Customer Reviews

Hawaiian Eye

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This series is a baby boomer must. It was the only really successful detective spin-off of the 77 Sunset Strip phenomena in that it lasted more than just a couple of years (Oct. '59-Apr.'63). The original two leads, Robert Conrad and Anthony Eisley, were molded from the ultra-cool Bailey & Spenser genre that worked so well on the Sunset Strip--replete with mandatory sidekicks, babes, booze and bad guys.

I have collected many of the episodes from various classic tv video resources and can confess that the plot lines are all pretty simple, the sets are vintage backlot Warner studios (many "locations" are duplicated in Surfside 6 and 77 Sunset Strip episodes)and only stock film and backdrops were actually Hawaiian-generated. On rare days only did the film crew venture out to an actual location off the WB lot. Fortunately, L.A. also had palm trees and beaches. Yet the snappy theme song and tiki-soaked opening credits always duped one into thinking Waikiki was just around the corner. The opening credit scenes of Conrad, Eisley and Connie Stevens actually surfing a wave in unison is just awe-inspiring. It must have required a hundred takes minimum to pull off that shot.

You could always tell which car company was sponsoring one of these Warner classics. The 77 Sunset Strip guys all drove Ford convertibles, the Surfside 6 hunks buzzed around in Pontiacs, and the Hawaiian Eyes all drove massively chrome-laden Oldsmobiles (with car radio phones!). Nary a BMW in the lot. If you're lucky enough to have some of the episodes that didn't edit out the original commercials, you can stare in amazement at hip people smoking Old Golds and Winstons or waxing down their hair with "little" dabs of Brylcreem.

The show is set at the Hawaiian Hilton Village, which still exists today. The Shell Bar, where pixie Cricket Blake warbled reverb-enhanced pre-recorded tunes to moon-struck audiences, is still around albeit many times renovated since (the bamboo tables have been replaced). The detectives operated from a way-too-cool office off of the hotel lounge that had its own swimming pool and eternally-lit tiki lamps. One can understand why they beat feet to the office every day. Unfortunately, the series began an early decline once Eisley left for what he thought would be a burgeoning movie career, and certainly "jumped the shark" in its last year when the ever-available Troy Donahue joined the cast as the hotel's social director. The writing became a little stretched in order to justify this rather unexplainable addition.

There's been enough buzz directed towards Warner Bros. for them to consider releasing these classic detective series on DVD. I haven't seen any release dates yet, but I guess they're coming soon. It figures, now that I've spent untold dollars collecting so many episdoes with varying degrees of quality and editing. I suggest you snap up a disk as soon as it becomes available, then settle back in your easy chair with a straight-up martini and a smoke and lose yourself in about 55 minutes an epidode's worth of pure hip private eye fluff ala early '60's Hollywood.

Classic television at its best. Acting, sets, costumes, backdrops. With Warner Brothers celebrating it's 50th year in television right now, I've been hoping to hear of this being released on DVD. Can anyone out there offer some good news on this? Amazon customers keep casting your votes so Warner Brothers sees the interest!

I think I'll have trouble improving on the other reviewers here, especially "Rustifer" (hilarious), since I have not really seen the series since it was last on ABC-TV in the sixties.

But certain things stand out in my mind, mainly the tiki-drenched atmosphere of the show and Miss Stevens wonderful songs in the shell bar (the best part). I remember one episode where she sang "Devil in the Deep Blue Sea."

My touchstone over the years has been my old scratchy LP of "Hawaiian Eye," which was finally released on CD in May of 'O6 (Collectables COL-CD-7779. I'm sure Amazon would have it by now). In it you can hear a fine rendition of "Let's Do It" by Connie Stevens as well as other enjoyable numbers by Robert Conrad and Poncie Ponce. I even liked the phrase "...to grace the nation's cathodes" in the liner notes. On CD the album sounds better than ever!

I hope Time-Warner will reissue all the episodes on DVD, but going beyond that, I sometimes daydream that someone will do a classy (high budget, high production values) movie or remake the TV show in modern high definition. This is one black-and-white show that always should have been in color.

By the way, do you suppose Connie Stevens could still sing like that if we asked her?

This one was on last night and Connie was great in it. She sings "Am I In Love?" at The Shell Club. She gets kidnapped and has a few action scenes, as does Robert Conrad. The take he does when he falls in pursuit of the crook is priceless! The sets, cars, costumes and art direction are fabulous in this show! Please release it on DVD. Suggested extras: commentary by Robert Conrad & Connie Stevens. A tiki bar option with cocktail lounge organ songs and 60's surf and bossa nova tunes.

When will HAWAIIAN EYE be available on DVD?? How come WB in not giving a date?? What abt other great TV shows like SURFSIDE 6, SUGARFOOT, THE DONNA REED SHOW, MY THREE SONS, TIGHTROPE, FATHER KNOWS BEST, THE DEFENDERS, MARCUS WELBY MD, BEN CASEY, DOCTOR KILDARE, THE UNTOUCHABLES, THE VIRGINIAN, LARAMIE, TALES OF WELLS FARGO, BRONCO, AND MANY MORE?? All of these classics made their leading stars FAMOUS and WELL-KNOWN WORLDWIDE.

Can the studios explain in some detail what are the problems for NOT releasing some popular shows while others can be released?? Who DOES NOT want these shows to be released on DVD and WHY???

Some great BRITISH shows have also not been relased upto now -- like NO HIDING PLACE, MAIGRET (the original one), Z-CARS, CALLAN, MAN ABOUT THE HOUSE, to name a few. Any dates for DVD releases of these shows??

Rgds/Saifuddin Cader
HONGKONG.

This is the show that launched Connie Stevens career, I couldn't wait to see her each week with her long braid going through a straw hat. I want to own each episode, that I haven't seen since the late 60's when it was in syndication for a short time in the Philadelphia area.

This is a great classic TV series crime drama starring Robert Conrad and Connie Stevens centered in beautiful Honolulu,Hawaii.It's a must see!!!!

I too am anxious for a release of all of the shows. I have found reruns on American Life TV Channel on cable on Monday nights. You may want to check with your cable company. I TIVO each show but they have not shown all of the seasons yet. They dedicate one night to detective shows which include 4 of my favorites, 77 Sunset Strip, Hawaiian Eye, Surfside 6 and Bourbon Street Beat.

Every now and again I check in to see if Amazon have 'Hawaiian Eye', and each time time it's a big disappointment. When will Warner Bros release this wonderful nostalgic show on DVD???????????
We have people out here eagerly awaiting it's release, please put us out of our misery.
I have been more fortunate than most, as I have about 50 episodes on dvd and they are great in quality and sound. Unfortunately I cannot remember where I got them from (it was Australia) and i'm going to be teasing people here, I also have 77 Sunset Strip and Surfside 6, from the same guy, I'll try my hardest to track him down, if anyone is intested.

Add my name to this list! Hawaiian Eye was a gem---a classic, and I am sure that there are plenty of fans who remember the show and would buy it!

I have seen reviews/comments on several 50s and early 60s TV shows that complain of no DVD releases and say there is only a short time left before retirement when people will be able to watch these shows again before "taking off"---Taking off WHERE? RVs and campers and hotel/motel rooms have DVD players...When I RETIRE, I plan to have MORE time to be ENTERTAINED, both by traveling AND by watching GREAT TV shows and movies!

This is one I would like to see released soon! Along with 77 Sunset Strip!