This is an updated post to include current links to the referenced YouTube videos.
Here’s an idea for a compilation TV theme song CD; bring together -- on a single disc or set of discs -- the title themes (and, if possible, the best scores) of the classic (and not so classic) television shows that pretty much shared a common plot -- a protagonist who has been falsely accused (or not believed), has escaped, is now on the run, and must prove his or her innocence before being captured or worse!
The following is a prospectus for such a CD project – perhaps others following this board can identify other television shows that would fit this “falsely accused” category but that I’ve overlooked. For this prospectus, the following lists the years (seasons) that each show’s original episodes were On the Tube; the show’s title; the principal composers who scored the show, if not also the show’s theme song; a brief synopsis of the show’s plot (courtesy of contributors to imdb.com); and a YouTube.com link where, in most cases, you can hear a show’s title theme and view its opening (or closing) credits.
1955-59 – The Adventures of Robin Hood (Edwin Astley, Albert Elms & Sidney Russell) – “A long-running series of adventures featuring Robin of Locksley--Robin Hood--and his group of Sherwood-Forest-based freedom fighters. Robin and his men protected England from the evil machinations of Prince John while good King Richard was away at the Crusades.” Written by Marg Baskin <marg@asd.raytheon.ca> (imdb.com)
1957-61 – Zorro (William Lava & Buddy Baker) – “The only son of Don Alejandro returns to 1820s California to fight the corrupt local military. He plays the foppish dandy by day and the masked swordsman Zorro who slashes "Z"s everywhere by night. His horses (black and white) are Tornado and Phantom.” Written by Ed Stephan <stephan@cc.wwu.edu> (imdb.com)
1963-67 – The Fugitive (Pete Rugolo) – “Dr. Richard Kimble, an Indiana pediatrician, is accused, arrested, tried and convicted of the murder of his wife. Kimble claims he was on his way home from a drive when the murder occurred, and saw a one-armed man running from his house upon his return. Kimble manages to escape from the detective assigned to the case, Lt. Philip Gerard, and spends the next four seasons on the run--helping people with their problems and searching for the one-armed man, while running before the relentless pursuit of the police detective obsessed with his capture--Gerard.” Written by Marty McKee <mmckee@wkio.com> (imdb.com)
1966 – Run, Buddy, Run (Jerry Fielding & Morton Stevens) – “Buddy Overstreet was an everyday, ordinary sort of guy... until the one day he overheard a member of ‘The Syndicate’ (a crime organization) say the words ‘Chicken Little!’ Now The Syndicate has decided Buddy knows too much and must be silenced for good. The show follows the comic misadventures of Buddy as he travels from town to town, trying to evade people who are trying to kill him. It is kind of like ‘The Fugitive’, only played for laughs.” Written by Stephen J Cobert (imdb.com)
1969 – The Immortal (Dominic Frontiere & Leith Stevens) – “Test driver Ben Richards discovers his blood contains every immunity known to man--in effect making him immortal. When an elderly billionaire named Maitland learns of Richards’ condition, he hires mercenary Fletcher to track Richards all over the country, capture him, and bring him back to Maitland's estate for periodic transfusions. The series details Richards' adventures with people he meets along the way, all the while fleeing from Fletcher and his goons.” Written by Marty McKee <mmckee@wkio.com> (imdb.com)
1974 – Planet of the Apes (Lalo Schifrin) – “En route to Alpha Centuri at the start of the 1980s, a spaceship is somehow thrown forwards in time, and crashlands on a strange planet. One of the astronauts is dead, but the other two learn that it is 21 March 3085, they're on Earth, and the world is ruled by apes. Upon their capture by the ruthless General Urko, Dr Zaius's new assistant (Galen) discovers that there were other human astronaut visitors, whose very existence was kept secret. He and Zaius want to study them, but when Urko plots to have them shot for escaping, Galen accidentally kills a guard, and becomes a fugitive. Together, they search for the other intelligent humans they think have survived, plus a way to return home.” Written by Cynan Rees <cynanrees@hotmail.com> (imdb.com)
