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Post by ZiggyChaos on Dec 9, 2005 12:00:43 GMT -5
I still say as he gains experience more powers manifest or broaden. That would make sense to me, especially since he lost that darned instruction book time and again. As he gets used to certain powers, I think he'd feel more comfortable testing things and seeing what more he can do. I often wondered, though, why he didn't use the invisibility thing more often. He crash-lands in front of somebody or near somebody, wouldn't it make sense for him to make himself invisible almost right away, then the person who saw him wonders if he/she really DID see something? Could you picture the bad guys' faces when he would stop their car, but they can't see anything wrong? Or if Ralph were invisible, then talked to them, like he was voice from beyond or God or some such thing? ;D |
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Post by Maxwell - F.B.I. on Dec 9, 2005 14:33:14 GMT -5
I still say as he gains experience more powers manifest or broaden. I often wondered, though, why he didn't use the invisibility thing more often. He crash-lands in front of somebody or near somebody, wouldn't it make sense for him to make himself invisible almost right away, then the person who saw him wonders if he/she really DID see something? Hey! Come on now. Stuntmen have to work too, ya know! ;D |
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Post by HoudiniDerek on Dec 9, 2005 14:54:18 GMT -5
I still say as he gains experience more powers manifest or broaden. That would make sense to me, especially since he lost that darned instruction book time and again. As he gets used to certain powers, I think he'd feel more comfortable testing things and seeing what more he can do. I often wondered, though, why he didn't use the invisibility thing more often. He crash-lands in front of somebody or near somebody, wouldn't it make sense for him to make himself invisible almost right away, then the person who saw him wonders if he/she really DID see something? Could you picture the bad guys' faces when he would stop their car, but they can't see anything wrong? Or if Ralph were invisible, then talked to them, like he was voice from beyond or God or some such thing? ;D Actually, Ralph does that in the episode where his mom guest stars. He stops a car while invisible and then the guy gets out to check under the hood and Ralph closes it on him. And he has talked in invisibility before...such as the first episode of invisibility.  |
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Post by billswoman on Oct 8, 2006 9:50:35 GMT -5
Okay, "Search" doesn't seem to want to tell me anything, so this would be the appropriate thread to ask, once again... HOW do some of us think the older kid is Bill's?
Someone, fairly recently, gave all the little clues in one neat little post, and I replied with OH, okay! (Or something like that...)
The reason I'm asking is someone on the Culp. board asked just recently about why people think Francisco (if I've got the name right, from a fanfic Missing Scene I read) is Bill's illegitimate son. and the reply of this person was spot-on I think. I will happily cite the source on the Culp. board, if only I could find the thread it's in. It's not in this one (although you think it would be, huh?)
Thanks for any clues on this particular post I'm looking for.
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Post by The J-Man on Oct 8, 2006 19:48:04 GMT -5
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Post by billswoman on Oct 12, 2006 5:26:27 GMT -5
I'm going to throw in my sour grapes and disagree with everyone about Ralph's speech at the end of the episode, it did not stir me. I felt that it was ham fisted, to me it was more like a speech Captain Kirk would have made in an old original series Star Trek episode. With that "swear to the power above" stuff, it seemed more like a lecture Kirk would give to some planet that is just freed from an evil computer and/or finally discovering to think for themselves. -scenario- I think you've nailed it, scenario, about how I felt by the end of the one time I watched this ep. By the time Ralph did his "stirring" speech, I was feeling kinda nauseous, kind of like i felt when Kirk does his big speech at the end of "The Omega Glory," truly one of the worst eps of original Star Trek. As a reminder, that's the ep with the "Yangs" and "Kohms," Captain Tracey (!!!) and people turning to dust from some stupid disease. When they bring out the AMERICAN FLAG, that was sort of the clincher. Or maybe when Kirk starts reading from the US Constitution. What Roddenberry and Culp were thinking, I dunno. I tried watching this ep ("Vanity...") with an open mind, I really did. I'd read about many eps of GAH I didn't see originally or didn't remember, mainly 3rd season, before seeing them (too excited to worry about spoilers, I guess) so I had the basic gist of what goes on. In addition to this nausea by the end, I was also confused. I kept asking myself, Did I miss something? Like when Pam shared in on a holograph... I've still yet to learn when that "ability" manifested itself, 'cause in "Vanity..." they acted like they already knew she could do that. Now that I think about it, I guess this ep is near the top of the list for the worst IMO as well, seeing as I've only watched it one time. |
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Post by mmderdekea on Nov 4, 2006 11:54:57 GMT -5
Hello, all,
I came across this interesting story of Culp/Peckinpah's failed partnership at an I Spy Forum. I put this up at Culpalicious but thought it also would be interesting to folk on the tgah boards. Perhaps you all know about this, but it was news to me:
"At the same time, another project presented itself: an opportunity to work with Robert Culp, who was still trying to cross over from acting into writing and directing. Culp put Peckinpah together with writer-director Lee Pogostin. The three of them would collaborate on a script Culp had written called Summer Soldiers.
