The Dick Powell Theatre (TV Series) The Losers (1963) User Reviews

And I believe he told me so

[kapelusznik18 · 6/10 · 10 August 2017]

***SPOILERS*** Uplifting saga of two card cheats Dave & Burgundy, Lee Marvin & Keenen Wynn, who after getting caught trying to cheat big bad Mr. Anston, Paul Mazurki, in a fixed card game end up hiding at Mr. Gregory, Dab Taylor, place and soon become religious in meeting blind evangelist Blind Jimmy,Adam Lazrre, his friend & partner on the road Little Tim,Michael Davis,as well as Mr. Gregory's wallflower like daughter Melissa, Rosemary Clooney. Willing to work for peanuts -which is all Mr. Gregory is willing top pay them -for their food & lodging as well as buying Gregory's beat up car for at least twice for what it's worth the two tenants end up getting far more then they bargained for.

It was the kindness of both Blind Jimmy and Melissa that turned the two card cheats around to being straight up and law abiding human beings. That while Mr. Anston and a number of his men were out looking for them in trying to ring their necks for cheating him out of some $1,200.00 in a fixed poker game. It was Mr. Gregory who treated his daughter Melissa like road kill who ended up getting dunked, in a tub of water, by Dave & Burgundy until he finally agreed not to mistreat her like he's been doing to Melissa all her life. This had Melissa come out of her shell and really belt it out, the song "And I believe he told me so", at the local church that brought the roof down.

Even the crabby and unfeeling Mr. Gregory finally saw what a creep he was in mistreating his daughter Melissa as well as anyone he came in contact with and like both Dave & Burgundy reformed from his nasty ways of doing things. With Mr. Anston and his goons now out of the way, by getting themselves lost in the woods, both Dave & Burgundy can start a new life together with Blind Jimmy & Little Tim spreading the good news & gospel all over the countryside to anyone who would listen. And become as enlighten and loving to their fellow human beings ,as well as animals, as they are.

P.S this was the first episode of "The Dick Powell Theater" released after Powell's death with actor Charles Boyer replacing him as the narrator.

One very surprising early Sam Peckinpah's effort.

[searchanddestroy-1 · 29 January 2016]

The first thing I tried in this episode is to find one Sam Peckinpah's trade mark, which we could notice later in his movies for the big screen. And with Lee Marvin, please. Such a shame that the two of them did not even work together after this episode, at least for the cinema. Well, this story is not a western nor a crime story, but rather a sort of comedy drama where Marvin plays a kind of cow boy who is also a gambler who tries to push his luck. Look out for the poker game around the table with the likes of Keenan Wynn and Mike Mazurky, with the still shots to put the audiences in the right atmosphere. I said to myself that Steve McQueen was missing in that scheme, especially directed by Peckinpah. He would have been like a fish in the water with this story, believe me, surrounded by beautiful chicks. One trade mark typical from the great Sam, that we will see later, a slow motion scene, with a fight in a hotel corridor. It is very short, just before a long sequence that looks like a tribute to the Keystone Cops or other slapsticks from the silent era, with a care chase which is really amusing. I admit I did not expect that from Peckinpah, but instead from a guy like Arthur Hiller, who also made some episodes for this show. Lee Marvin came back to this kind of stories a decade later in POCKET MONEY, CAT BALLOU or PAINT YOUR WAGON. Another Peckinpah's little detail I noticed, the sequence when Marvin and Wynn speak at night around the fire, about their empty life, whilst their companion sings on the moonlight with his guitar.

There would be much more to say about this episode, but I prefer you find out by yourself. If you are a Peckinpah's lover as I have always been, don't miss this one. Even if it's miles away from THE WILD BUNCH.

Still Looking For It

[hackraytex · 9/10 · 7 July 2021]

I saw this as a kid in 1963 and I laughed myself silly. I saw the repeat a few months later and laughed just as much. I would like to find it again to see what I missed the first time.

Simply terrible...in just about every way!

[planktonrules · 1/10 · 20 March 2018]

Considering this TV program stars Lee Marvin and Keenan Wynn AND was directed by Sam Peckinpah, you'd expect it to be great. Imagine my surprise when it turned out to be anything but! You really would think Marvin and Peckinpah would guarantee violence and sheer manliness...and you'd be wrong. Instead, it's sappy, boring and just plain awful. There are many reasons why but filling the show with honkytonk music to illustrate it's trying to be funny (there is NO other way you'd know this was the intent!) shows how awkward it all is.

Marvin and Wynn play a couple hucksters who took some poker players for a lot of money. Not surprisingly, the losers are mad and are determined to exact their revenge. To avoid this, the pair embark on a road trip...and the buddy picture fails miserably because it constantly relies on schmaltz...something that Peckinpah seems incapable of doing. Overall, an embarrassment to all involved. My verdict....yecch!