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Route 66: The Stone Guest (1963)
The Darkest Episode of Route 66
"The Stone Guest" is as bleak as Route 66 ever gets, but that doesn't mean it's a bad episode. In fact, it's one of the most philosophical and honest episodes in the entire series.
"The Stone Guest" centers around a friend of Linc's - Ben Belden, played excellently by Lee Philips in one of his two appearances in the Route 66 series - having trouble readjusting to regular life in his hometown after returning from the war. Tod tries to chalk up Ben's failure to Ben's character but, in a rare twist, Tod realizes and admits he's wrong to judge. Tod's conversion is complete when he finds a way not just to accept but, ultimately, validate the life of Ben Belden for the sake of Belden's son, David, who's dealing with anger and confusion over his father.
Christopher Votos plays David and is powerful to watch. He appears to be about seven years old but his face, complete with a black eye from fighting over his father, says everything a person need to know about anger and depression. It's surprising to find that, according to IMDB, this is the only role Votos ever played.
"The Stone Guest" does not have a single happy moment. Not one. It's relentless as it paints a dark picture of how lonely, unjust, and unhappy the world can be. That makes it sound like this episode doesn't have much to offer, but nothing could be further from the truth.
Route 66: Like This It Means Father... Like This - Bitter... Like This - Tiger... (1964)
One of the Better Episodes
A common theme among some of the best episodes of Route 66 is when a character has an unstoppable drive that unfolds as the episode progresses. I realized this when I saw "Like This It Means Father... Like This - Bitter... Like This - Tiger" for the third time recently. It's one of the best episodes where Glenn Corbett's character, Linc Case, carries the weight of the story. From the moment Case enters a bar and thrashes a person who appears to be a stranger, viewers witness a silent rage they hadn't seen since Case's first appearance, in the episode "Fifty Miles from Home." His single-minded mission to destroy the character he thrashes in the first scene is uncomfortable to watch (in a good way, because it's well-played) until the plot introduces the son of the man Case is trying to break; viewers can see Linc come back to consciousness as the son steps up to defend his father. The father is played in a bit corny but interesting way by the actor Larry Blyden, and the kid playing his son, Donald Losby (who doesn't even merit a picture on IMDB), turns in one of the best performances by a young actor in the entire run of the show. Glenn Corbett is underrated by those Route 66 fans who feel the need to compare him to George Maharis, but no comparison needs to be made; Maharis is great in his way, and Corbett is great in his own way. This episode is a chance to appreciate Corbett for what he brings to Route 66, which is solid acting and an open heart.
Route 66: I Wouldn't Start from Here (1963)
One of the Best
The finest acting performance by any guest star in any episode of Route 66 takes place in "I Wouldn't Start from Here." The role of crusty New Englander Arthur Perham, played perfectly by Parker Fennelly, is performed so well that at certain points during the episode viewers will forget they're watching an actor on a television show. This leads to honest moments of real emotion as Perham is forced to deal with the realities of aging and the slow decline of his ability to manage his affairs; unless a person is heartless, the stoic look on his face during an estate auction in the middle of the show might bring tears. Linc, as a boy who grew up with livestock - in his case, a team of mules owned by his grandfather - immediately and intuitively understands and acknowledges the greater intellect of Perham, and the relationship that develops between the two gives Linc a chance to correct what he sees as a failure from his early life. Tod, incapable of escaping his natural sense of superiority due to his education, takes awhile to appreciate the strength and wisdom of Perham's knowledge of a higher reality - the simple, country life. The show's ending is surprising; viewers expect one thing but get something different, just like real life. This is one of the top three episodes of Route 66 and maybe, thanks to Parker Fennelly, the best.
Route 66: And Make Thunder His Tribute (1963)
A Thoughtful Episode
One of the unfortunate aspects of Route 66 is people tend to degrade the episodes that don't involve George Maharis, but "And Make Thunder His Tribute" is a great example of why it's unfair to do that.
Glenn Corbett - in his quiet, non-George Maharis way - brings a lot to the show, and this episode is when viewers get a deeper look into an aspect of his character's (Linc Case) troubled relationship with his father, which had been worked around the edges but not fleshed out in Corbett's first 14 episodes.
The most convincing aspect of this show is the lead character, Mike Donato, thanks to an unbelievably great performance turned in by an actor named J. Carrol Nash. I felt I knew Mike Donato; Nash completely captures what I remember growing up with a *very* Italian uncle. Donato's drive is relentless, and it puts Tod and Linc on opposite sides of interpretations of the nature of fathers. Through this we learn a lot (as does Linc) about Linc's character, and nature.
Lou Antonio is excellent as Mike Donato's son, Tony, with whom Linc identifies and whose actions drive Linc into an introspective look at his own attitudes about his father. The famous character actor Michael J. Pollard also makes an engaging appearance as a beatnik.
