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Reviews
Blue Velvet (1986)
Leave it to Beaver/David Lynch
Director David Lynch's father was a tree surgeon in real life. In one episode of Leave It To Beaver, Wally announces he wants to become a tree surgeon. Bugs and/or exterminators are mentioned several times on LITB. In Blue Velvet, bugs are presented and Jeffery pretends to be an exterminator. A ear is severed in Blue Velvet. In the Big Fight episode of LITB, a kid reports another kid had gotten his ear torn off. Hugh Beaumont played Ward Cleaver on LITB. In Blue Velvet, Kyle MacLaughlin played Jeffery Beaumont. In real life, Lynch was an Eagle level Boy Scout. On the series LITB, Wally and Eddie became Boy Scouts, Beav wanted to. In the art work of David Lynch he often uses dead, decaying animals.Beav mentions a dead cat on the show. Fire is a reoccurring theme in Lynch's work. Beav and Wally are fascinated by fire in the Shadow Lake episode of LITB.Beav is intrigued by magic/magicians and hypnotism/hypnotists. Magic/magicians are often referred to or featured in Lynch's work. Dreams are an important element to the director's work. Beav has nightmares several times on the series. Beav enjoys gory horror movies. Lynch fills his screen with grotesque images. The town of Mayfield in LITB is very much like the town of Lumberton in Blue Velvet. LITB refers to actor Jimmy Stewart several times on the series. Mel Brooks called Lynch "Jimmy Stewart from Mars." It's a strange world. There are many more similarities between Blue Velvet and other works David Lynch with Leave It To Beaver if you just look beneath the surface.
Leave It to Beaver (1957)
LITB and director David Lynch have much in common
Controversial film maker/artist David Lynch shares much in common with LITB. In real life, Lynch's father was a tree surgeon. In one episode of the series, Wally announces he would like to become a tree surgeon.Bugs and/or exterminators are often mentioned on the series. In Lynch's film Blue Velvet,bugs are often presented and one character pretends to be an exterminator. In the big fight episode of the series, one kid states another kid had his ear torn off. In Blue Velvet, a severed ear is featured. Hugh Beaumont played Ward Cleaver. Kyle MacLaughlin played Jeffery Beaumont in Blue Velvet.In real life, David Lynch was an Eagle scout. On the series, Wally and Eddie became scouts, Beav wanted to. On the series, Larry's older sister kept a diary. In another episode, Beav himself kept a diary. In Lynch's television series, Twin Peaks, a character named Laura Palmer also kept a diary. Beav mentions a dead cat in one episode. In the art of David Lynch, dead, decaying animals are some times featured. Wally and the Beav are fascinated by fire in the Shadow Lake episode of the series. Fire is a reoccurring theme to much of Lynch's work. Beav is intrigued by magicians/magic and hypnotism/hypnotists. Magic and magicians are often featured or referred to in the director's work. Dreams are also a reoccurring theme to the director's work. Several times Beav has nightmares. Beav enjoys watching gory horror movies. Director Lynch makes movies filled with grotesque images. Like the works of Lynch, there is more than meets the eye to the series LITB...if you only look beneath the surface. It's a strange world!
Cutter's Trail (1970)
cutter's trail
I have not seen "Cutter's Trail" since I was in about the third grade ('70-'71 school year). I can not logically rate it, but I will give it a high score because I enjoyed it so much back then. There is an episode of "Gunsmoke" that is very much like this movie. Also, just from what I remember, I'd say that the plot, like that episode of "Gunsmoke", bares a close resemblance to "The Magnifance Seven" and the finale to "Shane." This movie was all the talk for days in the classroom and on the playground when I was in the third grade. It seems like it was broadcast twice any way. Manuel Padilla, Jr. was a favorite of kids my age from his work on "Tarzan."
Gunsmoke: The Disciple (1974)
the disciple
The Disciple is one of my very favorite of all episodes of Gunsmoke. Dennis Redfield appeared in several episodes of the series. He always turned in performances that were enjoyable to behold. He seemed to be really enjoying himself; was really having fun. He does not appear here until about one third of the way into the story, but I feel this episode is the best showcase for his considerable talents. Many of his mannerisms, along with his speech patterns, call to mind James Dean. It makes me think of what if "Left Handed Gun" had been made with Dean as originally planned as opposed to the film as is with Paul Newman. James Arness also turns in a wonderful performance, being allowed to do something he was seldom given the chance, to portray Matt as being vulnerable to opposition. Once again, Redfield appears to really like the character he is playing.
Gunsmoke: Mr. Sam'l (1968)
mr. sam'l
I have seen this episode many times. Ed Begley, Sr.'s performance is fantastic. I think it is one of the best guest acting turns on the series. He gives a very multi-layered, heart-felt performance. There is a LOT of plot and back story to be covered. The director does a great job of keeping the story moving forward and not getting bogged down. All of the guests and regulars deliver solid performances. One of the things I like best about this episode is that it is a story of redemption, forgiveness. A story where characters realize the past is a part of the present. A story of shame for one's family turns into pride and where truth overcomes lies.
Gunsmoke: The Deadly Innocent (1973)
the deadly innocent
festus is my favorite character on the show. This episode gives Ken Curtis a great chance to show just how great a character Festus is and what a great character actor Curtis is. Curtis is so related to his character in the minds of the general public it is easy to think of actor and character as one and the same. Outside of the two episodes of the show Russell Wiggins guested in I am not familiar with his work. Here, his character Billy, is not only my favorite of all visitors to Dodge, I think Wiggins turns in not only my favorite performance, but also the most complex and very best of all guests on the show. I wish he had been made a regular on the show. He should have been nominated for an emmy award. I think Wiggins projects the innocence of Sam Bottoms from the motion picture "The Last Picture Show", as well as the isolation of Timothy Bottoms from the same film. Wiggins as Billy turns in one of my all-time favorite performances. If you have seen Gunsmoke episode "A Town in Chains", you have seen another fine performance from actor Wiggins. In that episode he proves he was as good an actor as another of my favorites, Richard Thomas. His two guest appearances on this show are nothing alike proving that even if he did not go on to superstardom, Russell Wiggins was a sensitive, creative, complex, gifted and talented actor. Wiggins is just as great at his projection of being innocent as he is at portraying being deadly. The entire episode is well written, directed, timed and paced. I find something great in it that I have not noticed before every time I view it.