie era in 1921 up to 1966. At 6 ft 6 inches tall, the large framed Simpson was often cast in thug, bad guy or heavy roles in the many Westerns, Crime and Police dramas. He was a member of the "John Ford Stock Company", appearing in nine films for the legendary director.
Sky King (1951)
Wonderful TV show from my early childhood
As a child I well remember "Sky King and Penny". I was ecstatic to find this complete series DVD Box set. My memories were only of the later shows using the Cessna 310B (Songbird II). I was thrilled to discover that I had never seen the first 39 episodes using the Cessna T50 as the original "Songbird". I didn't know that the first season (19 episodes) also had "Clipper" Penny's brother (played very well by Ron Hagerthy). Even though "Clipper" worked very well with "Sky" (Kirby Grant) and "Penny" (Gloria Winters), it was obvious as that first season progressed that Kirby and Gloria really clicked with each other with a warm, affectionate, genuine chemistry, so no surprise that the last 3 seasons were "Sky King with niece Penny". Nonetheless, I really liked the character "Clipper", and consider the 19 Episodes of Season 1 to be very special, due to Ron Hagerthy's wonderful way of bringing the character to life.
I expected (as so often happens with young memories) "Sky King" to be not quite as good as my long ago childhood remembrances. However, I was pleasantly surprised. A fun reason is that there are many familiar faces of heavies and bad guys from TV's "Golden Age" passing through as guest stars. But the main reason is because the show holds up very well and I feel would entertain even 6 to 13 year old children of today. As a 64 year old adult, I too, find the show interesting and entertaining. Admittedly, part of the reason is because it allows a "gray-haired-old-geezer" like myself to step back into the world of the 1950's dimly remembered from my early youth! Seeing brand new 1951-to-1959 Chryslers, Dodges, Fords, etc. in pristine condition on screen, almost takes my breath away. Equally fascinating is to see how people dressed, spoke and interacted in the 1950's. I imagine that even many in the younger generations will be as fascinated as I am in time-traveling back to the 1950's.
I rate the show a solid 10 for its superb writing, plot development, character development, and excellent production values for the time. Many of the episodes at first seem too complex to resolve in the short 25 minute Episode frame. But time and again, through superb use of character dialog, the episode advances well and resolves perfectly. Sadly, the image quality averages roughly 6 or 7 out of 10, and I wish it could be much better for such a good show, but we should consider ourselves lucky that such an early TV show survives at all!
The quality of this Boxed DVD set is very good. The small book is informative and the quality of the video/audio is as best as can be expected from an early TV show from the 1950's. Video quality ranges from "good" at best, to watchable-but-substandard, with most being OK. There are about 5 episodes where the source quality was obviously bad, and the remastering at least made those episodes watchable. Sadly, as mentioned earlier, that is all we can expect from the early pre-video-tape TV era.
At the date of this review, Ron Hagerthy is the last surviving member of cast/crew of "Sky King". Kirby Grant was killed in a car accident in 1985, and Gloria Winters passed away of natural causes in 2010. In an interview given shortly before her passing, Gloria spoke very affectionately of Kirby, saying that the two of them had kept the warm Uncle/Niece relationship for the rest of their lives, always in contact and always visiting each other.
As with most "Sky King" fans, "Penny" for me, was one of the more fondly remembered elements of "Sky King". Now after having watched the entire series, I think the real key for "Sky King" success was the genuine affectionate, chemistry between "Sky" and "Penny", backed up by the consistently excellent solid plots and writing, and excellent-for-the-time production values. Yes, the show is dated, and yes it is black and white. However, Sky and Penny will pull you into their world, make you glad you came for a visit, and feel very sorry that the 72nd episode is the final adventure.
Sky King: One for the Money (1952)
Another excellent Season 1 Episode
SKY KING's superb writing and production quality continue to impress in Season 1 Episodes, with well written character dialog and action sequences moving the plot logically and realistically along. This is almost another "10" Episode, but the complex plot requires a bit of rushing to get the story completed in the short 25 minutes Episode format, so the score drops a notch to "9".
In the seven Season 1Episodes reviewed so far, the consistently good scripts and production are impressive, even though there are different writers for each episode. This is a testament to the competent teleplay and script management of the Jack Chertok Production Team.
Kirby Grant, Gloria Winters, and Ron Hagerthy as "Sky", "Penny", and "Clipper" do not seem to be acting in their roles of Uncle, Niece, and Nephew, as the interaction, dialog and teasing is so natural as to seem a genuine family.
Watch for prolific character actor John Doucette, active from 1941 to 1987, appearing in around 300 TV and movie roles. His name may be unfamiliar but his face will be very well known to anyone who grew up watching TV's "Golden Age" in the 50's, 60's and 70's. His stocky build, deep voice and menacing look were perfect for the villain in countless Westerns, Crime & Police Dramas of that TV era.
Sky King: Jim Bell's Triumph (1952)
A "10" Episode with events as current as today
Illegal Immigration, human smuggling, and exploitation sound like headlines current to 2020. Yet this Sky King episode from Season 1 in 1952, delves into a situation that is still relevant today. The episode, which also has the accidental death of a character, is a serious and mature story, and that fact that "Sky King" was a staple of 1950's children's Saturday morning TV surprises our modern outlook. "Sky King's" superb writing continues, as this story's intelligent, logical movement with dialog and action, informs the younger children, yet easily engages adult interest just as well. It is a pleasure to watch a story so well and competently written and produced, that a wide age range of audience can easily follow it.