People shouldn't dismiss out of hand these later episodes of Route 66, which tend toward the serious and are often a bit more deep and introspective than episodes in earlier seasons of the show. A person can see the country growing up a little on Route 66 even in the way the Glen Corbett episodes start - with a surprisingly identifiable disorientation about the war in Vietnam, of which Case's character is a veteran. This is truly an oddity, given Corbett started on the show in early 1963.
Those who are cynical need to give Linc Case a chance. There's a lot going on in this episode and others with him, like "Peace, Pity, Pardon" and "I Wouldn't Start from Here." People may think the show lost an edge when George Maharis left, but that view is a bit trite.
Route 66: One Tiger to a Hill (1962)
The Best of Route 66
There are several great episodes of Route 66, but "One Tiger to a Hill" is the best. The setting is Astoria, OR, and its reputation as a sea town plays an important role in the plot. Its rich history by the early 1960s had been based around logging in the summer and fishing in the winter, and both physically-taxing professions required rough people with a special kind of single-minded toughness. David Janssen plays the role of Karno Starling to perfection. His angry pursuit of Tod borders on the psychotic, and viewers know something deeper is going on because Karno's rage is supposed to be over a beautiful girl - Toika Gustafson, played well by Laura Devon in one of her two appearances on the show - but Karno had rejected Toika prior to Tod's and Buz' arrival in town. [It's important to note this episode features the return of George Maharis, who missed four episodes at the end of season two due to illness.] Eventually viewers learn Karno's real anger is about Tod personally, but that revelation is just a cover for Karno's more deeply-rooted problems, which unfold as the show progresses. "One Tiger to a Hill" is a mystery wrapped in a mystery, with a resolution that makes perfect sense. Janssen plays a crazed force so well that there are moments when viewers will wonder what Tod can possibly do to get away from him. This is a serious and great episode from start to finish, with a memorable payoff. It's the best Route 66 has to offer.
Route 66: Love Is a Skinny Kid (1962)
Among the 10 Best Shows
Beginning with a character walking down bus steps wearing a hideous mask like something from The Twilight Zone and ending with one of the most surprising character twists of the series, "Love Is a Skinny Kid" is one of the best dramatic episodes of Route 66. Director James Sheldon weaves an interesting storyline among a great cast of actors, including Tuesday Weld, Cloris Leachman, and - instantly recognizable from his grin; smug, in this case - Burt Reynolds. Stirling Silliphant's storytelling and Sheldon's unique mixtures of the past and present on film make "Love Is a Skinny Kid" feel hauntingly sad, similar to the episode "Welcome to Amity." As in that case, Buz and Tod play well-defined secondary characters to, in this case, Weld's angry lead - an anger which is summarized by Buz at the beginning of the episode in fun, Beat Generation-style prose. The fictitious Kilkenny, TX, (actually Seagoville and Lewisville, TX) provided a very sparse and interesting background to match the deadly serious tone of the story, similar to the effect of the small Texas town portrayed in the movie "The Last Picture Show." This is, without question, a compelling episode of Route 66.
Route 66: How Much a Pound Is Albatross? (1962)
The Best Representative Show
Anyone who would like to introduce others to Route 66 should consider showing "How Much a Pound Is Albatross?" to prospective fans. This episode is, on the surface, lighthearted fun but there's an undercurrent of discovery for viewers to experience (maybe even personally) in the lead character, played on a perfect edge by the incomparable Julie Newmar - for most people, the first Catwoman on the original Batman series. Buz' and Tod's freewheeling exploration of America is tame compared to Newmar's free-spirited motorcycle rider, who wins Buz' heart but, in a turn from the usual Route 66 storyline, appreciates Tod's steadfastness more than Buz' advances. Newmar's scenes in the deserts of Arizona with Tod seal this episode as a genuine classic. While most of the Route 66 series is more serious than "How Much a Pound Is Albatross?", this episode feels more at home with its characters' strengths and is very comforting to watch.
Route 66: To Walk with the Serpent (1962)
Among the Top 10
I initially rejected the idea of placing this episode among the top 10 in the series but as I was going through the shows another time around I was surprised to be looking forward to watching "To Walk with the Serpent" again, despite that the episode is unsettling and outside the usual Route 66 spectrum in the same way "The Thin White Line" is easily distinguished from the rest of the series. Aside from the jaunty, oddly appropriate background music - which, I believe is featured in no other episode - I realized the supporting cast is what makes this particular episode uniquely interesting and oddly compelling. Dan O'Herlihy is outstanding as the charismatic lead; the great Simon Oakland makes his only series appearance; Joe Campanella plays an FBI agent with his usual distinctive voice and flair; and even Frank Sutton, famous for playing Sergeant Carter on Gomer Pyle, is excellently cast as a psychopathic lackey. Martin Milner does an excellent job as he seems, at moments, to be pulled into a philosophy at odds with Tod's usual demeanor. An additional note: those who appreciate O'Herlihy's performance here should, if they haven't watched it, see his similarly eerie performance in the movie "Fail-Safe." In short, "To Walk with the Serpent" will stick with a person.
