Gomer Pyle began life as a one of the down home residents of Mayberry, where Andy Griffith held court as the sheriff and Don Knotts blundered his way to fame and fortune. It’s no small task indeed to find a way to shine as a minor character who wasn’t even there from the beginning; he replaced Floyd after the second year. But shine he did. Much of the character’s charm and success has to be given to Jim Nabors. The shy naive Gomer worked as an auto mechanic in Mayberry, but for his own series he appeared in one of the most unlikeliest of places, the U.S. Marine Corp. There Nabors found the perfect comedic partner in Frank Sutton, who played his superior Sgt. Vince Carter. The chemistry and remarkable timing these two brought to the Andy Griffith spin-off made it an instant hit. Critics at the time were very skeptical of the move, and most of the predictions called for a swift end to Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C. But before you can say “surprise, surprise, surprise”, the series became as popular, if not more so, than the parent series, at least for a time. In syndication the show was always a hit.
The show’s premise was actually quite simple. Gomer has enlisted in the Marine Corp. He is given the toughest drill sergeant in the unit. Carter tries to break Gomer down, but it is always heart of gold Gomer who ends up turning around the tough as nails Carter. The camp was populated with the usual assortment of supporting characters. MASH’s own lovable Padre, William Christopher, played Lester Hummel. Ronnie Schell was Duke Slater, who often involved Gomer in his many schemes. Barbara Stuart was Carter’s girl, Bunny. Bunny often flirted with the guys, much to the aggravation of the jealous Carter. While there were many nice supporting roles, each episode always boiled down to one thing. That was Carter/Pyle. The relationship had everything. There was incredible energy, and the two stars had tremendous give and take. It is unlikely the show could have worked without either star.
Season three brought some quite memorable episodes. One of my all time favorites, and the one I remember most by far from childhood, was Gomer And The Little Men From Outer Space. A film crew is making an alien invasion film which Gomer unwittingly witnesses. He is convinced the “little green men” he saw getting out of a flying saucer were all real. The episode Follow That Car is everything that the show had going for it. It’s pretty much Gomer and Carter when they get kidnapped by smugglers. Gomer shares his love of the Corp with a potential recruit, only to find out he’s on the run and wanted for a bank heist in Gomer The Recruiter. One of the funniest scenes ever on television can be found in Gomer The Card Shark as Gomer is set up as a high roller card shark to expose a cheater. Finally, Gomer is framed as a thief by his pet in The Crow Ganef. Tons of laughter to be found for anyone who can appreciate the best of the 1960’s sit-coms.
Video
Each episode of Gomer Pyle is presented in its original full frame broadcast format. It is almost hard to remember you are watching a 40 year old series with this fine transfer. Certainly there is a dead giveaway to age in the softness of the picture, but the prints are remarkably clean. Colors might be soft, but they are well enough defined that I doubt it ever looked better. This was a show in the early stages of television color as it began in black and white. Black levels are only fair, but again consider the age and they become that much more impressive.
Audio
The Dolby Digital Mono track is serviceable for the kind of a show Gomer Pyle is. You’re in it for the dialog, and it comes through just fine. There is some high end distortion during some of the music, but nothing that can’t be ignored for this kind of material.
Nothing.
Final Thoughts
01/26/2008 @ 1:00 pm
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01/27/2008 @ 9:22 pm
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