40th Anniversary Watch Party

[ConchRepublican]

February 12, 1981

[CBS 9:00] Magnum, P.I. [Reg]: Lest We Forget
Season 1, episode 10

W: Donald P. Bellisario D: Lawrence Doheny
With David Palmer (Dutch Mueller), June Lockhart (Diane Westmore Pauley - 1981), Anne Lockhart (Diane Westmore - 1941), Miguel Ferrer (Bobby Wickes - 1941), Scatman Crothers (Tickler), Jose Ferrer (Judge Robert Caine), Elizabeth Lindsey (Kiki), Sonny Ching (Maku), Patricia Herman (Jessie), Remi Abellira (Moki), Reri Tava Jobe (Hostess).

A man nominated to be a Justice on the U.S. Supreme Court asks Magnum to find a woman he last saw on December 6, 1941, when he was a young Navy ensign and she was a hooker.

So many great things about this episode, one of my favorites of the whole series!

First, the casting of the parent/child actors - June & Anne Lockhart and Jose & Miguel Ferrer was brilliant. I don't know if it was done before, but I hadn't seen it prior. It lends a realism to the visuals that they really couldn't do otherwise. Eleanor Ross, the casting director gets major props for that, she even scored Scatman Crothers!. (note, she was casting director for 8 episodes - Adelaide, All Roads Lead to Floyd, Thicker Than Blood, The Curse of the King Kamehameha Club, Lest We Forget, Missing in Action, The Ugliest Dog in Hawaii and Never Again... Never Again)

The opening scene channeling From Here to Eternity and featuring Glenn Miller's "Moonlight Serenade" set the perfect tone. (Is there a better musical timestamp than "Moonlight Serenade"? IMO it's one of the great recordings of all time and never fails to transport me in time right where they want me to be) Speaking of music, then there's the intro music as Thomas is meeting Judge Caine on the beach (which you can get here: https://magnum-mania.com/Audio/Meeting_Judge_Caine.html which is another one of those great Post/Carpenter compositions.

Next there's the story itself. A show set in Hawai'i has to at least acknowledge the Pearl Harbor attack, especially one that takes place only 30 years later, and this one does it very well. The timeslips (a phrase I stole from Chris Claremont and John Byrne's great Uncanny X-Men run from the early 80s) tell the story and as noted about these early episodes, the editing here shines - much more of a cinematic feel.

The climatic scene where Diane Pauley & Judge Craine are reunited using the backdrop of the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial also lets the show acknowledge the sacrifices and loss of life that day. Classily well done.

Then there's the subplot about the bridge game . . . as always the dynamic between Thomas and Higgins makes even a subpar episode worthwhile but this, this is one of the best in the series. Seeing Higgins and the Lads catering to Thomas is worth the price of admission!

There's also another more subtle under current from the first season that shows up, that Thomas knows a lot of "society" and influential people on the island (think Agatha Kimball in Don't Say Goodbye, ep. 15)

Best exchange:
"Who's playing for Mrs. Ashmore?"
"Why, no one. The funeral is today, the game is tomorrow."
"What a strange little man"

We also get a second appearance of my "white whale" shirt



This is easily one of my most watched episodes of the series.

[ZelenskyTheValiant (Ivan)]

Best exchange:
"Who's playing for Mrs. Ashmore?"
"Why, no one. The funeral is today, the game is tomorrow."
"What a strange little man"

Actually it's Mrs. Blackmore.

But I never understood this line. Magnum asks Higgins who died. Higgins says Mr. Blackmore (the man who Magnum is supposed to fill in for in the bridge game). But then why is Magnum asking about who's playing for Mrs. Blackmore? What does she have to do with the bridge game? Higgins never mentioned her.

It's a great episode for sure and upon closer inspection might actually tie "J. Digger Doyle" for 5th place in season 1.

EDIT: Interestingly these 2 episodes have my 2 favorite Post/Carpenter pieces of scoring from season 1 - "Meeting Judge Caine" and "Rescuing Higgins" (up the Haiku Valley Ladder). Really dig those 2 scores!

[Pahonu]

Best exchange:
"Who's playing for Mrs. Ashmore?"
"Why, no one. The funeral is today, the game is tomorrow."
"What a strange little man"

Actually it's Mrs. Blackmore.

