"Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are!" is set in Poland Spring, Maine, where pretty young Marie Duplessis (Diane Baker) strikes the fancy of a smitten Linc (Glenn Corbett), as they prepare for her birthday party. She confesses to Tod (Martin Milner) that she doesn't know who she is, trying to be what every man wants her to be. Lon Chaney co-stars as Poppa Duplessis, Marie's father, who only began paying attention to his daughter after his wife left them both when the girl was only 9 years old. Linc really takes a beating on her behalf, but starts to understand her doubts after she abruptly leaves her own birthday party with another man (Alex Cord). This was Chaney's third episode of ROUTE 66, following "The Mud Nest" and "Lizard's Leg and Owlet's Wing," and one of his last television appearances anywhere. His alcoholic character has a European accent, lost his left hand (shades of "The Alligator Man") working at the saw mill, and bitterly resents his lost wife, but still engenders sympathy at the prospect of losing his daughter, hoping she doesn't turn out like her 'no good' mother.
5 Reviews
Great cast outweighs poor to middling script!
skirner28 May 2023
Others here have criticized the script for this episode and it's not among the best however when you have a guest cast of Diane Baker, Lon Chaney and Alex Cord chewing up the screen I say who needs a great script to be entertained? Half the reason I watch old tv shows like this is to see the guest stars who actually were STARS unlike todays film and tv actors who have lost the classic actors ability to create interesting screen personas.
I love these stars chewing up the scenery a little showing what they can do and showing up modern realist actors who are ultimately rather boring on the screen. I want to see out of the ordinary screen personalities I see enough reality in my life to want to escape a little from it not experience it when I'm trying to be entertained.
Big fan of Diane Baker so just her being in this episode makes it special to me. Add on a classic over the top Lon Chaney performance and it's a real treat. Never a big fan of Alex Cord but he is actually pretty good in his playing a skirt chasing sailer. All in all I enjoyed this episode a lot primarily to revisit old film friends I grew up with and love to revisit.
I love these stars chewing up the scenery a little showing what they can do and showing up modern realist actors who are ultimately rather boring on the screen. I want to see out of the ordinary screen personalities I see enough reality in my life to want to escape a little from it not experience it when I'm trying to be entertained.
Big fan of Diane Baker so just her being in this episode makes it special to me. Add on a classic over the top Lon Chaney performance and it's a real treat. Never a big fan of Alex Cord but he is actually pretty good in his playing a skirt chasing sailer. All in all I enjoyed this episode a lot primarily to revisit old film friends I grew up with and love to revisit.
Curly Howard gets his say....
lrrap16 February 2020
Yep, it's true..... during the big bar-fight, one can easily hear Curly's familiar "UHH!" from Columbia studio's sound effects dept, to which "Route 66" had access. It's one of the few bright spots in this episode.
ANOTHER confused young lady that one of our 2 heroes falls for, who wanders about aimlessly with one of the guest stars (Alex Cord), as she attempts to (get this:) "FIND HERSELF". And just when you thought the writers had gotten past this worn-out plot device.
Lon Chaney, complete with phony prosthetic arm, attempts some sort of French accent, as he laughs up a storm throughout. At least there's PLENTY of close-ups of Diane Baker in her prime, and the authors and director even let Marty Milner spank her in the kitchen in one scene.
In the final scene, Diane decides to leave home to "Find Herself"-- but she's dressed so well you'd swear she's headed out for an evening of fine dining...with the exception of the single, small-ish suitcase she's carrying.
Did they make up this script on the spot??
If it sounds like I'm fishing for something..ANYTHING... interesting about this episode, I am---so I'll stop here. LR
ANOTHER confused young lady that one of our 2 heroes falls for, who wanders about aimlessly with one of the guest stars (Alex Cord), as she attempts to (get this:) "FIND HERSELF". And just when you thought the writers had gotten past this worn-out plot device.
Lon Chaney, complete with phony prosthetic arm, attempts some sort of French accent, as he laughs up a storm throughout. At least there's PLENTY of close-ups of Diane Baker in her prime, and the authors and director even let Marty Milner spank her in the kitchen in one scene.
In the final scene, Diane decides to leave home to "Find Herself"-- but she's dressed so well you'd swear she's headed out for an evening of fine dining...with the exception of the single, small-ish suitcase she's carrying.
Did they make up this script on the spot??
If it sounds like I'm fishing for something..ANYTHING... interesting about this episode, I am---so I'll stop here. LR
10/11/63 "Come Out, Come Out Wherever You Are"
schappe113 January 2016
Diane Baker is back, no longer a mermaid but still alluring. Improbably, she's the daughter of widower Lon Chaney Jr., who is reminded of her vixenish mother. Diane shows some of the same traits, getting involved with Linc and then with a sailor played by Alex Vespi, (better known as Alex Cord- the first of three appearances this season). To quote James Rosin in his book on the series, "in the same manner as in which he sails from port to port, she drifts from man to man. Marie realizes she must find herself." Somehow that involves going on the road like- or with- Tod and Linc. But she's persuaded to stay home to care for her crippled father and try to find herself there.
To be honest, I really didn't get it. She needed to anchor herself and I didn't see why leaving home would give her that anchor. Also, the tepid love triangle in this story didn't suggest that she was all that promiscuous, although maybe they had to just imply it in those days. And Diane Baker, as lovely as she is, isn't really the vixen type.
To be honest, I really didn't get it. She needed to anchor herself and I didn't see why leaving home would give her that anchor. Also, the tepid love triangle in this story didn't suggest that she was all that promiscuous, although maybe they had to just imply it in those days. And Diane Baker, as lovely as she is, isn't really the vixen type.
Subpar
dougdoepke17 April 2015
Linc gets involved with a mixed up girl who can't seem to locate a real self because of a father who despised her mother.
The series amazingly had few stumbles in its 5-year run. In my view, however, this is one of them. There's little or no storyline, the characters are unconvincing, while Baker, Chaney, and Cord spread it on with a shovel. Much of the time is spent with guys punching one another, suggesting that padding was needed to fill out run time. Looks to me as though the murky screenplay should have been sent back to rewrite, or at least for better character set-ups. Unfortunately, the result is a narrative that more or less muddles along. On the other hand, Milner, an always reliable actor, is around to pick up the thespic pieces, while Baker is truly lovely. Then too, live footage from the timber mill is almost scary, with its whirling saws and bark strippers. I hope those workers are paid well. Anyway, every series has its ups and downs. Sorry to say this is one of R66's downs.
The series amazingly had few stumbles in its 5-year run. In my view, however, this is one of them. There's little or no storyline, the characters are unconvincing, while Baker, Chaney, and Cord spread it on with a shovel. Much of the time is spent with guys punching one another, suggesting that padding was needed to fill out run time. Looks to me as though the murky screenplay should have been sent back to rewrite, or at least for better character set-ups. Unfortunately, the result is a narrative that more or less muddles along. On the other hand, Milner, an always reliable actor, is around to pick up the thespic pieces, while Baker is truly lovely. Then too, live footage from the timber mill is almost scary, with its whirling saws and bark strippers. I hope those workers are paid well. Anyway, every series has its ups and downs. Sorry to say this is one of R66's downs.
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