A light and "fluffy" episode that I enjoyed very much.
I've always liked Noah Beery...especially as Jim Rockford's father which has already been mentioned.
The antics are a bit like Keystone Cops...there's ALWAYS something happening and new complications come from all corners. I think switching off between Thomas and Bull during the search for Floyd was intricate and interesting. And I LOVE that Cindy is so sure that the Ferrari is Thomas's car. Her line: "What else would a man like you drive?" is wonderful...and the source of a break in the 4th Wall, by the way. That's not the response that Thomas is used to and "who owns the Ferrari" is one of the bits of what I call "insider information" that makes me feel like I "belong" in this group of characters. Even the elderly lady who smashed the bumper thought the Ferrari belonged to someone else and that was after Thomas let her off the hook because Stanley is in a rest home!!!
It cracks me up to see Thomas all folded up in Floyd's car. I like that Frodoleader calls the car "teeny tiny"...reminds me of the way Thomas describes the cannons that Higgins plays with!
I heard Doc...or Doug...Ibold paged at the airport. I think probably it's Doug because they'd be more likely to say "Doctor" Ibold in a page. I've made an executive decision that I CAN NOT start listening to pages! I'm having enough trouble searching out breaks in the 4th Wall, keeping track of reoccuring characters and making a list of places that I want to visit if I ever...no, WHEN...I get to visit Oahu.
Fun! Fun! Fun!
Isn't the ocean beautiful at sunset? So soft....so peaceful...so romantic!
The Caddy: When Floyd parks the Honda at the golf club, he parks next to a cadillac. The front license plate on the Cadillac is dated "76" on the driver's side of the plate. As I recall, one of Robin's vehicles also suffered from this malady.
The Cadilllac's position: When Floyd parks the Honda, the cadillac's right rear tire is on the white line. When floyd returns, that tire is at least one foot off the line. I believe the move came after Floyd (or a double) pulled the car into the parking place and when Floyd exited the Honda. There seems to be more space between the Honda and the Cadillac in the second shot (from front of Honda) than the first shot (from the rear of the Honda.
The sliding object: James, your notes note that an unknown object slides out of the scene when Floyd is in front of the safe. The object is the satchel (or old-style brief case) that Floyd brought into the office with him. He sets it down outside before neutralizing the alarm and sets it down inside in front of the safe before turning around to turn on the light. It appears that he placed it on the floor just on the edge of its balancing point, causing it to slowly fall over.
JQH3: I don't know what to say.
TSM4: So, you owe me one.
JQH3: I'd really rather not.
A shorter review this time; I like this episode, but couldn’t find very much to say about it.
[TV.com rating=8.0; Average]
A woman hires Thomas to find her estranged father, who turns out to be a small-time con-man who doesn’t particularly want to be found – and Magnum isn’t the only one looking for him. An average but fun episode…
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'All Roads Lead to Floyd' is a perfectly enjoyable episode, but definitely one of the more average instalments of the show's first season. But in the world of MPI, even average is often good, and I'd still consider it better than some episodes from later seasons (I'm thinking five and six in particular).
The episode features Noah Beery Jr. (here credited as just Noah Beery) as missing con-man Floyd; Beery, of course, played Jim's father Rocky in 'The Rockford Files', and his appearance in this story comes hot on the heels of another Rockford regular, Gretchen Corbett, in 'The Curse of the King Kamehameha Club' just two episodes previously.
I particularly like the scene near the beginning, with Magnum and T.C. bickering about their tennis match, and where Floyd (unbeknown to Magnum at that point) causes the Ferrari to have a prang with the little old lady who doesn’t have car insurance. It is a fine 'Magnum' scene where so many great details are thrown in.
Anne Bloom, who plays Cindy, reminds me somewhat of Goldie Hawn.
Bad guy 'Bull' is played by Red West, who was once Elvis Presley's double, and appeared in many 1970s and 80s US shows, including four episodes of 'The A-Team'. He would appear again in MPI as a different character in the fifth season's 'Let Me Hear the Music'). Bull, rather like the episode, is average, and West could have been given more to work with.
The story isn't exactly the most engaging nor most taxing of the first season, but it is perfectly watchable and likable. Besides, an episode that has amusing shots of the tall Tom Selleck crammed into a tiny Honda can’t be all that bad!
Overall, definitely one of the more average instalments of the season (but not the weakest – 'Thank Heaven for Little Girls and Big Ones Too' gets that title), but it is good fun in its own way.
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Other notes, bloopers and misc.:
* T.C. only appears in one scene of this episode (in the car accident sequence).
* At the tourist greeting party when Bull is trying to get a lead of Floyd, his cigar jumps to different sides of his mouth in different shots.
* After Magnum has leapt into Floyd’s car, there is a shot of his double who clearly doesn’t have a moustache.
