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Review : Peter Gunn on DVD Vol 1
For the last couple weeks I have have been watching a popular TV show in DVD. Not Sex In the City, The Sopranos or Friends but a damn fine show. I have been watching the first season of Peter Gunn. I guess it is in my blood because my dad loved to watch this show when it was new in 1959.
Peter Gunn is a film noir private eye mystery show that is a standing testament to the LA underworld of the 50s. Peter Gunn is a private investigator played by the super cool Craig Stevens. The style is gritty and noir and Peter Gunn is a hard working slick smooth guy who gets his job done. He will sometime get ruffed up by thugs but he comes out on top. He has a favorite night spot where he hangs out called Mother's Bar and he is dating the gorgeous blond singer there.
The world of Peter Gunn is preserved in all posterity but it is still a recognizable timeless American story. They are full of smoky beatnik hipster night clubs and martini sipping dames. The show is shot in black in white but it is done on film and they had a decent budget and set. In fact they shared the same sets as Perry Mason.
Each show is about 40 minutes long and there is a total of sixteen episodes in volume on of the DVD set. There were three seasons made and the first two are out on DVD but since the rights to the third season were on a different network they are not out on DVD. I am borrowing this from Kymberly but I will get my own copy and finally get my hands on Season 2. you can order these on line but you are not going to easily find them in your local mall. Thank god for the Internet and national shipping.
I don't watch this show for any other reason that is is well done and Gunn is a hell of a cool guy. Peter Gun has enough devil in him to be at home in the city and just enough cop to get his job done.
Oh yeah and most folks of my generation will remember the Peter Gunn theme from when it was used in the 80s game SpyHunter.
I sort of see him as a Joe Friday from Dragnet who knows how to relax and actually got laid.
Jake at January 29, 2004 
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Comments
Excellent review, I think you really have conveyed the feel and style. This is one of my favorite series, being a huge Film Noir fan and expert. I would only add that Blake Edwards (the Pink Panther) was the creator, and Peter's hot girlfriend Edies real name was Lola Albright. I just love that name. So Peter Gunn.
Posted by: Kymberly at January 29, 2004 12:49 PM
I also forgot to mention that This was also the first dramatic series to develop a strong musical identity. Henry Mancini's jazzy theme became a big hit, and it was echoed in the moody background music that ran throughout each episode.
Posted by: Kymberly at January 29, 2004 12:53 PM