1974 - Kolchak: The Night Stalker (Jerry Fielding & Gil Melle) – “Carl Kolchak was a reporter for Chicago's Independent News Service, and a trouble magnet for situations involving the supernatural. Kolchak turned his investigative skills to vampires, werewolves, zombies and all manner of legendary creatures, but in the end he always failed to convince his skeptical editor, Tony Vincenzo, that the stories weren't products of Kolchak's own overworked imagination.” Written by Marg Baskin <marg@asd.raytheon.ca> (imdb.com)
1974-76 – Run, Joe, Run (Richard LaSalle) – Opening Narration: “WANTED: Male German Shepherd, Black And Tan. Answers to the name of Joe. Accused of attacking his trainer, Sgt. Will Corey. A crime he did not commit. Only Corey can prove him innocent, but he must find Joe before his pursuers track him down.” (imdb.com)
Season One:
Season Two:
1977 – Logan’s Run (Jerrold Immel & Bruce Brougthon) – “This television series portrays a futuristic society where citizens are only allowed to live until age 30. Logan is a Sandman (police assassin) who is 26 years old; he decides to try to escape to freedom and a mythical place called ‘Sanctuary.’ He is pursued by his former friend, another Sandman, who attempts to terminate him.” Written by Tad Dibbern <IBBERN_D@a1.mscf.upenn.edu">DIBBERN_D@a1.mscf.upenn.edu> (imdb.com)
1978-1982 – The Incredible Hulk (Joe Harnell) – “Dr. David Banner is a brilliant scientist but, one day, a lab experiment that he is working on goes terribly awry. Since that time, whenever he is under extreme stress, his body undergoes a transmogrification and he morphs into 'The Incredible Hulk.' The Hulk is about seven feet tall, hugely muscular and powerful, and has bright green skin. After destroying whatever threatens Dr. Banner, he morphs back to normal human form with only amnesia and tattered clothing as evidence of what just transpired. As you can well imagine, this situation is quite troubling for Dr. Banner and causes him no end of problems.” Written by Tad Dibbern <IBBERN_D@a1.mscf.upenn.edu">DIBBERN_D@a1.mscf.upenn.edu> One problem is that Banner (the Hulk) is hunted by an investigative reporter who wants to pin a murder on him.
1984 – Hot Pursuit (Joe Harnell) – “The Wyler's are a successful couple with a bright future until disaster strikes. The misfortune occurs when Kate Wyler is framed and convicted for a crime she did not commit. On her trip to prison, her husband, Jim, forcibly frees her and they go on the run. Now this pair must avoid capture while they struggle to prove their innocence. This task is made all the more difficult with the fact the villians who framed Kate have sent a ruthless hit man on their trail in relentless pursuit in order to silence them permanently.”Written by Kenneth Chisholm <kchishol@home.com> (imdb.com)
2000 – The Fugitive (Louis Febre) – “Dr. Richard Kimble is framed for his wife's murder by a mysterious one-armed man. During sentencing Kimble escapes intending to catch the one-armed man and find out why he was framed. Following in hot pursuit is Inspector Philip Gerard, who is intending to bring in Kimble alive. But Gerard and the one-armed man are not the only thing Kimble has to worry about. The father of his late wife has hired bounty hunters who are willing to break the law to catch him, and in the age of internet tracking and high-tech surveillance, it's not as easy to hide as it used to be.” Written by Ronos (imdb.com)
Fortunately, the scores for a few of these fugitive-on-the-run shows – The Prisoner (Robert Farnon & Wilfred Josephs), The Fugitive (Pete Rugolo), Planet of the Apes (Lalo Schifrin), The Incredible Hulk (1978), and Hot Pursuit (Joe Harnell) – already have been captured on CD. But perhaps this prospectus – and ideas that other readers can contribute – could stimulate production of a CD (or CD set) that would give us a chance to catch up with the rest of the gang of those who were falsely accused and have since been on the run during TV’s silver age.
