Comments on: Something About Sydney Pollack http://classictvhistory.wordpress.com/2008/05/27/something-about-sydney-pollack/ Dispatches From the Vast Wasteland Sun, 13 Dec 2009 09:33:39 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Corrections Department #3: Notes on Brenner « The Classic TV History Blog http://classictvhistory.wordpress.com/2008/05/27/something-about-sydney-pollack/#comment-589 Corrections Department #3: Notes on Brenner « The Classic TV History Blog Sun, 23 Aug 2009 18:41:08 +0000 http://classictvhistory.wordpress.com/?p=76#comment-589 [...] composer who supervised the music and probably composed the terrific, minimalist jazz theme, and Sydney Pollack, a bit player visible on the periphery of several episodes as young plainclothes cop – but [...] [...] composer who supervised the music and probably composed the terrific, minimalist jazz theme, and Sydney Pollack, a bit player visible on the periphery of several episodes as young plainclothes cop – but [...]

]]> By: Stephen Bowie http://classictvhistory.wordpress.com/2008/05/27/something-about-sydney-pollack/#comment-102 Stephen Bowie Tue, 03 Jun 2008 16:04:19 +0000 http://classictvhistory.wordpress.com/?p=76#comment-102 An update: TV music historian Jon Burlingame points out that the jazz scores in Pollack's Universal shows probably had more to do with studio music supervisor Stanley Wilson's taste than Pollack's. I'd thought I was safe in assuming that Benny Carter was Pollack's doing because Carter actually performs on-camera in "Something About Lee Wiley," but in Burlingame's book TV'S BIGGEST HITS, "Chrysler Theatre" producer Dick Berg is quoted to the effect that he selected Carter to score that segment. An update: TV music historian Jon Burlingame points out that the jazz scores in Pollack’s Universal shows probably had more to do with studio music supervisor Stanley Wilson’s taste than Pollack’s. I’d thought I was safe in assuming that Benny Carter was Pollack’s doing because Carter actually performs on-camera in “Something About Lee Wiley,” but in Burlingame’s book TV’S BIGGEST HITS, “Chrysler Theatre” producer Dick Berg is quoted to the effect that he selected Carter to score that segment.

]]> By: Brian Cuddy http://classictvhistory.wordpress.com/2008/05/27/something-about-sydney-pollack/#comment-98 Brian Cuddy Thu, 29 May 2008 13:42:50 +0000 http://classictvhistory.wordpress.com/?p=76#comment-98 I saw "The Fliers" when it first aired, but it didn't make a big impression on me. The look of the show was beautifully moody and the cast was fine (Cassavetes, Chester Morris, Carol Lynley, Dabney Coleman, Tom Simcox and Alfred Ryder). David Rayfiel and Lorenzo Semple were credited with the script. The story was about fliers during World War I, and this was a facinating area that hadn't been worked to death by TV. But I honestly didn't find the show as compelling as an average episode of "12 O'Clock High" or "Combat". It was a little slow moving, at least for a teenage boy. I don't think "The Fliers" would have been a success as a series, but, if nothing else, the pilot was extremely ambitious. I'm guessing Cassavetes was more than happy it didn't sell. Cassavetes could be a compelling actor when he wanted to be, but he was a little cold for a series lead. Having said that, I'm a big admirer of "Johnny Stacatto". Pollack directed another pilot called "Diagnosis: Danger" that was an episode of "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour". The writer was Roland Kibbee and the star was talented young Michael Parks. It seemed to be an attempt to turn "Panic in the Streets" into a series. Parks played Dr. Dan Dana from the Department of Public Health. Pollack's direction was fast and jazzy but Park's character wasn't rich enough to make you want to see more episodes. But I became a big fan of Sydney Pollack from the body of his TV work. Right from the beginning, anything he was connected with seemed to have intelligence, ambition and fine acting. I saw “The Fliers” when it first aired, but it didn’t make a big impression on me. The look of the show was beautifully moody and the cast was fine (Cassavetes, Chester Morris, Carol Lynley, Dabney Coleman, Tom Simcox and Alfred Ryder). David Rayfiel and Lorenzo Semple were credited with the script. The story was about fliers during World War I, and this was a facinating area that hadn’t been worked to death by TV. But I honestly didn’t find the show as compelling as an average episode of “12 O’Clock High” or “Combat”. It was a little slow moving, at least for a teenage boy. I don’t think “The Fliers” would have been a success as a series, but, if nothing else, the pilot was extremely ambitious. I’m guessing Cassavetes was more than happy it didn’t sell. Cassavetes could be a compelling actor when he wanted to be, but he was a little cold for a series lead. Having said that, I’m a big admirer of “Johnny Stacatto”.

Pollack directed another pilot called “Diagnosis: Danger” that was an episode of “The Alfred Hitchcock Hour”. The writer was Roland Kibbee and the star was talented young Michael Parks. It seemed to be an attempt to turn “Panic in the Streets” into a series. Parks played Dr. Dan Dana from the Department of Public Health. Pollack’s direction was fast and jazzy but Park’s character wasn’t rich enough to make you want to see more episodes.

But I became a big fan of Sydney Pollack from the body of his TV work. Right from the beginning, anything he was connected with seemed to have intelligence, ambition and fine acting.

]]> By: Griff http://classictvhistory.wordpress.com/2008/05/27/something-about-sydney-pollack/#comment-92 Griff Wed, 28 May 2008 16:29:26 +0000 http://classictvhistory.wordpress.com/?p=76#comment-92 Thank you for your refreshing comments on the Alex Hicks -- er, Dave Kehr -- blog about Sydney Pollack. Thanks particularly about the words about Altman, with which Pollack might well have agreed. Thank you for your refreshing comments on the Alex Hicks — er, Dave Kehr — blog about Sydney Pollack. Thanks particularly about the words about Altman, with which Pollack might well have agreed.

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