This was the coolest series of its time. Yes, you can argue that the Man from UNCLE, Mission Impossible, and the Avengers were also good, but this show was so unique. Take a western, mix with the spy genre, add a dash of steampunk (i.e. Jules Verne, H.G. Wells), a teaspoon of comedy, and 1 3/4 cups of stunts and you have a show unlike any other.
Robert Conrad and Ross Martin were unparalleled as Secret Service agents Jim West and Artemis Gordon, operating from their gadget-laden private train. They had tremendous chemistry and handled all aspects (comedy, drama, action) with equal skill. Michael Dunn was inspired as the diabolical genius Dr. Miguelito Loveless, whose genius far outreaches his stature. Dunn was a fantastic performer who could both sing and act beautifully.
The stories were inventive; mixing madmen, crooks, and murderers with science-fiction elements and cool gadgets. Who can forget the sleeve gun, the boot knife, the pool cue swords, etc. We had ironclads, submarines, super cannons, flying saucers and other futuristic devices.
The various elements that make up a tv show all had a unique spin here. We had the animated title sequence which gave way to the chapter breaks, as the story progressed. There was the wonderful theme song, the costumes, the make up, and the great stunt work. Everything about this show was quality.
I greatly miss this show and if there was ever a show deserving a dvd release, this is the one. The less said about that abomination of a film, the better.