But I never understood this line. Magnum asks Higgins who died. Higgins says Mr. Blackmore (the man who Magnum is supposed to fill in for in the bridge game). But then why is Magnum asking about who's playing for Mrs. Blackmore? What does she have to do with the bridge game? Higgins never mentioned her.

It's a great episode for sure and upon closer inspection might actually tie "J. Digger Doyle" for 5th place in season 1.

Hey Ivan, I think Magnum is assuming that Mrs. Blackmore will not be emotionally up to socializing in a bridge game so soon after losing her husband. It’s a pretty natural response for many people to need some time to process the death of a loved one. Higgins blunt response seems to lack any sort of consideration for her emotions, and Magnum thinks it’s strange of him.

[ZelenskyTheValiant (Ivan)]

Best exchange:
"Who's playing for Mrs. Ashmore?"
"Why, no one. The funeral is today, the game is tomorrow."
"What a strange little man"

Actually it's Mrs. Blackmore.

But I never understood this line. Magnum asks Higgins who died. Higgins says Mr. Blackmore (the man who Magnum is supposed to fill in for in the bridge game). But then why is Magnum asking about who's playing for Mrs. Blackmore? What does she have to do with the bridge game? Higgins never mentioned her.

It's a great episode for sure and upon closer inspection might actually tie "J. Digger Doyle" for 5th place in season 1.

Hey Ivan, I think Magnum is assuming that Mrs. Blackmore will not be emotionally up to socializing in a bridge game so soon after losing her husband. It’s a pretty natural response for many people to need some time to process the death of a loved one. Higgins blunt response seems to lack any sort of consideration for her emotions, and Magnum thinks it’s strange of him.

I guess my confusion is why is Mrs. Blackmore even mentioned as if she's one of the bridge players? It was her husband who was playing, not her. Unless Magnum knows something we don't. Because Higgins never mentions that she's one of the players.

Or maybe I'm overthinking it.

[Pahonu]

Best exchange:
"Who's playing for Mrs. Ashmore?"
"Why, no one. The funeral is today, the game is tomorrow."
"What a strange little man"

Actually it's Mrs. Blackmore.

But I never understood this line. Magnum asks Higgins who died. Higgins says Mr. Blackmore (the man who Magnum is supposed to fill in for in the bridge game). But then why is Magnum asking about who's playing for Mrs. Blackmore? What does she have to do with the bridge game? Higgins never mentioned her.

It's a great episode for sure and upon closer inspection might actually tie "J. Digger Doyle" for 5th place in season 1.

Hey Ivan, I think Magnum is assuming that Mrs. Blackmore will not be emotionally up to socializing in a bridge game so soon after losing her husband. It’s a pretty natural response for many people to need some time to process the death of a loved one. Higgins blunt response seems to lack any sort of consideration for her emotions, and Magnum thinks it’s strange of him.

I guess my confusion is why is Mrs. Blackmore even mentioned as if she's one of the bridge players? It was her husband who was playing, not her. Unless Magnum knows something we don't. Because Higgins never mentions that she's one of the players.

Or maybe I'm overthinking it.

Hey Ivan, I take it that you’re not a bridge player? You are not the T. Magnum who played in São Paulo in 72? I think that year is wrong as I haven’t rewatched the episode yet. Anyway, I’m really not much of a player either, though my grandmother taught me the game many years ago and a friend of mine was once ranked in the nation and still plays competitively.

Bridge is a game of two pairs of players. Mrs. Blackmore and her husband played as a pair, as most couples typically do. This is at least part of why it was so popular as a social game for married couples in the past. In this circumstance Higgins and Mrs. Westmoreland were playing as a pair with both of the Blackmores. She is supposed to be paired with Magnum in the final scene because of her husband’s death. The game rules strictly require two pairs of players. Remember the episode where Rick and TC play as a pair and lose a bunch of money to the two older ladies in Higgins’ production of the Mikado?

Here’s a link to my friend, Jim Nicola and his partner’s results, from a tournament in Las Vegas. He also plays monthly here in Long Beach and, until the pandemic, would stop by when he was here.

http://www.bridgeresults.net/res_player ... yerid=4306

[Styles Bitchley]

Hello!

