Over his first 50 or so episodes, Peter Gunn certainly had some unusual clients with extraordinary requests. However, Wilson Getty (a name that certainly hints at a prestigious past) is, heretofore in this entertaining but formulaic series, one-of-a-kind. One could argue that a low-budget, 25-minute detective show is hardly the venue for an effective exploration of alcoholism, but, actually, in its hard, even brutal, depiction of one night in Getty's life, the simple, quick, and lean modus operandi of PETER GUNN works surprisingly, even shockingly, well. It truly is John McIntire's show, with Stevens providing sturdy and, ah, sober, support. Used to McIntire's strong-as-an-oak characters in THE ASPHALT JUNGLE or WAGON TRAIN, I found his portrayal of the sick, self-loathing Getty to be very moving, indeed. I actually think the DT hallucination opening and later inserts are unnecessary. And this might have been an episode where close ups should have been kept to a minimum. For McIntire's naked performance is truth enough in medium shot. As to the ending, well, I will admit that it's a very clever way of suggesting that, for an alcoholic, each new day really is a test...one day at a time...
3 Reviews
Fill the Cup
Prismark1013 March 2023
A sort of episode that would give you the shakes. Peter Gunn reluctantly takes up a case he did not want to.
Wilson Getty (John McIntire) is an alcoholic. The story opens with Getty having visions of frogs.
He has little money and wants Gunn to keep him sober. Just for 12 hours as his daughter is flying in.
Getty does not want to be drunk when she shows up. It could be an easy job for Gunn, just babysitting.
Only Getty escapes his apartment and looks to beg, borrow or steal a drink. His body is craving alcohol and Gunn has to go looking for him.
The episode looks inspired by movies such as The Lost Weekend. The ending has a potential sting in its tail when Getty meets his daughter.
Although I doubt detoxing is that easy after being off the booze for just 12 hours or so.
Wilson Getty (John McIntire) is an alcoholic. The story opens with Getty having visions of frogs.
He has little money and wants Gunn to keep him sober. Just for 12 hours as his daughter is flying in.
Getty does not want to be drunk when she shows up. It could be an easy job for Gunn, just babysitting.
Only Getty escapes his apartment and looks to beg, borrow or steal a drink. His body is craving alcohol and Gunn has to go looking for him.
The episode looks inspired by movies such as The Lost Weekend. The ending has a potential sting in its tail when Getty meets his daughter.
Although I doubt detoxing is that easy after being off the booze for just 12 hours or so.
A Real Departure
dougdoepke16 May 2014
I expect this 30-minutes was the closest thing to a nightmare to be found on serial TV of the time. That opening is downright surreal—human eyeballs alternating with frog eyeballs with spiders thrown in. It's unexpected and jarring. Getty's an alcoholic and he's got a galloping case of the dt's (delirium tremons). Turns out he's imagining all sorts of nightmarish things. In a fleeting moment of sobriety, he hires a reluctant Pete to keep him off the Jack Daniels so he can meet his daughter at the airport in a reasonably sane manner.
The rest of the episode is almost as nightmarish as Getty escapes Pete and claws for a drink, anywhere and everywhere. Frankly, I'm reconsidering my next glass of wine. In fact, Getty's desperation almost makes the celebrated alcoholic The Lost Weekend, (1945) appear like a walk in the park. I wouldn't be surprised there's a backstory here since the entry works more like a message instead of a mystery. In fact, Pete's almost incidental to the storyline. Anyway Kudos to actor McIntire for a jarringly good performance; plus, that's his real life daughter playing his TV daughter. Also, the ending is quite appropriate and another departure from expectations. All in all, it's basically a one-man show and a real novelty for TV of the time. So don't miss it.
The rest of the episode is almost as nightmarish as Getty escapes Pete and claws for a drink, anywhere and everywhere. Frankly, I'm reconsidering my next glass of wine. In fact, Getty's desperation almost makes the celebrated alcoholic The Lost Weekend, (1945) appear like a walk in the park. I wouldn't be surprised there's a backstory here since the entry works more like a message instead of a mystery. In fact, Pete's almost incidental to the storyline. Anyway Kudos to actor McIntire for a jarringly good performance; plus, that's his real life daughter playing his TV daughter. Also, the ending is quite appropriate and another departure from expectations. All in all, it's basically a one-man show and a real novelty for TV of the time. So don't miss it.
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