A colleague kindly suggested "The Incredible Hulk" fits the scope of this "falsely accused" and "on the run" theme. So Dr. David Banner has been added to the original article. Kerry
This is an updated post to include current links to the referenced YouTube videos.
Here’s an idea for a compilation TV theme song CD; bring together -- on a single disc or set of discs -- the title themes (and, if possible, the best scores) of the classic (and not so classic) television shows that pretty much shared a common plot -- a protagonist who has been falsely accused (or not believed), has escaped, is now on the run, and must prove his or her innocence before being captured or worse!
The following is a prospectus for such a CD project – perhaps others following this board can identify other television shows that would fit this “falsely accused” category but that I’ve overlooked. For this prospectus, the following lists the years (seasons) that each show’s original episodes were On the Tube; the show’s title; the principal composers who scored the show, if not also the show’s theme song; a brief synopsis of the show’s plot (courtesy of contributors to imdb.com); and a YouTube.com link where, in most cases, you can hear a show’s title theme and view its opening (or closing) credits.
1955-59 – The Adventures of Robin Hood (Edwin Astley, Albert Elms & Sidney Russell) – “A long-running series of adventures featuring Robin of Locksley--Robin Hood--and his group of Sherwood-Forest-based freedom fighters. Robin and his men protected England from the evil machinations of Prince John while good King Richard was away at the Crusades.” Written by Marg Baskin <marg@asd.raytheon.ca> (imdb.com)
1957-61 – Zorro (William Lava & Buddy Baker) – “The only son of Don Alejandro returns to 1820s California to fight the corrupt local military. He plays the foppish dandy by day and the masked swordsman Zorro who slashes "Z"s everywhere by night. His horses (black and white) are Tornado and Phantom.” Written by Ed Stephan <stephan@cc.wwu.edu> (imdb.com)
1963-67 – The Fugitive (Pete Rugolo) – “Dr. Richard Kimble, an Indiana pediatrician, is accused, arrested, tried and convicted of the murder of his wife. Kimble claims he was on his way home from a drive when the murder occurred, and saw a one-armed man running from his house upon his return. Kimble manages to escape from the detective assigned to the case, Lt. Philip Gerard, and spends the next four seasons on the run--helping people with their problems and searching for the one-armed man, while running before the relentless pursuit of the police detective obsessed with his capture--Gerard.” Written by Marty McKee <mmckee@wkio.com> (imdb.com)
1966 – Run, Buddy, Run (Jerry Fielding & Morton Stevens) – “Buddy Overstreet was an everyday, ordinary sort of guy... until the one day he overheard a member of ‘The Syndicate’ (a crime organization) say the words ‘Chicken Little!’ Now The Syndicate has decided Buddy knows too much and must be silenced for good. The show follows the comic misadventures of Buddy as he travels from town to town, trying to evade people who are trying to kill him. It is kind of like ‘The Fugitive’, only played for laughs.” Written by Stephen J Cobert (imdb.com)
1969 – The Immortal (Dominic Frontiere & Leith Stevens) – “Test driver Ben Richards discovers his blood contains every immunity known to man--in effect making him immortal. When an elderly billionaire named Maitland learns of Richards’ condition, he hires mercenary Fletcher to track Richards all over the country, capture him, and bring him back to Maitland's estate for periodic transfusions. The series details Richards' adventures with people he meets along the way, all the while fleeing from Fletcher and his goons.” Written by Marty McKee <mmckee@wkio.com> (imdb.com)
1974 – Planet of the Apes (Lalo Schifrin) – “En route to Alpha Centuri at the start of the 1980s, a spaceship is somehow thrown forwards in time, and crashlands on a strange planet. One of the astronauts is dead, but the other two learn that it is 21 March 3085, they're on Earth, and the world is ruled by apes. Upon their capture by the ruthless General Urko, Dr Zaius's new assistant (Galen) discovers that there were other human astronaut visitors, whose very existence was kept secret. He and Zaius want to study them, but when Urko plots to have them shot for escaping, Galen accidentally kills a guard, and becomes a fugitive. Together, they search for the other intelligent humans they think have survived, plus a way to return home.” Written by Cynan Rees <cynanrees@hotmail.com> (imdb.com)