* I’m not sure if this counts as a legit nitpick, as I'm not sure how Hawaiin car registration works, but Magnum is driving around in Floyd’s car – couldn’t he have got Rick to run a trace on the plates and get an address for Floyd?
* When Rick is telling Cindy how he came to Hawaii after the war and started running the Club, he doesn’t mention his disco. Arguably he was just simplifying the story for her.
* On the DVD version, there is another case of abridged commercial breaks – the third ad break doesn’t have a gap.
By the way, regarding the paging of Doug Ibold, I put on the subtitles on the DVD, and it gives the page as “Mr. Doug Ival”. I think Ibold is right though, as I’ve noticed one or two slight errors in the subtitles.
"Just wait until you start recognizing extras in the background!"
Well, it's happened. The Marine pilot that was sitting at the bar next to the blonde gal Mac was talking to in "Dead Man's Channel" is also in the background at the Fox Shop when Higgins goes to watch Holly Berry strip...I mean, dance...I mean, when Higgins goes to talk to Holly Berry about Becky Damon in "A Pretty Good Dancing Chicken."
Egad!!
Isn't the ocean beautiful at sunset? So soft....so peaceful...so romantic!
IslandHopper, you are simply amazing. How do you spot all those flubs?
The big plusses in this episode are the number of lovely ladies. Anne Bloom is absolutely hot in her bikini as is the hostess who invites Magnum to the pyramid party.
How did TS ever fit into that Honda N600? "0" to 60 mph in 19 seconds.
I must say, I am thoroughly enjoying my second time through Season 1. In the future, I think I'll read about the flubs ahead of time. Then I'll get my wife to watch the same episode with me and amaze her at my ability to pick up the fmistakes. Of course, I'll never let on....
Mahalo Jaybird. I get a kick out of spotting flubs because it's kind of nice to know that even the most experienced professionals (producers, directors, editors, etc.) can make mistakes. It makes me feel less fallible.
The answer is obvious, old man. Logic is irrelevant. It's simply Tropical Madness. (J.Q. Higgins)
I work on old cars and loved the green car the old lady was driving that ran into the Ferrari. I think it was a 50 or 51 Chevy??
I dont know what kind of party that was but I wish I would be invited to one!! LOL
And Anne Bloom in those heels and bikin. WOW pretty hot!!
I also love how Old Bull just unpacks what looks to be a 44 Long Barreled Magnum from his suit case. He was not trying to be secretive now was he?
I work on old cars and loved the green car the old lady was driving that ran into the Ferrari. I think it was a 50 or 51 Chevy??
If someone will post a screen capture of the car, I can most likely tell you what it is.
I dont know what kind of party that was but I wish I would be invited to one!! LOL
I think we touched upon what kind of "party" this was, in this or another thread. Back in the 1980's Pyramid-type schemes weren't illegal, so they abounded here in the USA. Basically it is a multi-level marketing business model without a product to sell. If you went to a "party" and were one of the very few that got in on one at the beginning, for a relatively small investment, you made a lot of money depending upon how successful you were at getting people to join under you. My brother made over $20,000 on one and he had only invested $1000. Mostly it was a rip-off for the people further down on the "pyramid".
Now that I can see a better view of it you are exactly right! And I should know this, I have been working for the legendary Gene Winfield the big mercury guy. It was such a fast glance I reckon.
Thanks for sending this, I never even expected a reply back. Too cool!! I love this site its alot of fun
Dewey
J.J. Walters wrote:Whoa, IslandHopper! Your ability to catch episode flubs is mind blowing! Amazing.
I'll add these to the Episode Guide, with credit, pronto. Thanks!
I've always liked this kind of goofy episode probably more than I should. Hey, it's got Noah Berry Jr. (another Rockford Files connection) and Red West (close friend/bodyguard of Elvis!) in it!
IslandHopper wrote:Does anyone know what golf course was used in the opening scene of this episode?
It's funny you asked this, because I coincidentally just found out that the golf course scenes were filmed at "Pali Golf Course" in Kaneohe.
Let's all take a look at Cindy (Anne Bloom) in her bikini, shall we:
This may be the BEST episode of Magnum PI.
I liked the performance by Noah Beery JR. Fans of the Rockford Files will LOVE seeing him again.
There is so much to like in this episode. Magnum often gets a slight insult when people ask him "Who's Ferrari is that". It was fun to see the expression on Magnums face when the beautiful girl tells Magnum "Nice car".
I LOVED the party at the pool with all the beautiful women wearing tiny bathing suits, and how the Texan runs past all the women in such a hurry the women all fall in the pool.
It was funny to watch Magnum drive a small car because the Ferrari was getting repaired. Can anyone imagine if Magnum lost use of the Ferrari and had to drive his own car for the run of the series-- something like that small 4 door is probably all he could afford.
Definitely a Mercury!
