"The Pigeon" is a homing pigeon found in the aftermath of a gigantic storm, too weak to fly but with the Professor's nursing care should be able to carry a rescue message to his destination once he's fully recovered. Unfortunately, his owner Burt (Sterling Holloway) is a convict who has been messaging back and forth with a certain 'old lady Hawkins,' and believes the castaways' story to be one of her tall tales. Mr. Howell writes the next message, wrapping a $1000 bill inside, and that also fails to convince. At this point the pigeon becomes trapped in a cave by a giant spider! (familiar to viewers of LOST IN SPACE). No more outlandish than any other episode, as the show nears its premature end.
5 Reviews
Gilligan meets Berty the Pooh.
Ralphkram23 October 2018
If there was ever an episode of this series that felt overly familiar, it's this one. The premise and much of the plot have been lifted from The Sound of Quacking. Just substitute Walter the pigeon for Emily the duck. Besides being in color, the major difference between The Pigeon and the earlier episode is this one has a great guest star who enlivens the whole outing.
In the cold open, Gilligan finds a pigeon under his hat. The Professor identifies the bird as a carrier pigeon. From that point, the story follows The Sound of Quacking beat for beat. Just like Emily, the castaways can tie a note to the bird's leg and send him off to civilization. They nurse him back to health, a process that takes the same two week period as before. Gilligan befriends the pigeon and names him Walter. The castaways get overly impatient in waiting for Walter to take off, overfeed him, and make it impossible for him to fly. Now guilty, they put Walter on a crash diet for another two weeks.
It's not until Walter finally gets off the ground that the episode gets some originality. Walter makes it to his real home, a prison, and his owner Burty, an eccentric prisoner who has a pen of pigeons. A funny correspondence starts between Burty and the castaways, whom he mistakes for his pen pal Old Lady Hawkins. Of course, he doesn't believe their fantastic story, not even when Mr. Howell encloses a thousand dollar bill. Twice, he sends Walter back to the isle. After those two strikes, the castaways smarten up and take a picture of themselves in front of wreckage of the Minnow as indisputable proof they are stranded on the island.
The episode then has a really bizarre detour. Gilligan and Walter encounter a ginormous six foot black morning spider in the cave. The men are overmatched by the monster and trapped alongside Walter, and it's up to the 'helpless' women to bail them out. Led by Mrs. Howell (!), they rig up a contraption with a mirror to scare the spider away. Much like he did in X Marks the Spot, Gilligan shatters their plan. A gruesome ending is diverted, however, when inexplicably Walter saves the day.
With that ridiculous padding done with, it's time for the pigeon to make his third flight. The finish is predictable, but still funny and satisfying, and Walter returns and presumably stays with the frustrated castaways, much like Emily did.
COCONOTES:
Kudos to the great work done by guest star Sterling Holloway, well known voice of Disney characters Winnie the Pooh and Kaa the snake. In what amounts as an extended cameo, he gives a lively, playful, and energetic performance, and is easily the high point of the episode. Love the part where he joyously liberates his coop.
GI stuntman Janos Prohaska portrays the morning spider.
Almost as if they know they only have two episodes left, the castaways don't bother to pursue the spider.
Ginger repeats her 'don't stop for any ladybirds' line from The Sound of Quacking.
In the cold open, Gilligan finds a pigeon under his hat. The Professor identifies the bird as a carrier pigeon. From that point, the story follows The Sound of Quacking beat for beat. Just like Emily, the castaways can tie a note to the bird's leg and send him off to civilization. They nurse him back to health, a process that takes the same two week period as before. Gilligan befriends the pigeon and names him Walter. The castaways get overly impatient in waiting for Walter to take off, overfeed him, and make it impossible for him to fly. Now guilty, they put Walter on a crash diet for another two weeks.
It's not until Walter finally gets off the ground that the episode gets some originality. Walter makes it to his real home, a prison, and his owner Burty, an eccentric prisoner who has a pen of pigeons. A funny correspondence starts between Burty and the castaways, whom he mistakes for his pen pal Old Lady Hawkins. Of course, he doesn't believe their fantastic story, not even when Mr. Howell encloses a thousand dollar bill. Twice, he sends Walter back to the isle. After those two strikes, the castaways smarten up and take a picture of themselves in front of wreckage of the Minnow as indisputable proof they are stranded on the island.
The episode then has a really bizarre detour. Gilligan and Walter encounter a ginormous six foot black morning spider in the cave. The men are overmatched by the monster and trapped alongside Walter, and it's up to the 'helpless' women to bail them out. Led by Mrs. Howell (!), they rig up a contraption with a mirror to scare the spider away. Much like he did in X Marks the Spot, Gilligan shatters their plan. A gruesome ending is diverted, however, when inexplicably Walter saves the day.
With that ridiculous padding done with, it's time for the pigeon to make his third flight. The finish is predictable, but still funny and satisfying, and Walter returns and presumably stays with the frustrated castaways, much like Emily did.
COCONOTES:
Kudos to the great work done by guest star Sterling Holloway, well known voice of Disney characters Winnie the Pooh and Kaa the snake. In what amounts as an extended cameo, he gives a lively, playful, and energetic performance, and is easily the high point of the episode. Love the part where he joyously liberates his coop.
GI stuntman Janos Prohaska portrays the morning spider.
Almost as if they know they only have two episodes left, the castaways don't bother to pursue the spider.
Ginger repeats her 'don't stop for any ladybirds' line from The Sound of Quacking.