Route 66: The Thin White Line (1961)
Among the 10 Best
"The Thin White Line" had all the earmarks of going embarrassingly over the top but, instead, Martin Milner gives his best performance in the entire series playing the accidentally drugged-up victim of a prank gone awry. After Tod is drugged he wakes into a psychotic break and, for the rest of the show, I was waiting for Milner to go over the top with affected behavior. Somewhat surprisingly he rides a perfect edge, giving a believable and very out-of-body performance, different from anything he did in the series before or after. Tod's break with reality is scary and, at moments, absolutely hilarious. Those who love Buz won't see much of him in this episode but his final scene with Tod is well done and, as often happens on Route 66, solidifies the strength of his relationship with Tod. This is a truly great episode. Someone has to explain to me, however, why a vendor is on an empty street selling hot dogs in almost complete darkness.
Route 66: A Month of Sundays (1961)
Another of the Top 10
I'll write this episode is enjoyable - because it is, in a variety of ways - with an acknowledgement its theme is sad, bordering on melodrama. Despite the plot dabbling with being overwrought, the show is well-acted, and it's an interesting historical document of Butte, MT, which is an American landmark with a very interesting history. Part of the show is spent with Buz and his love interest, very well-acted by Anne Francis, at Columbia Gardens, which opened in 1906 and closed in 1973.
One particularly radioactive example of the problems with this episode is that Tod listens in on what is essentially a confession because he's afraid of leaving and being caught eavesdropping.
Despite its flaws, "A Month of Sundays" is among the top 10 best shows in the series.
Route 66: Welcome to Amity (1961)
Definitely One of the Top 10
"Welcome to Amity" is the first of three appearances in the series by a solid guest star, Susan Oliver. Oliver was also hired to play the female lead in the first show Martin Milner appeared in without George Maharis - "Between Hello and Goodbye," near the end of season two. Ironically, Oliver also played the female lead when Route 66 introduced Glenn Corbett as the permanent series' co-star, in the episode "Fifty Miles from Home." The most satisfying aspect of "Welcome to Amity" is it provides one of the best mysteries in the series. Oliver's stoicism and the anger of the townspeople of Amity is a genuine puzzle; her acting is so good that Tod and Buz are onscreen for just a handful of minutes in the early going as the mystery deepens. This is, without question, one of the 10 best episodes in the series, an episode to look forward to.
Route 66: Like a Motherless Child (1961)
In the Top Three
This is near the top of the best episodes of the entire series. The topic is relevant, and the show remains fresh. This is of the few times Todd and Buz *completely* disagree, and both are right. "Like a Motherless Child" is some of the best work Martin Milner and George Maharis did together, while mostly acting separately. There are also notable performances by veteran actors Jack Weston and, especially, Sylvia Sidney. If you want to watch the series for its drama and start somewhere great, "Like a Motherless Child" is the perfect place.
Route 66: Ten Drops of Water (1960)
One of the Best
This episode is one one the best in the series. It haunts me a bit and will break almost anyone's heart. In short, it's well done drama.
Route 66: Peace, Pity, Pardon (1963)
Dark Times in Tampa, FL
This is one of the oddest and darkest episodes of Route 66 and one of the rare stories that deals directly with the politics of the time. In an odd twist, jai alai, a sport which was being introduced in the U.S. at the time, is at the center of a convoluted plot about Fidel Castro tracking revolutionaries who oppose his dictatorship in Cuba. Alejandro Rey, later the co-star of The Flying Nun, turns in an excellent performance as a man stuck between personal safety and loyalty to family. His appeal as a sympathetic character draws Tod and Linc into the dangerous world of post-revolution Cuba. This is an episode that sticks in a person's memory.
Route 66: You Can't Pick Cotton in Tahiti (1963)
Goof
There's a potential goof in the episode. Julian says the line, "Ask for me tomorrow, you'll find me a grave man," and attributes it to Hamlet. The line is paraphrased and actually spoken by Mercutio, in Romeo and Juliet. It might also be the writer chose to have the main character Julian Roebuck, played by veteran actor Richard Basehart, make this error to add to the viewers' perception he's a con artist.
As for a review of the episode it's pretty much a goof overall, with a plot that makes no sense. Not one of the better Route 66 shows, it might be the result of extensive rewrites due to the absence of George Maharis, who returns for his final appearance in the next episode,