Product Details

• Actors: David Janssen, William Conrad, Barry Morse, Kurt Russell, John Doucette
• Directors: Abner Biberman, Alex March, Alexander Singer, Andrew McCullough, Christian Nyby
• Format: Box set, Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 4
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Paramount Home Video
• DVD Release Date: June 10, 2008
• Run Time: 771 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 2.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (159 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0014FAIX4
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #7,936 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

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  Movies & TV > Television > Crime > The Fugitive

• For more information about "The Fugitive - Season Two, Vol. 1" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

• This is item 3 in The Fugitive (TV Series) Series.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
The relentless Lt. Gerard (Barry Morse) has always insisted that capturing fugitive Richard Kimble (David Janssen) was just "unfinished business." But in "The Nemesis," an essential episode that is one of the highlights of this half-season set, it’s personal. An unwitting Kimble has stolen Girard’s car to make a getaway, not knowing that it contains Girard’s young son, Phil, Jr. (Kurt Russell). Phil Jr. is a chip off the old block (he cleverly leaves a trail of his precious football cards to point his father in the right direction), but a selfless act by Kimble raises doubts in the boy’s mind. "You and dad can’t both be right," he questions. This is just one of the compelling human dramas at the heart of one of television’s Most Wanted series. Now in his second year on the run after escaping from the Death Row-bound train, Kimble is "tired of looking over his shoulder… tired of running." In "Escape Into Black," he visits a small-town diner and loses his memory after the gas stove explodes. In "When the Bough Breaks," he hops a freight car that also carries a traumatized woman who has abducted a baby. Until he can find the one-armed man (Bill Raisch) he witnessed running from his home the night his wife was killed, he will have to endure "another shabby room, another lonely night." Not that Kimble doesn’t have his champions. In the season-opener, "Man in a Chariot," a college law professor, argues Kimble’s case before his students in a mock trial. In "World’s End," the daughter (Suzanne Pleshette) of his former defense attorney contacts Kimble with potentially devastating news about the ever-elusive one-armed man and schemes to run away with him. In "Escape into Black," a compassionate hospital welfare caseworker (Betty Garrett) tries to find the one-armed man while Kimble recovers.

The episodes in this set maintain an unflagging pace, thanks to taut direction (the late Sydney Pollack directed "Man on a String," in which Kimble is a very reluctant witness in a murder case) and excellent scripts (George Eckstein, who wrote "Man in a Chariot" and "When the Bough Breaks" would co-write The Fugitive’s final episode, a television benchmark). Among the great character actors who guest star in these episodes include Tuesday Weld as a manipulative and very twisted sister in "Dark Corner," Slim Pickens as a poacher in "Nemesis," and Ivan Dixon as a doctor who discovers Kimble’s identity in "Escape Into Black." The Fugitive taps into the primal fear that was one of Hitchcock’s favorite themes: What would you do if you were falsely accused? Janssen is unforgettable in his signature role as the man whose every instinct is to flee the scene and not get involved with the strangers whose paths he crosses. But we offer viewers the same advice the professor gives Kimble in "Chariot": "All I ask is that you stay around and see what happens." --Donald Liebenson

Product Description
Dr. Richard Kimble is accused to be the murder of his wife. The night before his execution, he escapes. The only chance to prove his innocence is to find the man who killed hi wife. Kimble, persecuted by the Lt. Gerard, risks his life several times when he shows his identity to help other people out of trouble.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

108 of 114 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars This set is closer to FIVE STARS now!, June 10, 2008

By	Harry Gene Neyhart "hgn2001" (North Wales, PA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Back in June of 2008, when this set was first issued, CBS/Paramount had replaced all of the original underscore with newly commissioned music. It ripped the heart and soul out of the show and its fans. But CBS/Paramount wisely listened to its fans, through letters to the company, from online reviews at places like this, and Internet chat forums where the subject was discussed at great length.

In February of 2009, CBS/Paramount announced and instituted a program whereby purchasers of this set could send in their proofs of purchase and receive a revised set with nearly all of the original music restored. Early returns are in among fans, and overwhelmingly this set is now back to where it should be, given the limitations of some "minor" music replacements.

