The Frog

The noirish elements of the series means there is a bit of violence and Peter Gunn is in the receiving end of it.

Gunn was meant to meet a man known as The Frog by the docks. He does not show as he has been killed.

When Gunn goes to The Frog's apartment he is jumped by a thug and Gunn shoots him.

It seems The Frog worked for a mobster called Bissell and The Frog had a book which had all the dirt on Bissell's activities.

The action slows down when it goes for a jazz interlude. Gunn has no concept of danger, he just walks into it even when his hand has had a whack.

Who would be walking the docks all alone in the middle of the night? What a spooky place? It's almost like you're asking to be mugged. It this case, the main doing the walking gets a knife thrown in his back and falls dead into the water. Minutes later, Peter Gunn walks by. Apparently, he had a meeting with this guy because he's looking around. He spots a hat floating in the river right of the pier. Hmmm.....not a good sign Time to split.

Gunn walks into all kinds of trouble in this story, right from the moment he goes into an apartment after leaving the pier. Then, at Mothers shortly thereafter, more troubles. A gritty film noir is what this little 25-story is all about and it has a few quirky characters, like an old lady who save's Pete's butt. It's all interesting.

An added attraction is more air time for the beautiful Lola Albright, who nurse-maids Pete after he gets his knuckles rapped. She also sings a great song. She didn't lip-synch; she could sing.

Whit Bissell, meanwhile, plays the main villain. Bissell played so many of these roles in so many TV shows of yesterday that I have gotten to recognize his name as if he were a star.

In all: a great episode.

Good mix of series elements. Pete gets two knockdown drag-outs, Edie gets to croon a tune, and Jacoby gets to be Johnny-on-the-spot. Then include usual grabber hook, colorful characters, and plenty of shadow, and we've got an early classic entry. However, I could have used more of Mother. The amazonian Emerson was an underrated part of the series success. Too bad she died early.

Anyhow, Pete gets involved in killing of small-time hood that leads him into the usual round of intrigue and danger. Good thing he's got an old lady around to protect him. So how about that poor old Gymps (Inness). Looks like she lives in a shoe box and shops at Rags R' Us. But don't underestimate her; she's a surer shot than Dead-Eye Dick. It's a bold concept for a series starting out its first season. But then producer Edwards was always a man with ideas. And catch renowned jazz trumpeter Shorty Rogers doing his thing at Mother's. Yes indeed, it's the outstanding Gunn combo showing why its cutting edge formula still applies.

Another entertaining episode of Peter Gunn. There's the usual mix of murder, shady characters, great action scenes and Peter Gun coolness. And the beautiful Edie, of course.