Summer Soldiers was set in an unspecified Central American country in 1970. A group of American college students, led by their professor, arrives in the country and heads for the hills to fight for the revolutionaries, who are at war with the government. One of the rebel leaders is an American mercenary, the college professor’s older brother."
Doesn't this sound suspiciously like "Vanity", albeit just changed a little? We know Culp recycled dialogue occasionally, but this seems like in GAH he was trying to recycle the unfortunate failure of this Peckinpah movie.
Summer Soldiers was supposed to be produced in early 1970s by Warner Brothers. It was kind of all set up to go, and then Peckinpah goes on a trip to Europe, calls the Suits (not the green guy ones) at Warner Brothers idiots, and they get mad and cancel the movie plans. Culp begs Peckinpah to apologize to them, but he won't so the movie is dead in the water and their friendship dissolves for around 7 years. They get back together after that, but Culp says by then Peckinpah was heavily into alcohol and drugs, and so he kept his distance.
It seems that when the next series came along, GAH, Culp tried to recycle his movie idea into "Vanity". However, Vanity was a mess, a complete and utter mess IMHO. The unfortunate density of the episode made it an overly melodramatic, flawed story with much innuendo (such as Bill being the father of one of the son's, without any interaction between any character actually proving it), much new information (sleepers, new suit powers, etc.) and little clearly explained. Obviously, now we can understand Culp was trying to fit a feature length serious film adaptation into an hour drama/comedy show--the two simply were wholly incompatatible.
Mona
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Post by MelMac on Dec 5, 2006 9:53:12 GMT -5
I didn't like the episode because of what's been said and the fact of how it ended. It didn't have the same ring of the show with just Bill in the shot. That scene itself (the newsman) too doesn't even ring true IMHO. I never understood why Ralph and Pam weren't in that scene either discussing this with Bill, knowing it was the last one they were filmed. They too were also a reason those two groups worked together in the end. But, since they didn't air it in the original run, it worked fine (though I think they should've shown "Wizards and Warlocks" or "Desparado" over "30 Seconds" for the final ep).
I personally like Ralph's speech in that, while a little ham-fisted, it does have a point. People do need to work together to accomplish stuff. Look at today's society and things like Congress. They don't get anything done because no one agrees to disagree and work together.
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Post by MST3Claye on Dec 5, 2006 12:26:05 GMT -5
I've stated my questions about this episode before. Upon hearing what the plot was somewhat based upon (that being a script for a movie Culp tried to get made) I understand it a bit better. I agree it doesn't seem like a series finale, but the question is was it made before or after they knew the show was cancelled? Some shows have the carpet pulled out from under them before they can or are able to do a series finale episode.
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Post by MelMac on Dec 5, 2006 12:29:03 GMT -5
I've stated my questions about this episode before. Upon hearing what the plot was somewhat based upon (that being a script for a movie Culp tried to get made) I understand it a bit better. I agree it doesn't seem like a series finale, but the question is was it made before or after they knew the show was cancelled? Some shows have the carpet pulled out from under them before they can or are able to do a series finale episode. Based on the order they're in on the DVD and some of the production values with the GG's, it's the last one they made. BTW, I noticed one thing... Ralph had a tendency to wear the same plaid shirt throughout the season. Culp wore the gingham one a few times as well. They were cutting back on costumes somewhat as well (except Connie's I noticed.) |
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Post by MST3Claye on Dec 5, 2006 12:41:48 GMT -5
That goes with a lot of shows though. Plus if you look at the other seasons, Bill only has two suits. Then there's the outfit he wears in several episodes: Hit Car, Reseda Rose, Now You See It, etc. Way off topic but funny to think about. Considering it's a three hour tour, it's amazing how many dresses Ginger brought with her on the S. S. Minnow.  |
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Post by MelMac on Dec 5, 2006 12:47:44 GMT -5
And the Howell's. Good grief, they must've had a premonition or something (too bad no suit. ) But, back OT. I never felt the oldest boy really was his son. It could've been a way to get Bill to help them out too. Not to say that the two didn't have a crush or affair, but I've wondered about it. They didn't totally trust he'd help out with the cause either, given they had to drug his drink on the airplane. Only thing that bugged me with Ralph sharing a holograph with Pam... why didn't they do it in earlier episodes? I mean, if it works for Bill, it could work for Pam or anyone he wants to share it with. Or, maybe in some cases, the suit could let the other see the image without the wearer knowing. This would be useful if the wearer is thinking about using the suit for evil. |
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GAH Geek
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Post by GAH Geek on Dec 11, 2006 14:27:24 GMT -5
I've stated my questions about this episode before. Upon hearing what the plot was somewhat based upon (that being a script for a movie Culp tried to get made) I understand it a bit better. I agree it doesn't seem like a series finale, but the question is was it made before or after they knew the show was cancelled? Some shows have the carpet pulled out from under them before they can or are able to do a series finale episode. I was wondering the same thing as i was watching the episode. It's been a while since i Saw it I think I might watch Season 3 again sometime while my sis is on the 'net, I thought it was ok. I know I'm not much of a ep reviewer person I'll probably add more when i see it again. |
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"FOUR?!"
