MovieChat Forums > Ironside (1967) Discussion > THE BEST!

THE BEST!

posted 19 years ago by misspaddylee
3 replies | jump to latest

I love the Chief.

Raymond Burr was perfect and matched by a wonderful supporting cast, Barbara Anderson, Don Galloway, Don Mitchell, Elizabeth Baur, as well as Gene Lyons, Johnny Seven and Joan Pringle. They played people you looked forward to spending time with.

Some of the best television was played out in Ironside episodes. What will it be this week? A caper, a character study, something on the light side, international intrigue.

What wonderful guest stars such as Anne Baxter, Bill Bixby, Dana Wynter, A Martinez, Kim Darby, Burgess Meredith, Steve Forrest, Barbara Hale, Desi Arnaz, Jessica Walter, Tina Louise, Bradford Dillman Gary Lockwood, Don Stroud, Suzanne Pleshette ... et cetera.

This wonderful program deserves the top dvd treatment. Here's hoping.

PS: Who doesn't love Q's theme song?

[–] sueeastlake 11 years ago

I just discovered this message board recently and totally agree with you. I hanot seen the series since the 70's. I was so thrilled when ME-TV began broadcasting episodes last September. Raymond Burr is superb in this role and shows a greater range of acting in this series, I think, than in Perry Mason. Ironside showed that the strength of his character could overcome his limitations, and his "family" of Mark, Eve (later Fran), and Ed fiercely protected him, even though sometimes he could be demanding, grumpy, and sometimes seeming to be unfeeling. But underneath that gruff exterior beat a heart of gold. Sometimes, his emotions tugged at my heartstrings. You know when the Chief is troubled when he wheeled to his window. The relationship between Mark and the Chief was special through the series. Their late night conversations and one-on-one conversations were so revealing. It is one of the times that the Chief let down his guard. Quincy Jones' theme is magnificent as well. I can't see anyone else ever being Ironside, except Raymond Burr

[–] misspaddylee 11 years ago

You found the key to the series success and why so many of us have been fans for so long. Raymond Burr's performance and the "family". Many shows have a team, but few come close to the sense of connection we feel among the cast of Ironside. There are very few episodes that I would not want to re-watch. It's my happy place.

"Your words are as offensive as your thoughts are accurate."

[–] slackersmom 11 years ago

I like Raymond Burr, but my personal opinion is that Perry Mason is a better show than Ironside. (Or I guess I should clarify... I personally "prefer" PM to Ironside.) I think Ironside tried to be too edgy, too "with it" for the time it was made-- trying to deal with issues of the times, be current with the 'music scene,' social matters, etc. To me it seemed heavy-handed. But again, this is my personal opinion, and I understand and respect that others have different views.

For me, one of the big drawbacks of the show is the number of times one of Ironside's team had a personal connection with the crime. Friend, cousin, old school chum.... seems at least every other episode deals with the team working on a crime involving one of the above. Apparently it was very risky to know anyone who knew Robert Ironside. :-p