Haven't been on these boards for a very long time and thanks to your invitation Conch, have returned for a while. Have spent the last few hours here, checking up on things, especially the latest developments re The Estate. We used to go every year and swim in the tidal pool, also over the years had a couple of conversations with Eve Anderson, and met other Magnum fans.
Hard to believe but the last time I was there was 2014 as after that we gave up going to Oahu, much preferring to spend winter time on Maui.

Wish we were anywhere in Hawaii right now as last night here where I live here in Canada, with the wind chill, it was the equivalent of -43C!

Have all my Magnum DVD's raring to go! Take care everyone!

Welcome back! I certainly remember you, but don’t think I remember you being Canadian. I’ve been whining about the cold here too. Our great national pastime. Time for a little mental vacation as I take in this week’s episode...

[T.Q.]

Conch reminded me recently.

Good piece.

http://magnum-mania.com/Audio/Meeting_Judge_Caine.html

[Pahonu]

I’m really impressed with the photography in this episode. The transitions between the 80’s and the 40’s are very well done, not only the opening beach scene with Maku, but also the brothel scene as Magnum and the judge drive by. The real let down though, is the horizontal compression of the Pearl Harbor attack footage from Tora, Tora, Tora. I’ve always found it very distracting.

As I mentioned in previous posts above, this episode also has one of my top five favorite subplots in the series.

I found a very brief thread about subplots from over 7 years ago. We should restart it.

viewtopic.php?t=2920

[ZelenskyTheValiant (Ivan)]

Best exchange:
"Who's playing for Mrs. Ashmore?"
"Why, no one. The funeral is today, the game is tomorrow."
"What a strange little man"

Actually it's Mrs. Blackmore.

But I never understood this line. Magnum asks Higgins who died. Higgins says Mr. Blackmore (the man who Magnum is supposed to fill in for in the bridge game). But then why is Magnum asking about who's playing for Mrs. Blackmore? What does she have to do with the bridge game? Higgins never mentioned her.

It's a great episode for sure and upon closer inspection might actually tie "J. Digger Doyle" for 5th place in season 1.

Hey Ivan, I think Magnum is assuming that Mrs. Blackmore will not be emotionally up to socializing in a bridge game so soon after losing her husband. It’s a pretty natural response for many people to need some time to process the death of a loved one. Higgins blunt response seems to lack any sort of consideration for her emotions, and Magnum thinks it’s strange of him.

I guess my confusion is why is Mrs. Blackmore even mentioned as if she's one of the bridge players? It was her husband who was playing, not her. Unless Magnum knows something we don't. Because Higgins never mentions that she's one of the players.

Or maybe I'm overthinking it.

Hey Ivan, I take it that you’re not a bridge player? You are not the T. Magnum who played in São Paulo in 72? I think that year is wrong as I haven’t rewatched the episode yet. Anyway, I’m really not much of a player either, though my grandmother taught me the game many years ago and a friend of mine was once ranked in the nation and still plays competitively.

Bridge is a game of two pairs of players. Mrs. Blackmore and her husband played as a pair, as most couples typically do. This is at least part of why it was so popular as a social game for married couples in the past. In this circumstance Higgins and Mrs. Westmoreland were playing as a pair with both of the Blackmores. She is supposed to be paired with Magnum in the final scene because of her husband’s death. The game rules strictly require two pairs of players. Remember the episode where Rick and TC play as a pair and lose a bunch of money to the two older ladies in Higgins’ production of the Mikado?

Here’s a link to my friend, Jim Nicola and his partner’s results, from a tournament in Las Vegas. He also plays monthly here in Long Beach and, until the pandemic, would stop by when he was here.

http://www.bridgeresults.net/res_player ... yerid=4306

Ah, thanks. That explains it. You're right, I know nothing about bridge. You could have told me it's a game played on (or under) a bridge and I might have believed you.

[Pahonu]

Actually it's Mrs. Blackmore.

But I never understood this line. Magnum asks Higgins who died. Higgins says Mr. Blackmore (the man who Magnum is supposed to fill in for in the bridge game). But then why is Magnum asking about who's playing for Mrs. Blackmore? What does she have to do with the bridge game? Higgins never mentioned her.

