MAGNUM P.I. - Complete Series: Blu-ray (Belisarus/Glen A. Larson/Universal, 1980-88) Mill Creek Entertainment
1980 – a year in transition, as this
was the epoch when television audiences said goodbye to CBS’s long-running and
beloved Hawaii 5-0 (1968-80) only to be re-introduced to the same
stomping grounds for another crime-solver franchise, arguably slicker and more
uber-hip to the slushy-plushy decade to follow it. Yep, this was the year Tom
Selleck arrived on the same scene as the 'new' Steve McGarrett, ditching McGarrett’s dark
sunglasses and Marcello Mastroianni-esque suits for hairy legs in tight-fitted
shorts and an Aloha shirt, usually unbuttoned to expose some manly curls of
dark and wispy chest hair – soon to become the men’s fashion du jour. Of
course, we refer to Magnum P.I. (1980-88) – righteously boasting its own
privileged prime time popularity, and, a heart-pounding iconic theme written by
Mark Post. Aside: Post’s was not the original. No, our hero’s arrival was
heralded by a mid-tempo jazzy riff composed by Ian Freebairn-Smith, to appear
in the pilot and next 9 episodes. However, by Episode 12 the executive decision
was made to update Magnum’s titles with the now immediately identifiable
Post/Pete Carpenter theme, heard under the end titles since Episode 8. Throughout
the next 7 years, Magnum P.I. shot mostly in and around Robin's Nest a
fictional 3-acre beachfront estate in Oahu, Hawaii, owned by reclusive novelist,
Robin Masters, who employs Jonathan Higgins (the memorably haughty and exclusive,
John Hillerman) as caretaker and Thomas Magnum (Selleck) as its security
expert. Higgins resides in the main house while Magnum entertains a sexy slew
of kittens inside the adjacent guest house, along with his pals, Orville ‘Rick’
Wright (Larry Manetti) and Theodore ‘T.C.’ Calvin (Roger E Mosley). It will
break a lot of hearts to learn this lavishly appointed estate, used for
centuries as a green sea turtle observatory, with its stately 11,000-squ. ft. main
house and boathouse, built in the 1930’s, to also include a gatehouse and
private tennis court, was demolished in 2018 after being sold for a paltry $8.7
million against its original $15.75 million asking price. But I digress.
For 8 years, Magnum P.I.
enjoyed an enviable spot in everyone’s prime time programming schedule and, in
the days before TV on VHS was actually a thing, it soared in the Nielsen’s as a
top 20 show, seen by millions around the world. To suggest it made Selleck an
overnight heartthrob is an understatement. I still recall my teenage years,
working at a local pharmacy/gift shop, where the girl’s bathroom and lockers
were plastered in centerfolds of Selleck, shirtless or otherwise, with that sly
grin barely protruding from beneath his bristly moustache. Women watched the
show to fantasize about a Selleck emerging from the surf in their own lives
while men tuned in to be more like their cool-headed/take-charge idol. No doubt
about it. Thomas Magnum was a guy to get the job done. And Selleck, who never
appeared to take the role seriously, played to an uber-laid-back charm, but
with the manly grace and beefy fists to put his money where his mouth was. Over
its run, Magnum P.I. proved an industry, as well as a fan, favorite.
Selleck was repeatedly nominated for Golden Globes as Best Actor, winning one
in 1985. Hillerman beat him to the punch as Best Supporting Actor in ’82. Selleck
also took home an Emmy in ’85 for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series,
beating Hillerman (who took home Best Supporting Actor in ’87). Impressively,
as late as 2009, the franchise was still being nominated - and winning - TV
Land Awards for Best Hero, Favorite Private Eye and Hippest Fashion
Plate.
The brainchild of producer/director/writer/creator,
Glen A. Larson, who alongside contemporaries, Norman Lear and Aaron Spelling,
could boast an enviable spate of TV product including such memorable fare as McCloud
(1970-77), The Six Million Dollar Man (1973-78), Quincy, M.E. (1976-83),
The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries (1977-78), Battlestar Galactica
(1978-79), Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (1979-81), B. J. and the
Bear (1979-81), The Fall Guy (1981-86), Simon & Simon (1981-89)
and, Knight Rider (1982-86), to name but a handful, a fascinating
postscript reveals how close we came to never having a Magnum P.I. at
all. In fact, the series had originally been developed for ABC, then airing The
Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries and Battlestar Galactica. Despite their
initial popularity, ABC abruptly canceled both in 1979, leaving their
commitment to develop Magnum P.I. on the cutting room floor. Undaunted
by this sudden turn of events, Larson migrated the project over to CBS –
perfect timing, actually – as they were preparing to wind down production on Hawaii
5-0, though, as yet, not ready to part with the exotic glamor of these
tropical locales. Indeed, throughout the early seasons of Magnum P.I.,
Higgins was intermittently heard making references to 5-0’s cast, even
suggesting close ties with McGarrett.
