I SPY REVISITED continued
disconnect every bone in his body,” but Scotty insists, “no, work before pleasure.” To his bodyguard Sam, Danny chides, “don't
you dare ….. think …. Your poor little brain wasn't made for that sort of thing.” ….. Scene panning across the restaurant after

shooting, ending in Danny's rant to the police detective, “police! Are the same the world over …. when there's no need for you, Constantly under foot. When there's a real necessity for you, where are you people?” The Lieutenant replies evenly, “criticisms may be submitted in writing. Three copies to the Commissioner of Police.” Then Danny challenges Sam, as to where he was when his other bodyguard was shot. Pulling out Sam's tie, he asks, “spilling tea on your necktie?” Sam replies in a blasé manner, “dry cleaners couldn't get it out.” …. When the tour guide wants to make a suggestion, Danny snaps, “stand someplace with your hands to your sides until I snap my fingers.” …. When Danny asks what's to prevent him from leaving his suite, Kelly suggests he'd first fire a warning shot over Danny's head, but might miss and hit him in the knee. Kelly adds, “if you tried to crawl out, I would fire another warning shot, and probably miss again.” Scotty says, “one time Kelly took a shot at a helicopter, and shot the snake right in the nose.”
The “I Spy” Forum comments on "DANNY WAS A MILLION LAUGHS"
Author: SAM
Date: 7/16/01 9:06:43 PM
I thought the Teaser was excellent with the arrival of the (pardon me) Ugly American scene in Tai Pak Restaurant (I've eaten there!). Kelly and Scotty's reaction to the Landau character, Danny, was spot on- they simply sighed and bowed their heads. THEN the ticking bread loaf!
I DESPISED Danny - I found the storyline distasteful (I suppose that`s the point) - but I have to concede that not all people under Kelly and Scotty's protection would be gentle or saintly . Landau was particularly odious when he addressed Scotty as "BOY" - I had forgotten that terrible line! I enjoyed the Director's take on Kelly's lightning fast hand grabbing Danny's drink away from him.
Of course again Mr. Hagen's music is so great here: he used simple violins to underline the `secretary` Nancy summoned by Danny. It exemplified the poignancy of her situation. I HAVE noticed that while Kelly seems to favor (ahem!) a morally-challenged female himself, when confronted with this situation he is invariably gentle: (recall Trouble With Temple?) ANOTHER reason I find his character fascinating and complex.
The DVD copy is extremely good, but for some reason the end credits RACED by too quickly as well as the music. Did anyone else notice this?
SAM
Author: George Hackaby
Date: 7/18/01 4:50:39 PM
"Danny was a Million Laughs" isn`t a great episode by any means, but there are a few good elements: I really enjoyed Martin Landau's performance, it was good to watch him hamming it up (as he does more often nowadays) since he was very reserved in Mission Impossible and Space:1999; I think that the zoom shot from the roof of the hotel towards the car as it explodes is amazing (as is the music accompanying it) - probably one of the most inventive shots in any episode (and very dangerous to achieve according to the 1968 TV Guide article on Fouad Said); and I enjoyed the alternative theme music at the end of the episode, pity it was never used again.
Also this was the first time I had seen Nicholas Collasanto in a substantial role other than Coach in "Cheers" (he also appeared as the cab driver in "My Mother the Spy" but blink and you`ll miss him). I read that he later directed episodes of "The Rockford Files", so he had a varied career - does an
yone know of any other appearances he made, or anything else he directed?
I guess the aspect of the show I liked the least was Jeanette Nolan's character, I enjoyed her performance in "The Conquest of Maude Murdoch" but here she just annoyed me.
Hackaby
Author: Colonel Boris Benkovski
Date: 7/19/01 10:52:09 AM
It seems like we all agree that Danny Was A Million Laughs was neither among the best or among the worst. "Fair to middling` " as they say. The character of Danny Prescott was almost unrealistically unsympathetic. I don`t recall very many tv characters who were so thoroughly unpleasant. In real life, I don't think I have ever met someone who is offensive 100% of the time, but then I don't run around in the the circles of organized crime. Landau did a good job of making us dislike him. The only flaw in his performance was at the end when he is trying to get at Nancy, saying I"ll kill you, let me kill her." That scene he just didn't seem convincing, but then anger, to me anyway, is really the hardest emotion of all to fake. Landau is good in several scenes, like when he tries to bribe the police lieutenant (the actor portraying the police Lieutenant was equally impressive in his scenes with Landau).
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