Comments from The I Spy Forum continued
I don't know if Sheldon Leonard is forthcoming about such things in his book, but this episode seems to be either: a) something whipped up by the writers to make the script quota for the season's location shoots, or b) intended as a "change-of-pace" for the boys -- and for their audience. Series producers often like to do this to keep things from getting stale and overly formulaic.
I think "Sophia" also needs to be seen in the context of European cinema of the time. De Sica had taken a detour from neo-Realist drama to light, airy comedies like the hilarious AFTER THE FOX (1966) with Peter Sellers playing an inept Italian thief. "Sophia" seems to plunk Kelly and Scotty down, incongruously, in the midst of such a comic milieu, where they don't quite belong, but where they struggle to make sense of things and do their best. In that sense, it is a clever idea -- like a Monty Python sketch in which the Archbishop of Canterbury appears on a game show, competing for prizes alongside overly-excited housewives.
We've discussed here, over the years, many more instances in which I SPY scripts were derivative of well known movie plots, which is a convention of television writing, so it's not surprising that "Sophia" reflects European movies of the time -- if only in its character types and situations.
Earle Hagen's wonderful music for the episode is another gentle nod in the direction of Italian comedies of the time. It is well studied, and is an evocative homage to their sound and mood, without, for example, trying to ape Nino Rota.
The fight scene with the American, as the others have noted here, is incongruous in its own right, in that it is too serious for the episode's overall upbeat mood. And that American fellow inhabiting the criminal demi monde is truly scary. It was as if Kelly had stepped into "Heart of Darkness" and found Kurtz. But unlike Kurtz, this fellow was truly evil. I think such a person would actually have killed Kelly. In any case, the boys seem like true innocents abroad in comparison.
Lastly, given that Scotty, like Cosby, was only in his early 30s at the time, and given that he says at the beginning that he 'adopted' little Sophia after the war, I think he would have been even younger at the time than our Colonel has calculated. Anyway, that's the backstory, but the implied chronology of the episode suggests it would have worked better had it been set in 1956 rather than '66.
But who cares? Series television isn't meant to be scrutinized in this way. In fact, who would ever have thought we'd still be discussing it nearly four decades later?
Anyway, "Sophia" is a fairly charming diversion, and strong on the location shooting that was one of I SPY's trademarks. The episode comes at about the mid-point in the life of the series, and shows the characters of Kelly and Scotty, their relationship to each other, and their way of interacting, all to be in full flower. And weren't these things, even more than the spy-and-intrigue plots and themes, the real essence of I SPY?
-- bbr
June 9 2003 at 2:42 PM
From: Russ Conway
The last time I viewed this episode, I scrutinized the scene where the "thugs" throw Kelly and Scotty out of the tavern.
Next time you view it, check it out. They literally get thrown pretty hard across a very unforgiving, unpadded sidewalk. The script called for them to be roughed-up, and it looked like that's exactly what happened. No wonder our Mr. Culp has lots of aches and pains now!
~Russ Conway
June 15 2003 at 3:51 PM
From: Alta
Took a look at this scene again (what a hardship) through squinty vision. Aunty A is in dire need of a new pair of specs and delivery seems to be coming via Pony Express, only the pony seems to have expired and the rider is very aged indeed . Anyway, blurry or not, you're not kidding about the stunt work ! Both actors seemed to take their fair share of licks doing stunt work. Of course, when they didn't, you could generally see the transition between stuntman and actor, perhaps because both men were very individual in body type. And yeah, that kind of action, though it looks great on film, sure doesn't do the joints much good over time .
As for the episode Sophia, you guys have covered all the brighter aspects of it in detail . I'll concur with majority opinion in saying that the scene with Scotty sitting on Kelly's lap was priceless . Loved the lead up, with Scotty visibly steaming, then the swift facial change-over when the seating arrangements are re arranged. Also loved Scotty's transformation into instant
fatherhood, with his sudden and intense distrust over Kelly's " intentions ". It was light and fluffy ( except, as noted, for the fight scene ) and I got a kick from the character interaction .
I too took particular note of the jail house award comments, always figuring this was yet another inside joke . Seemed to be a way of acknowledging a desire for one of those trinkets but also being able to joke about it. Always get a kick out of those little subtleties between the two main actors.
All the other aspects of this episode have been more than noted . I too rate it as a bit of a lightweight but still delightful. I'll go with a B.
Alta
June 16 2003 at 11:20 PM
From: Tatia Loring
Oh yes ... the stuntwork was always GREAT in "I SPY"!!! .... and I think they handled cutting to doubles with great finesse, when they were used. (In contrast, the stunt doubles for Capt. Kirk, always seemed to have a close-up in a bad wig.) I was always curious as to how much of the stuntwork was actually done by "our guys." Contractually, I imagine the studio executives were not overly thrilled with the idea that either of their lead actors could possibly be putting themselves at risk in a dangerous situation. One season of "Wild, Wild West" was cut short when Robert Conrad was seriously hurt during a stunt.
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