Television's longest-running chase story, The Fugitive was a
dramatically charged show that followed Dr. Richard Kimble on his
quest to prove his innocence and find his wife's one-armed killer.
A product of veteran television producer-writer Roy Huggins
(Maverick, The Rockford Files) and Quinn Martin, a newcomer
producer, the series aired for four seasons between 1963 and 1967
on the ABC network. In The Fugitive, author David P. Pierson
examines the creation of the series and its dominant social
discourses and themes, along with the industry producers, writers,
and actors who made it one of the most memorable and influential
shows in 1960s American television. In The Fugitive, Pierson
discusses the context of the series' creation at a time when
federal regulators were forcing the three major television networks
to broadcast adult programs with less physical violence. Pierson
also offers a unique analysis of the major themes represented in
The Fugitive's episodes, such as individualism, love and marriage,
the culture of professionalism, modern science and technology, and
social justice and authority, along with how these themes connected
to ongoing social and cultural struggles taking place in American
society in the 1960s. The book explores the reasons why The
Fugitive was so popular with audiences of the 1960s, and suggests
that one of the strongest appeals of the series is the memorable,
poignant performance by David Janssen as Richard Kimble. Pierson
also argues that The Fugitive established the narrative and
thematic grounds for the "wanderer-redeemer television tradition,"
whose influence he links to later series like Run for Your Life,
Then Came Bronson, The Incredible Hulk, Highway to Heaven, Quantum
Leap, and Touched by an Angel. Pierson concludes by examining the
similarities and differences between The Fugitive and the 1993
feature film based on the series. After a finale that held the
record for the highest share of American homes with television sets
tuned in, the series ended, but not without creating a cultural and
programming legacy. Fans of the show and scholars of television
history and American popular culture will enjoy this informative
study.
General
Imprint: |
Wayne State University Press
|
Country of origin: |
United States |
Series: |
TV Milestones Series |
Release date: |
November 2011 |
First published: |
December 2011 |
Authors: |
David P Pierson
|
Dimensions: |
178 x 127 x 10mm (L x W x T) |
Format: |
Paperback
|
Pages: |
136 |
ISBN-13: |
978-0-8143-3429-4 |
Categories: |
Books >
Arts & Architecture >
Performing arts >
Television
Promotions
|
LSN: |
0-8143-3429-6 |
Barcode: |
9780814334294 |
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