MovieChat Forums > The Fugitive (1963) Discussion > Why different dates for 'The day the run...

Why different dates for 'The day the running stopped'?

posted 11 years ago by marmac2768
13 replies | jump to latest

I was watching an episode of The Fugitive this evening on MeTV. My Dad used to love this series, years ago. I remember it coming on a syndicated channel a few years ago and watching the last and final episodes. I quickly got a videotape out and taped both parts of the show. At the very end, where Kimble walks out of court as a free man, the wonderful voice of the narrator comes out and says, 'Tuesday, September 19, 1967, the day the running stopped". I remember vividly thinking, Wow! That was my 9th birthday! That is very interesting!

Tonight, while I was watching the Fugitive, I went on to Wikipedia and was reading about the show itself. At the end of the story, it mentioned that the last night of the airing of the series was August 29, 1967 and that William Conrad, the narrator said, "Tuesday, August 29, 1867, the day the running stopped". It also mentioned that for a long time that was the most watched tv show until "Who Shot JR" beat it out.

Now, I KNOW that I have seen it where it gave Sept. 19, 1967 as the date. I decided to do a Google search on it and found it on YouTube. I watched it and, you won't believe this, it said, "Tuesday, September 5, 1967, the day the running stopped"! I couldn't believe it! I went to my old VHS tape cabinet and found the tape that I had made about 6 years ago and, in William Conrad's distinctive voice, "Tuesday, September 19, 1967, the day the running stopped"!!!

I haven't been able to find a copy of the video for August 29, 1967, but I have seen video from September 5, 1967 and I have the actual show that says, September 19, 1967.

I wish I knew what was going on, it sure is confusing!!

[–] movieghoul 11 years ago

August 29 is definitely the correct date for the US showing of this episode. The only thing I can think of is that the show may have aired later in other English speaking countries and these are versions which you encountered.

I also saw a syndicated version of the finale where Conrad simply says: "Today, the running stopped." No date.

[–] dtmuller 11 years ago

The episode was orginally broadcast in the U.S. on August 29, and contains the "Tuesday, August 29" narration. Years ago, I taped a copy of both halves from a local rebroadcast, and that's the narration on mine.

According to Wikipedia, it was originally broadcast in Canada on September 5, so that would explain that date.

As for September 19, I couldn't find anything regarding that. Could they have repeated both halves on September 12 and 19 for those who missed it? Maybe.

I understand also that it was interrupted in some parts of the U.S., and rebroadcast in September in those areas. Whether that was just the last episode on 9/5 or both on 9/12 and 9/19, or maybe something else, I have no idea.

I have to say that the final episode had plenty of flaws, but that final line was absolutely perfect.

[–] movieghoul 11 years ago

Well, it will be interesting to see which version Me TV shows on Sunday, December 8.

[–] marmac2768 11 years ago

I just finished watching it on MeTV a few minutes ago and it had the Sept. 5, 1967 date on it. It is probably different dates for different country, I also heard the Canadian version as being on Sept. 5th and a lot of studios use the Canadian versions.

It is quizzical, but not the Loch Ness monster or the abominable snow man. As for the actual plot resolution here, I have never thought that it was a viable answer. To think that ANY MAN, especially of the stature of the City council guy would allow an innocent man to possibly go to the chair for a crime he didn't commit is really thin.

The way that Gerard turned out to be a good guy though is a good twist though.

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] CCsito 11 years ago

September 19? I also just saw the last episode on MeTV and William Conrad's voice appeared to state September 5.

[–] TerryThomasPhotos 11 years ago

MeTV just ran the final episode here in Atlanta. At the end the narrator (William Conrad) says "Tuesday September 5th, the day the running stopped."

Terry Thomas
Character Actor
Director of Photography
Film Unit Stills Photographer
Atlanta, Georgia USA
www.TerryThomasPhotos.com
www.imdb.com/name/nm1669504/board/thread/100119963

[–] Grimm-Grimm 11 years ago

I just finished watching the finally on MeTV. I thought the same thing, that its almost unbelievable that's person would allow such, like that. But then I read the reply before mine here, I missed the part saying the guy was a politician. These days now, yes I agree, a politician who would admit to having sat by and watched a woman fight off an attacking robber then be murdered, would have his political career at an end. Not to mention how much the news media would be airing the story. He's probably have people all over the US so angry at his cowardice that he'd get death threats.

[–] movieghoul 11 years ago

THe creators of the show sort of painted themselves in a corner regarding how to resolve the series. Johnson was never going to get a guilty conscience and confess (yes, he did confess under drug therapy in The IVy Maze but they couldn't use that twice). So the only possible resolution is that there was a witness to the murder who never came forward, and given that premise, I think they did the best they could do.

And Gerard never really changed. ALl along, he honestly believed he was chasing a killer. The key moment in part 1 of the finale is where he discovers that Johnson is lying about not being in Indiana the night of the murder, because for the first time, he realizes that just maybe Kimble is telling the truth. However, without the witness corroboration, I think he would still do his duty and deliver Kimble to the death house.

[–] bpvalentine 10 years ago

That’s not true. I’m half way through the first season (for my first time) and Gerard is definitely conflicted about Kimble’s probably guilt. He eventually says, well, it doesn’t matter because the law convicted him. And Gerard justifies his obsession by saying Kimble getting away would somehow invalidate the whole system, at least in his eyes. Gerard’s attitude in season 1 seems to be like Tommy Lee Jones in the remake, “I don’t care.”

That being said, given what a chump Kimble made of Gerard in just 9 episodes I’ve watched so far, maybe Gerard convinces himself of total guilt along the way. In season 1 Gerard is even sort of sympathetic.

I remember watching the later episodes when I was in high school on A&E (just after the Ford remake came out). Gerard seemed more as you say there.

I’ll sure be glad when the one armed man appears in the show. The show needs to at least see him. I remember him being part of the opening credits when I watched in high school and he isn’t in season 1 so far.

I wish David Jansen did better after the series. I know there’s something called Harry O I’m gonna check out. Such an interesting look. He looks more like a newscaster of the 80s or game show host. I can’t believe how young he actually was. He looks a lot older. I’m reading he was maybe a heavy drinker as well as worker. Friends with Richard Harris. That would make sense in that case, ha.

[–] eelb 10 years ago

I think Janssen was so identified with being Kimble, there wasn't much he could do after that career wise. Given the nature and conclusion of the series, there wasn't much that could be done with the character after that. In contrast to the Star Trek characters who have built a 50 year career off their roles in that series.

It's well documented that Janssen had a severe alcohol problem, and that likely restricted his future opportunities as well. He was only 48 when he died, so maybe if he had overcome his demons, he may have had a decent career if he'd lived longer.

[–] edestci 10 years ago

Martes 5 de Septiembre ( Tuesday, September 5th ).

[–] 10 years ago

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