One can't help wondering if "The Hunt" originated with someone giving Edwards and Co. a tip about a really great location just outside L.A. As plots for this show go, this is not the most clever and certainly even more implausible than most, but it scores by diverting markedly from its usual comfortable formula. The gas station sequence offers seriocomic suspense worthy of Hitchcock. Solid pro Arnold wins the agoraphobia award with expert staging and storytelling in the superbly stark setting of the 2nd half. I'd be curious to learn of any other example in TV history of an executive producer casting himself to put a hit on his own star.
5 Reviews
Fascinating Cat-and-Mouse in the Desert
dougdoepke13 June 2014
Pete gets taken to the high desert by a hit-man in this first-rate episode. Things start off smoothly at Mothers with the delectable Edie crooning a tune. Seems though that underworld wants Pete out of the way and out of town at the same time. So there's a long two man death drive across the god-forsaken California flats.
Some great staging here. I don't know how they found that rickety old mine, but director Arnold lines the cat-and-mouse with what amounts to almost surreal camera shots. They're fascinating as heck. But then the director is Jack Arnold who shot some of the best 50's sc-fi in the same desert—It Came From Outer Space (1953), Tarantula (1955). So he knows what he's doing. And get a load of Dragnet favorite Ralph Moody and wife who run a filling station from heck. Anyhow, in my book, this may not be the most urbane entry of the series, but it is one of the most suspenseful and eye-catching.
Some great staging here. I don't know how they found that rickety old mine, but director Arnold lines the cat-and-mouse with what amounts to almost surreal camera shots. They're fascinating as heck. But then the director is Jack Arnold who shot some of the best 50's sc-fi in the same desert—It Came From Outer Space (1953), Tarantula (1955). So he knows what he's doing. And get a load of Dragnet favorite Ralph Moody and wife who run a filling station from heck. Anyhow, in my book, this may not be the most urbane entry of the series, but it is one of the most suspenseful and eye-catching.
Gordon Oliver
batjacole112 January 2015
The production values on this episode, utilizing an abandoned mine in the California desert, rate far above the usual studio sets typical of this series. I do think the long drive in Pete's convertible under the desert sun with the top down may have strained credulity a bit, especially with the passengers dark suit and tie, but as the early morning pit stop for gas may ameliorate this concern for heat, the episode does not really give a time-line for the trip.
The real surprise, however, was the casting of Gordon Oliver in a critical role. Mr. Oliver was in fact the executive producer for all 114 episodes of the series, while also producing many popular shows of this period. I guess it was a busman's holiday for him.
Otherwise, I agree with the previous reviewers comments as to this episode.
The real surprise, however, was the casting of Gordon Oliver in a critical role. Mr. Oliver was in fact the executive producer for all 114 episodes of the series, while also producing many popular shows of this period. I guess it was a busman's holiday for him.
Otherwise, I agree with the previous reviewers comments as to this episode.
Holiday episode ---
revbish-331 December 2018
Not only was this a businessman's holiday for the producer, as another reviewer said, but a holiday for the writers as well. The "plot" for this one, such as it is, could have been written by a preschooler. I gave it 1 star above the minimum because of the gas station scene, but after that it should have just ended since the story itself ended.
The Hunt
Prismark1021 June 2023
The Hunt sees a local crime syndicate taking a hit out on Peter Gunn.
Despite getting a warning from Lieutenant Jacoby about a hired gunman. Gunn takes it all rather lightly and is very cool about it.
Then the gunman shows up and he wants Gunn to ride out in the desert. There is an opportunity to radio in for help at a gas station. Only for the jabbering gas owner to ruin the moment for Peter Gunn.
Then Gunn tries to escape from the gunman at an old abandoned mine.
This is a simple episode but not that enthralling. You would think Jacoby might have had Gunn followed, some friend he turned out to be.
The gunman had a convoluted plan to get rid of Gunn. That old mine turned out to be rather convenient.
Despite getting a warning from Lieutenant Jacoby about a hired gunman. Gunn takes it all rather lightly and is very cool about it.
Then the gunman shows up and he wants Gunn to ride out in the desert. There is an opportunity to radio in for help at a gas station. Only for the jabbering gas owner to ruin the moment for Peter Gunn.
Then Gunn tries to escape from the gunman at an old abandoned mine.
This is a simple episode but not that enthralling. You would think Jacoby might have had Gunn followed, some friend he turned out to be.
The gunman had a convoluted plan to get rid of Gunn. That old mine turned out to be rather convenient.
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