Fear in a Desert City

The Fugitive, Fear in a Desert City: the first episode in this unforgettable suspenseful four-year television series begins with Dr. Richard Kimble arriving by bus in Tucson, Arizona.

The opening scenes are filmed at and inside the old Greyhound Bus station, roughly a block south of the old downtown and the historic Congress Hotel. This was where John Dillinger stayed in January 1934 before he was nabbed by the coppers and brought back north to justice. The Tucson bus station has since been relocated, but the Congress Hotel still has rooms to rent.

"Fear in a Desert City" aired in 1963, two months before President Kennedy's murder in Dallas, roughly 950 miles east of Tucson by bus.

Watched 'Fear in a Desert City', (1963) an episode of The Fugitive today with David Janssen as Dr. Richard Kimble, on the run, until he can prove his innocence. I recall avidly watching this series & being absolutely in awe, of the acting 'teeth' of Janssen~ Such a fine & respected actor. Poignant exchanges with Vera Miles when he spilled his guts as to his true identity & his soul goal until he could clear his name. The lonely stroll down an anonymous street in an inhospitable city, encountering a kitten, which he picks up & comforts echoed his own plight.... This series, produced in the 60's had everything, great actors, pithy story lines & William Conrad's resonant narration moving the narrative along. Pulsating instrumental music adding depth to the most suspenseful themes, as Kimble followed his quest....to remain anonymous until he hunted down his wife's killer....'Another journey, another place. Walk neither too fast nor too slow. Beware the eyes of strangers. Keep moving'....I absolutely revered him as an actor....

As an initial episode, the Fugitive series couldn't have generated a better start. Of all the women Dr. Kimble came across over the course of his life on the run, the one most perfectly suited for him IMO was Monica Welles played superbly by actress Vera Miles.

As a finale, I would have loved to see Kimble go back to the very beginning of his journey and rediscover the love he found with Monica and her son. It would have been a fitting ending.

This, the first episode, is a very fitting beginning to the saga of Dr. Richard Kimble, fugitive. Kimble (using the name Jim Lincoln) takes a job at a bar in Tucson, Arizona, and meets the piano player, Monica Welles, played by actress Vera Miles. Monica is bothered by a male patron of the bar. Kimble repeatedly protects her, thereby acquiring an enemy. He later learns the man bothering her is Ed Welles, her husband. Actor Brian Keith does an outstanding job as Ed.

Ed Welles is a major landowner in the state, with enormous influence over the police. He is also paranoid, jealous, controlling and violent where his wife is concerned. She fled Phoenix to Tucson a month earlier to get away from Ed, but he found her and followed her.

Kimble takes the opportunity to explain his story to Monica, thereby informing viewers about why he is on the run. Due to his impeccable, protective behavior, she of course believes in his innocence. Meanwhile, we see Lieutenant Gerard back in Stafford discussing the case with Captain Carpenter. Carpenter suggests that maybe Kimble is innocent, but Gerard declares it does not matter to him whether Kimble is factually innocent or guilty. The law declared him guilty, and it is not up to Gerard to decide on guilt or innocence, but merely to obey the law and bring in the fugitive.

Child actor Donald Losby (who later plays Sean in "Cry Uncle") plays Monica's son, who at first is cold to Kimble, but later comes to like and trust him more than his own dad.

Actors Harry Townes and Dabbs Greer are very credible as the two police officers whom Ed employs to chase Kimble out of town. Kimble faces severe danger from the police, and from the violent behavior and desire for revenge of Ed Welles.

I was very surprised tonight when I was looking around on YouTube. This is because I found the unaired pilot episode of "The Fugitive" and while the quality of the print sure ain't great, it was well worth seeing.

When the show begins, there is an extended version of the usual opening scene from the series. This time, William Conrad went into more depth about Richard Kimble and his back story. However, you never see anything about the murder, the murderer or the trial. It starts on the train...and soon it derails and Kimble escapes the Death House.

The first plot of the show involves a woman who has a jealous, angry and violent husband. Monica (Vera Miles) plays piano at the bar where 'Jim Lincoln' (Kimble) works. While he's tending bar, a nasty man seems to be trying to provoke him. It turns out it's Edward Welles (Brian Keith)....Monica's husband. Later, when 'Jim' leaves work, he sees Edward in the parking lot beating the snot out of his wife. Naturally he intervenes and Edward speeds off in his car...nearly hitting them both. What's going to become of this poor lady...and how can Kimble help them, as he's ALWAYS out helping others throughout the series? He's sort of a wanted man and social worker all rolled into one. What makes situation tough, however, is that Edward is involved in politics and he's an important man...and he can make it really tough for 'Jim'.

This is a very good installment of the series...too good not be be seen. Perhaps the network chose not to air it because the ending is VERY dark as well as violent. Well written, well acted and a treat for fans of the series.