Oh, what grand and glorious scores the maestro provided for the lightweight but delightful 1971-77 NBC Mystery Movie series which starred Rock Hudson and Susan Saint James.
I recently purchased the complete series box set and am now making my way through the first season, where Rock sports his "Just-shy-of-Rollie-Fingers"-length mustache and Susan Saint James is growing out her Jane Fonda-in-Klute-"Shag" hairstyle. The mysteries play third or fifth fiddle to the leads' partially-improvised banter, excellent chemistry, fascinating clothing styles, and the world that was American TV circa 1971. The program is also risqué in that couple Stewart "Mac" McMillan and Sally allude to the physical part of their relationship and another groundbreaking element--they sleep in the same bed.
Okay, so that's the show itself, but so many scenes are made infinitely better by virtue of their having the brilliant underscore of Jerry Fielding to carry the action. IMdb lists Fielding as having done 28 episodes of McMillan & Wife and I'll find out just how many he did score as I proceed through the series.
Fielding composed a buoyant and "ear worm" theme for the series; that electric piano firmly entrenches it in the early '70s but that's partially what I adore about it (and the series itself). Dig it:
So far, the best score has been The Easy Sunday Murder Case and the standout cue is when Mac goes into a museum's psychedelic, mind-blowing "fun house" of sorts. Fielding offers an extended cue which goes perfectly with the crazy visuals; it's an aural and visual treat that requires an immediate second viewing! His scores contain Kolchakisms as well as elements and orchestrations from the maestro's triumphs on Mannix and a personal favorite of mine: Hunters are for Killing. Season one captures Fielding just before his darker mid-'70s sound
It shouldn't surprise me that Jerry could excel at providing captivating music for what is essentially a romantic "Thin Man"-style mystery/comedy as Fielding scored many lightweight sitcoms during his seemingly overwhelming workload since his return from the blacklist but he also gives the series the tension and drama it needed and he uses his arsenal of effects to get it done: the swirling strings and of course his trademark, the snare drum.
I'll update the thread with scorecentric capsule episode reviews as I go and the thoughts and opinions on the series and Fielding's work in it and whatever else related to McMillan & Wife are welcome.
McMillan and Wife was very popular here in England when ITV screened it, usually at peak hour as they did wth a few of the Mystery Movie series (eg McCloud, Columbo etc).
I imagine a lot of people were as surprised as I was to find out that Susan Saint James and Rock Hudson didn't get on (I remember reading in more than one place that she really couldn't stand him...); they worked together so well on screen.
The theme is one of Fielding's most memorable. I've got season 1 on DVD but Universal Playback didn't complete the series over here (as they didn't with some of the others) so I never bothered with the rest. A lot of these Universal series had fine music and it would be great if some of it got a release, but I'm a bit sceptical these days....
Thomas posted a bit of Fielding's music on YT a good while back:
I remember watching this series as a kid, but don't remember too much about it, or the music. I was probably a bit too young to appreciate it's messages, as I was more into Planet Of The Apes, Kojak, Six Million Dollar Man and Bionic Woman at the time. Jerry Fielding has become one of my latter-day favourites, so I would like to hear any music he did from around that time (I remember someone posting a snippet of his score from a Bionic Woman episode around here - it was probably you Jim - that I loved and would really want on CD). I look forward to reading your findings and comments muchacho
I have stated many times on this board that this music needs to be released. Of all Jerry Fielding's music this is my absolute favourite, topping even The Gauntlet for me. I continue to hope that this finds a release (Intrada?), along with other early 70's shows SEARCH, and Longstreet.
jimbo, why you no listen, you were told by The tedious Ego that this is trivial - ha ha!!
make you right mate, like the others have posted here, we got this in the uk and it was a time when many hollywood guys scored tv films and series - so whatever you watched, you had the tape recorder ready in case by the end credits it was someone you collected. No internet then and sketchy information so few knew in advance what projects a composer had scored. i remember watching and taping everything i came across that Fielding did. Enjoyed the series, it wasnt heavy and the plots were watchable.
While it sounds typical Fielding to me now, I don't think the theme is that catchy or memorable. I certainly don't remember it like I do all those other classic TV themes from my youth, like Kojak, Six Million $ Man, Bionic Woman, Rockford Files and such. But I'm sure the actual scores would reveal some cool scoring, in typical Fielding mode, with lots of stuff I've already heard and have
So far, the best score has been The Easy Sunday Murder Case and the standout cue is when Mac goes into a museum's psychedelic, mind-blowing "fun house" of sorts. Fielding offers an extended cue which goes perfectly with the crazy visuals; it's an aural and visual treat that requires an immediate second viewing!
¶ You find devices from The Wild Bunch in this hectic cue. Listen to your 3-CD from FSM again to double-check.