Veteran character actor Chubby Johnson makes his first appearance as Sky King's ranch foreman Jim Bell. Chubby Johnson was one of the few character actors whose unique persona actually had directors asking for them by name. This unique class of character actor included Dub Taylor, Strother Martin, Gabby Hayes, Andy Devine, Chill Wills, Jack Elam and Slim Pickens. There weren't many others in this unique class, and that class has sadly passed into movie history. Chubby appeared in many TV westerns (Bonanza, Wild, Wild, West, etc) in so many multiple appearances, that his face and persona are well known, even if his name is not. Chubby was active from 1946 to 1972.
Sky King: Deadly Cargo (1952)
Another "10" Episode
An episode almost too complex for a 25 minute "Children's TV Show" from the 1950's, yet the superb writing and excellent character development pull it off very well. Only the 4th Episode into the first Season and "Sky King" continues to impress. Also really noticeable in this episode is the growing strong affectionate rapport between Kirby Grant(Sky King) and Gloria Winters (Penny King).
Watch for Myron Healey, one of those great character actors, who often portrayed bad guys and heavies in Movie/TV Westerns & Crime Dramas from the mid-1940's up into the early 1990's. Healey is another of those great character actors whose name sadly, is often not remembered, but whose face is never forgotten.
Also watch for Charles Stevens, a versatile character actor who started during the first silent days of Hollywood in 1915, acting in "BIRTH OF A NATION"! He was a memorable bad guy in "THE BIG TRAIL" (1930), John Wayne's first starring role, under the direction of legendary director Raoul Walsh.
Sky King: Carrier Pigeon (1952)
Excellent Episode 2
This second episode of a "1950's Children's TV Show" is so superbly written and plotted with excellent character development that the show is a pleasure to watch. The superb writing allows the characters to explain the story and plot, with even the villains getting their chance to explain their motives! An aspiring writer should watch this show to see how to weave a tight, efficient, realistic plot using character dialog! Definitely watch for prolific character actor Lane Bradford, who played TONS of "bad guy & heavy roles" in Movie & TV Westerns & Crime Dramas in the 1940's,50's, 60's & early 70's! You may not know his name, but you WILL recognize his face! Also note the developing, strong instinctive rapport between Kirby Grant and Gloria Winters as "Sky" and "Penny" so early in the show. Ron Hagerthy is an excellent actor, also portraying "Clipper" very well.
Sky King: Operation Urgent (1952)
First TV episode of Sky King
Very good episode that will entertain both children and adults. Intelligently written plot that moves logically within the short 25 minute show framework, and the plot situation is well explained by the characters. The characters and relationships of Sky, Penny and Clipper are surprisingly well formed, and well acted by Kirby Grant(Sky King), Gloria Winters(Penny King) and Ron Hagerthy(Clipper King), this early in the 4 Season run. The villains' actions are well fleshed out considering the short 25 minute framework. It takes very intelligent, competent writing, with excellent plot and character development to achieve such full story development in a short 25 minute show framework. This 1950's "Children's TV show" will not disappoint the adults watching! It is a bit preachy at the very end, but this is a 1950's TV show, and this was common in many shows aimed at children in that era. However, the "preachy" ending does not detract, and may even add to the charm and feeling of stepping back into the early 1950's. After all, this first Season was produced by Jack Chertok Productions, who also produced "The Lone Ranger"!
Sky King: Designing Woman (1952)
A "10" Episode
This is a fairly complex episode for a TV program aimed at children. There is a lot to wrap in about 25 minutes of screen story time. But the superb writing does a great job of accomplishing the task. One of the really good stories of "Sky King" showing how the program could successfully hook adults, even if aimed at a younger audience. A really cute part of the story is Penny's jealousy when "Elaine" shows interest in Sky and is a bit flirty. Penny sitting her Uncle Sky down for a talk is adorable and just warms your heart and makes you laugh out loud at the same time. Gloria Winters is perfect as "Penny", especially the jealous, protective Penny, out to ward off "designing women" away from her Uncle Sky!
Sky King: Stage Coach Robbers (1952)
Excellent Episode
Excellent 1st Season story with very good plot and writing, especially for a 25 minute story that requires fast efficient wrap-up. Look for legendary villain Robert J, Wilke, who played tons of western bad guys on almost every TV western of the 1950's, 60's and 70's. Wilkie had just finished one of his most memorable roles in HIGH NOON, filmed only a year or so ahead of this "Sky King" episode. I really like all the "Clipper" episodes of 1st Season with Ron Hagerthy as Penny's(Gloria Winters) brother. But in even the earliest shows, it is clear that a strong bond and chemistry was developing between "Sky"(Kirby Grant) and "Penny"(Gloria Winters). Likely aware of that strong bond between Kirby and Gloria, Ron Hagerthy chose not to return for Season 2 of "Sky King". Ron went on to a very successful acting career in the 50's, 60's & 70's, post-Sky King, on many of the famous TV westerns during that golden age for TV westerns. Ron made the right decision, NOT to return to Sky King, BUT I still really like him as "Clipper" in Season 1, and consider Season 1 a bit special because of the character.