Music replacement is a reality in this litigious society, so if it has to be done, then CBS/Paramount has done its homework and given us an acceptable Season Two Volume One set for THE FUGITIVE. The vast majority of Peter Rugolo's magnificent music cues are back, as are most of the CBS library cues that originated with shows like THE TWILIGHT ZONE and GUNSMOKE. There are minor instances of some apparently troublesome cues now replaced with fairly innocuous newer cues. The important thing is that the soul of the show (the music) has largely been returned.

As Amazon doesn't allow revised ratings in edited reviews, unfortunately, the star rating system for this release will tend to skew lower than it should. I'm unable to change my initial one-star review to anything higher, but if I could, I'd raise it to four-and-a-half.

The video, as is customary from CBS/Paramount is exceptional, and the series has never looked so good. The black-and-white imagery is sharp and clear, with great shadow detail. The original mono sound quality is also good with clear, understandable dialog, and now with the corrected music, is no longer much of an issue.

While there are no extras with these FUGITIVE sets thus far, it's not a critical factor. This series doesn't NEED extras - the show itself is good enough to sustain anyone's interest and holds up well to repeated viewings.

For reference, it took about two weeks from mailing in the proofs of purchase to my receiving the corrected set. By the way, you get a full and complete second set - complete with artwork, improved keep case, and printed inserts, which are now readable on the inside without removing discs!

CBS/Paramount has taken our issue to heart and made good on their promise to put classic TV on a pedestal. Support their efforts with your purchases of this exceptional series on DVD.

114 of 121 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars AVOID AVOID AVOID, June 10, 2008

By	Eddie Kasica (New York City) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

One more time: AVOID!

Believe it or not, these 15 episodes from "The Fugitve" Season Two are without music! Yes, all of Pete Rugolo's gorgeous, Emmy-winning score -- REMOVED!

No, I'm not talking about some background jukebox stuff, but the very heart and soul of the series, the dramatic score itself.

Absolutely the DVD Defamation of the Year!

41 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Worse desecration than colorization, July 16, 2008

By	Brian R. Greenhalgh (Bangkok, Thailand) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I really did not like the concept of colorization, but at least when Ted Turner issued a colorized version he also issued a straight B&W one, often bringing some titles out for the first time and making them available. The buyer had a choice, but not so with this edition of "The Fugitive" TV series. No choice is possible as only this altered version of the 15 episodes with new music is on offer. I purchased it before I realized this was the case. I actually need a magnifying glass to read the disclaimer on the back as it is in as small a font as possible without disappearing from view, "Some music has been changed for the home entertainment version." From what I gather from CBS Video's own admission is that "ALL" the background music has been replaced, so this is not only almost hidden, it is not honest and would not fit into very many people's definition of "truth in advertising." But even more dishonest is the fact that in a much larger font and all caps and in a much more prominant place on the back cover is the statement, "TRANSFERRED FROM THE ORIGINAL NEGATIVE WITH RESTORED AUDIO"... As I have read from another review, this is not a "restoration" as the audio portion should really be termed "desecrated" as the music is not restored at all. To restore something in my opinion is to bring it back as close to the original as possible, not re-do it almost entirely.

The only way I know to really get the attention of the marketing folk at CBS is to vote with our pocketbooks. I will not buy any future releases that have altered music such as this volume. The majority of people posting reviews here are very disturbed by this release and I would guess sales have been affected compared to the prior two volumes where the background music was in place. I have to wonder what legal difference there was between the first and second seasons to make this change necessary. I would guess that it would not be hard to resolve any issues. The point is that after lulling purchasers into expecting the original music found in the prior released volumes, which both carried the same disclaimer phrase but in larger type, there is no real warning before purchase except in forums such as this. I can read the phrase on both earlier volumes without the magnifying glass, especially the first volume where all caps have been used. I find it ironic that it can be read on the versions with the background music intact, and is barely legible on the one where all the background music has been replaced. Was this the intent, to dupe unsuspecting buyers? Whatever the case I feel defrauded.

Perhaps there is a chance that the popular opinion of fans of the series, my all-time favorite, will hold sway and we can get essentially orginal versions in the future. Reduced sales would help send the message.