Kung Fu (TV Series) Barbary House (1975) User Reviews

Part one - Leslie Nielsen features in all four chapters

[kevinolzak · 7/10 · 29 August 2010]

Season 3 Episode 21- "Barbary House" begins the final go-round for KUNG FU, with Caine's arrival in San Francisco in search of his brother Danny (Tim McIntire), seen fleeing after winning a brief altercation with his unforgiving partner, Vincent Corbino (Leslie Nielsen). Corbino runs the Barbary House, den of gambling and bare-knuckle brawling, keeping a watchful eye on Zeke Caine (John Blyth Barrymore), Danny's teenage son, in the hope that the boy will lead him to his father. Entering the picture is Delonia Cantrell (Lois Nettleton), Zeke's long lost mother, whose General father forced a quick end to her marriage to Danny, receiving custody of the baby in exchange. Caine gets a job in Corbino's kitchen, learns the identity of his nephew, and agrees to fight in the ring to stay close to the boy. When Zeke receives word from his father, his uncle and mother accompany him to the town of Orion to find Daniel Caine. The backstory provided for Daniel Caine is not consistent with the shiftless drifter and thief that we have been told about, nor did the grandfather, Henry Raphael Caine, mention that there was a great grandson (then again, in the episode "Dark Angel," he admitted that Danny's letters were never answered). Scriptwise, there is a definite overdose of sentimentality, and some poor casting choices result in weak acting. 20-year-old John Blyth Barrymore, grandson of the great John Barrymore, son of John Drew Barrymore (and older step-brother of actress Drew), never displayed the talent of the rest of his family, and is easily the weakest link in the entire four-part storyline (his career quickly petered out). And, while Tim McIntire isn't a bad actor, he had already played two different characters in the episodes "An Eye for an Eye" and "The Well." Only 10 years older than young Barrymore, and a full 8 years younger than David Carradine, whose Kwai Chang is supposed to be the younger of the two, the bearded actor remains unconvincing, through no real fault of his own. The entire affair is poorly conceived, with all sorts of new family members turning up in the same place at the same time, it's no wonder that the whole thing never catches fire. Next up- "Flight to Orion"

Kwai Chang Caine long awaiting is about to come!!

[elo-equipamentos · 8/10 · 25 February 2023]

Kwai Chan Caine finally is near to meet his long-awaited encounter is closer, actually in the road when Danny Caine (Tim McIntire) on the run they path crosses for a briefly moment, Caine arriving at Barbary House, he figures out that somehow Danny disappears, then he discovers that his brother had a teenage son Zeke (John Blyth Barrymore, working as washing dish aiming for to be near of Zeke, meantime Caine is perceived by local owner Vincent Corbino (Leslie Nielsen) to be a skillful fighter and demands him for a fight against two strongest men, fearing loosing contact with Zeke Caine under this point he accepts the deal.

Later in a party the charming Lady Delonia Cantrell (Lois Nettleton) approach Caine due he to be close of Zeke, she told the whole truth that a long time ago when was underage she had pregnancy of Zeke from its forbidden relationship with Danny Caine, His Father Cantrell made a deal Danny could keep with the boy, however Delonia had to travel to Brazil looking for a best husband who could afford such upper-class lady.

Soon they receiving a message from Danny whereabouts, then Caine, Zeke and Delonia must find a way to reach him, although the ominous Corbino demands a chase behind them, aside some holes the episode had an auspicious and disquieting atmosphere, where Caine praying for at long last reach his half-brother, wisely the producers split this outcome in four-part to earned the best and possible high audience.

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First watch: 2023 / Source: DVD / How many: 1 / Rating: 8.