1974 - Kolchak: The Night Stalker (Jerry Fielding & Gil Melle) – “Carl Kolchak was a reporter for Chicago's Independent News Service, and a trouble magnet for situations involving the supernatural. Kolchak turned his investigative skills to vampires, werewolves, zombies and all manner of legendary creatures, but in the end he always failed to convince his skeptical editor, Tony Vincenzo, that the stories weren't products of Kolchak's own overworked imagination.” Written by Marg Baskin <marg@asd.raytheon.ca> (imdb.com)
1974-76 – Run, Joe, Run (Richard LaSalle) – Opening Narration: “WANTED: Male German Shepherd, Black And Tan. Answers to the name of Joe. Accused of attacking his trainer, Sgt. Will Corey. A crime he did not commit. Only Corey can prove him innocent, but he must find Joe before his pursuers track him down.” (imdb.com)
Season One:
Season Two:
1977 – Logan’s Run (Jerrold Immel & Bruce Brougthon) – “This television series portrays a futuristic society where citizens are only allowed to live until age 30. Logan is a Sandman (police assassin) who is 26 years old; he decides to try to escape to freedom and a mythical place called ‘Sanctuary.’ He is pursued by his former friend, another Sandman, who attempts to terminate him.” Written by Tad Dibbern <IBBERN_D@a1.mscf.upenn.edu">DIBBERN_D@a1.mscf.upenn.edu> (imdb.com)
1978-1982 – The Incredible Hulk (Joe Harnell) – “Dr. David Banner is a brilliant scientist but, one day, a lab experiment that he is working on goes terribly awry. Since that time, whenever he is under extreme stress, his body undergoes a transmogrification and he morphs into 'The Incredible Hulk.' The Hulk is about seven feet tall, hugely muscular and powerful, and has bright green skin. After destroying whatever threatens Dr. Banner, he morphs back to normal human form with only amnesia and tattered clothing as evidence of what just transpired. As you can well imagine, this situation is quite troubling for Dr. Banner and causes him no end of problems.” Written by Tad Dibbern <IBBERN_D@a1.mscf.upenn.edu">DIBBERN_D@a1.mscf.upenn.edu> One problem is that Banner (the Hulk) is hunted by an investigative reporter who wants to pin a murder on him.
1984 – Hot Pursuit (Joe Harnell) – “The Wyler's are a successful couple with a bright future until disaster strikes. The misfortune occurs when Kate Wyler is framed and convicted for a crime she did not commit. On her trip to prison, her husband, Jim, forcibly frees her and they go on the run. Now this pair must avoid capture while they struggle to prove their innocence. This task is made all the more difficult with the fact the villians who framed Kate have sent a ruthless hit man on their trail in relentless pursuit in order to silence them permanently.”Written by Kenneth Chisholm <kchishol@home.com> (imdb.com)
2000 – The Fugitive (Louis Febre) – “Dr. Richard Kimble is framed for his wife's murder by a mysterious one-armed man. During sentencing Kimble escapes intending to catch the one-armed man and find out why he was framed. Following in hot pursuit is Inspector Philip Gerard, who is intending to bring in Kimble alive. But Gerard and the one-armed man are not the only thing Kimble has to worry about. The father of his late wife has hired bounty hunters who are willing to break the law to catch him, and in the age of internet tracking and high-tech surveillance, it's not as easy to hide as it used to be.” Written by Ronos (imdb.com)
Fortunately, the scores for a few of these fugitive-on-the-run shows – The Prisoner (Robert Farnon & Wilfred Josephs), The Fugitive (Pete Rugolo), Planet of the Apes (Lalo Schifrin), The Incredible Hulk (1978), and Hot Pursuit (Joe Harnell) – already have been captured on CD. But perhaps this prospectus – and ideas that other readers can contribute – could stimulate production of a CD (or CD set) that would give us a chance to catch up with the rest of the gang of those who were falsely accused and have since been on the run during TV’s silver age.