Holloway, Wells, Prohaska.
doppleganger1969219 September 2021
A fave episode because of an appearance by the terrific Sterling Holloway, a fave since "Baileys Of Balboa" whose recognizable voice has graced several animated characters including Winnie The Pooh and Kaa in "The Jungle Book"; we get another performance by Janos Prohaska in the big spider costume (recycled many times - Fox used props until they disintegrated - including "Lost In Space", "Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea" and others); and the always-entrancing Dawn Wells models some marvelous outfits that demonstrate why so many of us tripods wanted to be stranded on an island with her.
Love The Pigeon, Hate The Spider
sambase-387733 October 2021
The pigeon part of the episode is cute, adorable, and funny. But the spider is just a big mess. That part was a bad idea right from the start. And the spider looks and moves horrible. That spider is my least favorite thing ever to appear on Gilligan's Island, a show I have loved my whole life.
Sterling Holloway is an absolute joy in this episode. His scenes reading aloud the notes carried by the pigeon from the island to his prison location are priceless.
The professor whips up a health drink for the pigeon because of course he does. He knows exactly what a pigeon needs because of course he does. Thank god for the professor. He could have rescued them dozens of times if not for Gilligan. But we still love Gilligan anyway. Because that's the lesson of Gilligan's Island: love and forgiveness.
Sterling Holloway is an absolute joy in this episode. His scenes reading aloud the notes carried by the pigeon from the island to his prison location are priceless.
The professor whips up a health drink for the pigeon because of course he does. He knows exactly what a pigeon needs because of course he does. Thank god for the professor. He could have rescued them dozens of times if not for Gilligan. But we still love Gilligan anyway. Because that's the lesson of Gilligan's Island: love and forgiveness.
THE GOOFY BIRDMAN OF ALCATRAZ???
tcchelsey22 January 2024
Front row and center here is memorable Sterling Holloway, the voice of so many Walt Disney characters, playing Burt, a prisoner who has a trained pet pigeon?
Guess where the pigeon ends up?
Burt is obviously a kooky take-off on the "Birdman of Alcatraz." He's been sending the pigeon with messages to "Old Lady Hawkins," presumably one of his "supporters," but a storm throws the pigeon off course and he crash lands on the island.
IDEA! While nursing so-called Walter the pigeon back to health, the professor and the gang fit him with messages! When he flies back to Burt, he thinks its a bunch of nonesense the crazy old lady cooked up.
Best line department: Mr. Howell tells his wife, "Money talks and people listen. Take a message with lots of numbers!"
Accordingly, when Walter returns, Mr. Howell includes a fresh 1,000 dollar bill! DOESN'T WORK.
I agree with the last reviewer, there's a strange twist with the introduction of a giant spider, which looks more goofy than threatening. Walter naturally gets trapped in the cave with the spider and to the rescue comes reluctant Gilligan,the Skipper and the professor --who has designed a trap!
This funny episode could actually go on and on, and the spider is hilarious. If the thing talked, that would have been a blast! The spider was featured on LOST IN SPACE and VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA, and probably inspired by the legendary sci fi, TARANTULA (1955).
Michael Kane did a good job directing, although the spider is kind of dopey and clumsy. Kane, whose name was a nod to actor Michael Caine, is best known as a writer, who did the orignal story for SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT, PART II.
And even though the castaways don't get much traction with the pigeon, Burt is finally released from prison. Once again, as is the tradition, there's a happy ending --for someone else!
Sterling Holloway is so much fun to watch, and that famous voice! He would next appear in an Elvis Presley film, LIVE A LITTLE, LOVE A LITTLE, as a milkman? Interestingly, Sterling, who got his start in movies playing country bumpkins and soda jerks in the 1920s, was probably the oldest actor with the most experience to appear on the show. Great trivia question.
From SEASON 3 EPISODE 28 remastered color dvd box set.
Guess where the pigeon ends up?
Burt is obviously a kooky take-off on the "Birdman of Alcatraz." He's been sending the pigeon with messages to "Old Lady Hawkins," presumably one of his "supporters," but a storm throws the pigeon off course and he crash lands on the island.
IDEA! While nursing so-called Walter the pigeon back to health, the professor and the gang fit him with messages! When he flies back to Burt, he thinks its a bunch of nonesense the crazy old lady cooked up.
Best line department: Mr. Howell tells his wife, "Money talks and people listen. Take a message with lots of numbers!"
Accordingly, when Walter returns, Mr. Howell includes a fresh 1,000 dollar bill! DOESN'T WORK.
I agree with the last reviewer, there's a strange twist with the introduction of a giant spider, which looks more goofy than threatening. Walter naturally gets trapped in the cave with the spider and to the rescue comes reluctant Gilligan,the Skipper and the professor --who has designed a trap!
This funny episode could actually go on and on, and the spider is hilarious. If the thing talked, that would have been a blast! The spider was featured on LOST IN SPACE and VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA, and probably inspired by the legendary sci fi, TARANTULA (1955).
Michael Kane did a good job directing, although the spider is kind of dopey and clumsy. Kane, whose name was a nod to actor Michael Caine, is best known as a writer, who did the orignal story for SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT, PART II.
And even though the castaways don't get much traction with the pigeon, Burt is finally released from prison. Once again, as is the tradition, there's a happy ending --for someone else!
Sterling Holloway is so much fun to watch, and that famous voice! He would next appear in an Elvis Presley film, LIVE A LITTLE, LOVE A LITTLE, as a milkman? Interestingly, Sterling, who got his start in movies playing country bumpkins and soda jerks in the 1920s, was probably the oldest actor with the most experience to appear on the show. Great trivia question.
From SEASON 3 EPISODE 28 remastered color dvd box set.
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