It's a great episode for sure and upon closer inspection might actually tie "J. Digger Doyle" for 5th place in season 1.

Hey Ivan, I think Magnum is assuming that Mrs. Blackmore will not be emotionally up to socializing in a bridge game so soon after losing her husband. It’s a pretty natural response for many people to need some time to process the death of a loved one. Higgins blunt response seems to lack any sort of consideration for her emotions, and Magnum thinks it’s strange of him.

I guess my confusion is why is Mrs. Blackmore even mentioned as if she's one of the bridge players? It was her husband who was playing, not her. Unless Magnum knows something we don't. Because Higgins never mentions that she's one of the players.

Or maybe I'm overthinking it.

Hey Ivan, I take it that you’re not a bridge player? You are not the T. Magnum who played in São Paulo in 72? I think that year is wrong as I haven’t rewatched the episode yet. Anyway, I’m really not much of a player either, though my grandmother taught me the game many years ago and a friend of mine was once ranked in the nation and still plays competitively.

Bridge is a game of two pairs of players. Mrs. Blackmore and her husband played as a pair, as most couples typically do. This is at least part of why it was so popular as a social game for married couples in the past. In this circumstance Higgins and Mrs. Westmoreland were playing as a pair with both of the Blackmores. She is supposed to be paired with Magnum in the final scene because of her husband’s death. The game rules strictly require two pairs of players. Remember the episode where Rick and TC play as a pair and lose a bunch of money to the two older ladies in Higgins’ production of the Mikado?

Here’s a link to my friend, Jim Nicola and his partner’s results, from a tournament in Las Vegas. He also plays monthly here in Long Beach and, until the pandemic, would stop by when he was here.

http://www.bridgeresults.net/res_player ... yerid=4306

Ah, thanks. That explains it. You're right, I know nothing about bridge. You could have told me it's a game played on (or under) a bridge and I might have believed you.

[T.Q.]

Ah, thanks. That explains it. You're right, I know nothing about bridge.

Me neither.

What's WILD?

[ConchRepublican]

Hello!

Haven't been on these boards for a very long time and thanks to your invitation Conch, have returned for a while. Have spent the last few hours here, checking up on things, especially the latest developments re The Estate. We used to go every year and swim in the tidal pool, also over the years had a couple of conversations with Eve Anderson, and met other Magnum fans.
Hard to believe but the last time I was there was 2014 as after that we gave up going to Oahu, much preferring to spend winter time on Maui.

Wish we were anywhere in Hawaii right now as last night here where I live here in Canada, with the wind chill, it was the equivalent of -43C!

Have all my Magnum DVD's raring to go! Take care everyone!

Welcome back Lily!

[T.Q.]

February 19th, 1981

[CBS 9:00] Magnum, P.I. [Reg]: The Curse Of The King Kamehameha Club
Season 1, episode 11

W: Babs Greyhosky D: Winrich Kolbe
With Gretchen Corbett (Christine Richards), Lew Ayres (Sidney Dollinger), Manu Tupou (Charlie Kalo), Herman Wedemeyer (Coroner), Sol Bright (Makua), Elizabeth Smith (Mrs. Macao), Jo Pruden (Doctor), Robert Oldt (Henry Lewis), Remi Abellira (Moki).

Just as Rick is organizing a surf-ski competition to be held at the King Kamehameha Club, an elderly Kahuna appears and places a "curse" on the club and all who use it.

[ConchRepublican]

Best exchange:
"Who's playing for Mrs. Ashmore?"
"Why, no one. The funeral is today, the game is tomorrow."
"What a strange little man"

Actually it's Mrs. Blackmore.

Dagnabbit!

[ConchRepublican]

I’m really impressed with the photography in this episode. The transitions between the 80’s and the 40’s are very well done, not only the opening beach scene with Maku, but also the brothel scene as Magnum and the judge drive by. The real let down though, is the horizontal compression of the Pearl Harbor attack footage from Tora, Tora, Tora. I’ve always found it very distracting.

As I mentioned in previous posts above, this episode also has one of my top five favorite subplots in the series.

I agree . . . as we were talking about earlier in the thread these early seasons, especially this season, just have a more creative, cinematic vibe.