Magnum P.I. follows the
ongoing adventures and crime-solving exploits of Thomas Sullivan Magnum IV,
residing on the resplendent estate of celebrated novelist, Robin Masters (never
seen, but voiced in only 5 episodes by Orson Welles, and, after Welles’
passing, by Red Crandell). Magnum works for Masters, providing security detail.
During the first few episodes, it is suggested Magnum did Masters ‘a favor’
long ago, hence Masters hiring him now. Masters’ luxurious lifestyle suits Magnum’s
penchant for a good time. But these ‘good times’ had by all are severely
tempered under the micromanagement of ex-Brit-sergeant major, Jonathan Quayle
Higgins III, a strict disciplinarian and caretaker of Masters’ estate. Higgins
patrols the grounds with his beloved Dobermans, Zeus and Apollo. Magnum is
given free reign in the guest house and drives a blazing red Ferrari 308 GTS
Quattrovalvole, but frequently has to beg Higgins to gain access to the estate’s
other amenities. And although this ‘partnership remains, at least during the
first few seasons, on the frosty side, gradually a tacit esteem teetering on
fondness evolves between Magnum and the bane of his existence. By the end of
the series, various hints are dropped to suggest Higgins is likely Masters incognito,
although, during another Season 8 episode, Higgins is seen presumably talking
to Masters on the phone, further to muddy the truth behind the celebrated
author’s reclusive behavior.
Magnum’s two cohorts throughout the
series, ‘Island Hoppers’ charter helicopter pilot, Theodore T.C. Calvin and
bar owner, Orville Wilbur Richard ‘Rick’ Wright (later to manage the posh
beachside King Kamehameha Club where Magnum lacks exclusive membership but runs
up a tab on Higgins’, who is on the board of directors) become involved in
Magnum’s extracurricular sleuthing exploits, much to their chagrin. Both T.C.
and Rick are former Marines, allowing for a closer bond with Magnum who is
ex-Navy Seal, to serve during the Vietnam War. Indeed, Magnum P.I. was
praised at the time for representing Vietnam veterans as real people, not
shell-shocked killers, as was generally the impression Hollywood chose to ascribe
to them until then. The casual nature of Magnum’s employment, his ability to
live lavishly without ever being responsible to pay for it, and procure an
ever-evolving roster of scantily clad sex kittens, usually the focus of his
crime-solving skills, made him a sort of tropical James Bond. In Season 7,
producers made the daring decision to end the series with Magnum’s murder.
However, fans were so outraged, writing on mass in protest, an eighth season
finale resulted, where it was revealed Magnum had survived and would go on to
crime-fight another day.
Some may recall Tom Selleck’s commitment
to Magnum P.I. infamously cost him the part of Indiana Jones in Raiders
of the Lost Ark (1981), as the actor’s strike of 1980 delayed production of
the series until December. For Season 7, Selleck became a producer on
the show. Alas, CBS relocated Magnum’s time slot from Thursdays to
Wednesdays, hastening its already declining ratings, putting it in direct
competition with NBC’s leviathan success, The Cosby Show. Magnum crossed
over into other ABC series, and vice versa, appearing opposite the Simon brothers
in ‘Ki’is Don't Lie’ (concluded on the Simon
and Simon episode, ‘Emeralds Are Not a Girl's Best Friend’, and, went
toe to toe with Murder She Wrote’s Jessica Fletcher in ‘Novel
Connection’ (later, wrapped up on ‘Magnum on Ice’). For syndication
purposes, alternate endings were shot so these episodes could be concluded as Magnum
P.I. ‘stand-alones’. Interestingly, Sellick’s private dick ought to have
also done a little business with the vigilante crime-fighter, The Equalizer.
Alas, that show’s producers opposed this decision and Universal did not pursue
it further. Magnum P.I. officially departed from television in 1988. However,
as late as 1992, NBC was toying with the idea of bringing the character back to
appear in an episode of Quantum Leap, involving Dr. Sam Beckett (Scott
Bakula) who would have possessed the body of Thomas Magnum in a crime-fighting
episode. It remains unclear why development was halted. Whatever the reasons,
nothing beyond this high concept came of it. Viewed today, Magnum P.I.
holds up spectacularly well. Despite changing times and tastes, Selleck’s
cool-headed and casual demeanor has made the character a timeless cornerstone
of our television viewing landscape. Directed by a small army of gifted men,
the lion’s share of the honor deservedly afforded Michael Vejar (14 episodes), Ivan
Dixon (13), Ray Austin and Russ Mayberry (12 each), Alan J. Levi (9), Lawrence
Doheny (8) and John Llewellyn Moxey, the wit of the characters and intriguing
plots is owed to an even more formidable spate of writers, of which Larson
shared in all 158 episodes alongside Donald P. Bellisario, with Reuben Leder (31
episodes), Chris Abbott (20), Jay Huguely (19) and Robert Hamilton (12) contributing
their fair share to shape the series. One curiosity worth noting. While TV-viewing
for Magnum began to dip as early as its 5th season, the
quality of the writing and directing remained solid throughout its 8-year run,
attesting to Larson’s driving commitment to the series. Like most 80’s series, even
the show’s most die-hard fans eventually tired of their tried and true, moving
on, while hoping for greener pastures elsewhere. Arguably, they were not to
find them.
