Gilligan's Island (TV Series) The Kidnapper (1966) User Reviews

ONCE A GOOFY THIEF, ALWAYS A GOOFY THIEF!

[tcchelsey · 10/10 · 22 October 2023]

King of the insults, Don Rickles is the whole show here, playing a rascally kidnapper who somehow, someway lands on the island and his first victim is Mrs. Howell? Quite naturally, right? He wants ten thousand bucks for her safe return, followed by Maryann and Ginger. Actually Ginger has a higher price, set at $30,000!

Note, Ginger is back to wearing her famous leopard skin dress! These writers always had ulterior motives, at least to attract us teens.

Finally.... we get to see Rickles (known as Norbett Wiley) who confesses he just can't help himself. He's an addicted kidnapper, and a bit on the charming side, gaining lots of sympathy?

By the way, Mr. Howell is carrying $100,000 bills? May come in handy. The wardrobe department is, once again, outstanding and we get to see Mr. Howell's yellow spotted underwear.

Wait for the ending, and with a classy "we forgive you" party. You have to admit, the set decorators had a blast. Where did all the furniture come from? The castaways actually had a million dollar idea, as they designed and built some the coolest bamboo furniture!

A salute to Don Rickles, who actually began his career as a dramatic actor, in such classic films as RUN SILENT, RUN DEEP, starring Clark Gable. But comedy was his destiny, and the rest is history.

SEASON 3 EPISODE 12 remastered dvd box set.

Don Rickles in the title role

[kevinolzak · 5/10 · 19 June 2016]

"The Kidnapper" opens with a ransom note demanding $10,000 for the safe return of a missing Mrs. Howell, which her husband willingly parts with. Next he demands $20,000 for Mary Ann, then $30,000 for Ginger. The Skipper proves too big to kidnap, the culprit revealed to be Norbett Wiley (Don Rickles), who confesses to a life of crime because he's unable to resist the temptation. The Professor remains wary of his many stories, though the others succumb to his outward charm. Eventually he gains his freedom, only to steal everyone blind during his welcome back to society party. Masterful comedian Don Rickles, also a fine actor, was the perfect choice for the kidnapper, but the laughs aren't so plentiful.

Unbelievable

[aqueckboerner · 4/10 · 11 July 2023]

It's strange how the episode starts out with the skipper reading a letter from the kidnapper that doesn't really tell us how Mrs Howell was kidnapped in the first place. And we are to believe Don Wrinkles could actually kidnap anyone especially somebody as big and tall as Ginger. Mr Howe really has that much cash he always carries around? I mean it's very rare for someone to have a $100,000 bill and yet he has three of them he gives Gilligan? And then we see Mr and Mrs with trench coats and leather gloves? Yes we know they brought multiple suitcases with them when they came but why would they need trench coats and leather gloves and a warm climate? And the log should have fell on Gilligan when he picked it up and we really think it was light enough for him to do that? So much stupid slapstick humor in this episode.

Gilligan meets an insult comic who forgets the insults and comedy.

[Ralphkram · 5/10 · 7 August 2018]

Normally the guest stars of GI elevate episodes. Not here. It's not the fault of the guest star, who, unfortunately, is only in half the episode. It's that he is miscast as the character is written. The episode also falls below average because it features way too much exposition; has embarrassing slapstick; tired jokes; and the castaways are hopelessly naïve. Sure, there are some good bits here and there, but, for the most part, the good episode was abducted and this dull, exposition-laden one was put in its place.

Exposition dominates the first act. Despite the title, we don't see any actual kidnapping; disappointingly, it all takes place off-camera, and we learn of it through handwritten notes the castaways read aloud. Our mysterious kidnapper (who has really good penmanship) has observed the castaways closely enough to know they have money; his first note demands ten thousand dollars for the return of Mrs. Howell. A pattern is established where a castaway is kidnapped; two other castaways are handpicked to deliver the ransom; the castaway is returned; and rinse and repeat.

Gilligan and the Professor are tapped to deliver Mrs. Howell's ransom to an oak log. Their rescue attempt leads to a lame, cringe-worthy gag where Gilligan winds up upside down, and the Professor-the Professor!-delivers the punch line. It's not worth the effort.

Our guest kidnapper is very productive. No sooner is the bound and gagged Mrs. Howell freed than he has Mary Ann in his clutches. He's also greedy, as he wants double the ransom for her. Mr. Howell is understandably miffed, but he's persuaded to part with more moolah. He and Mrs. Howell team up on his orders to deliver the ransom. This scene is just as funny as the earlier scene.

More exposition follows. Mary Ann races into the Howell's hut to breathlessly tell them how she was held hostage. Gilligan clumsily reads aloud the latest ransom note; now Ginger has been taken, and this time the kidnapper is asking for thirty thousand smackers.

Evidently, writer Ray Singer doesn't believe things that come in threes are funny. He skips the ransom delivery scene this time and cuts straight to Ginger after her rescue. But he doesn't skip the exposition, as the movie star describes her kidnapping in hushed, dramatic tones. She further explains that her kidnapper's plan is to grab the men next and then take it from the top with Mrs. Howell. The Professor counters with a plan to use our lead (surprise) as bait for him; the trap works, and the Skipper captures the kidnapper.

He's held prisoner in the same cage used in Topsy Turvy. There is even more exposition as Norbert Wiley (subtle), provides his backstory about being a compulsive gambler who lands on the isle to escape temptation, sees the castaways, and naturally turns to kidnapping. All it takes is a little sweet talk from him and the gullible castaways are eating out of his palm.

(Yes, that's why you bring Don Rickles on. For sweet talk).

From there, the episode sputters to a predictable end. Ginger believes he can be rehabilitated; we're given another scene of her playing psychiatrist which plays as convincingly as the other scene. The castaways throw Wiley a party to celebrate his instant turnaround and are fleeced silly for their naiveté.

Do they learn a lesson for future installments? Or does his getaway become a trope?

Do you even have to ask, hockey puck?

COCONOTES:

Don's character of Norbert Wiley doesn't fit him. Yes, he does have a shady side, but he comes off as too mild-mannered and earnest to be believable as a kidnapper. He's the single biggest waste of a guest star since Larry Storch back in season one.

Also his appearance must've been really costly since he's relegated to the second half.

Ginger's creepy telling of her kidnapping comes off like fan fiction. "I struggled and struggled, but he was too powerful for me." Also, she adds that sinister laugh to be cute; to show, you know, that there are no hard feelings from being abducted at knife point.

It's chuckle-worthy when Mr. Howell's pants come down.

Once again, no one stands guard at the lagoon.