Mill Creek’s complete series
Blu-ray has taken 8 years of TV history and spread it over 30 discs. In a more
perfect world of third-party distribution, disc count ought to have easily been
double this. I sincerely wish Mill Creek would just get off its lump, spending
the extra 12 cents per disc to preserve these episodes across a more liberal
bit rate, allowing the image to breath as it should. Herein, backgrounds are
frequently heavy, with distorted grain and lacking in both crispness and the
smooth visual transitions that any series shot on film (not tape!) should allow.
That stated, what beauty survives herein is exclusively owed kudos to Universal
– the custodians of this franchise – who have curated it with immaculate 1080p
masters. The compression is all on Mill Creek. But Uni has done their homework
here. So, despite the obvious compression issues, Magnum P.I. in hi-def
looks pretty damn impressive overall with a few caveats. Close-ups exhibit exceptional clarity, down to
minute details in skin and hair. Freeze frame several of these and you can
count the bristles in Magnum’s moustache.
Save a handful of inserts, color
saturation is uniformly excellent – showing off the lush Hawaiian locales to
their very best advantage. Contrast is
solid too, although black crush is evident during scenes shot at night. Again,
compression! There's another problem with this set. The main titles for Season 1's opener are NOT correct, but the syndicated versions slapped on after the Post/Carpenter theme became the series standard. Worse, titles after Season 1 are occasionally quite soft, as though gleaned from dupes instead of ONC's or worse, are regurgitated Season 1 titles in lieu of the titles that ought to have been included. Season 2's 2-part episode, Memories Are Forever has not been mastered from an ONC and looks about as soft, ugly and dark as one would expect. Curiously, it is the only episode to include the titles to Season 6 and 7, with the upgraded credits for Roger Mosley (now depicted in a red shirt against his Island Hoppers 'copter instead of on the telephone behind a desk with a rain-soaked backdrop) and Larry Manetti (turning to face the camera in a blue/grey suit with red carnation instead of raising a straw hat while seated in the back of an island rickshaw, a credit begun in Season 2 and to carry over until Season 5). These credits also include an alternative insert for the scene where Magnum is teach a bikini-clad woman to swim, with her buttocks situated close to his face. It's a more distant shot than the one used in subsequent titles. But that iconic moment, with the same shot reframed in close-up, and that remained a main staple for the rest of the franchise when it ran on TV, herein, instead vanishes shortly thereafter, replaced by a close-up from Season One where Magnum is embraced in a passionate kiss. Overall, I have to say, I am thoroughly unimpressed with these jumbled credits. What happened here is anyone's guess, but clearly the mistakes made are owed Universal, who supplied these masters to Mill Creek. We get a DTS 2.0 audio that sounds fantastic – period. Post’s
theme song soars, and the rest of these episodes deliver good, stable clarity
that will surely not disappoint. Extras include all of the Uni’ legacy junkets
(80’s flashback, America’s sleuths, etc.) that accompanied their home-grown DVD
release from some years back, plus intermittent audio commentaries on selected
episodes. There is also a handful of newly produced featurettes totaling just
under an hour. Curiously, we get 2 Rockford File episodes, co-starring
Selleck in an entirely different role – Lance, but not the Simon and Simon
episode, ‘Emeralds Are Not a Girl's Best Friend’ or the Murder She
Wrote crossover episode, ‘Magnum on Ice’. The first half of the Magnum
episode, ‘Novel Connection’ is only included in its ‘first half’
incarnation – not the rerun reissue with the re-jiggered ending to wrap up this
episode. Odd, very odd…unless, of course, Mill Creek is already planning a Murder
She Wrote box set. The compression on the Rockford episodes is
atrocious, which is even more of a curio, since the same episodes, as they
appear on Mill Creek’s Rockford Files complete series Blu-ray set is far
superior. Bottom line: barring these few omissions and the compression screw-ups,
Magnum P.I. on Blu-ray will surely please most fans of this iconic
eighties’ escapist detective series. This one definitely falls into the ‘solid
but could have been a bit better’ category. Judge and buy accordingly!
FILM RATING (out
of 5 – 5 being the best)
Overall 4
VIDEO/AUDIO
Overall 3.5
EXTRAS
3
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