Mon 14 Jan 2013
A TV Review by Michael Shonk: THE FIFTH CORNER (1992).
Posted by Steve under Reviews , TV mysteries[10] Comments
THE FIFTH CORNER. NBC, 1992. Tri-Star Television / John Herzfeld Production / Adelson and Baumgarter Production. Cast: Alex McArthur as Fifth Corner, James Coburn as Dr. Grandwell, Kim Delaney as Erica Fontaine, J.E. Freeman as Boone, and Anthony Valentine as The Hat. Creator and Executive Producer: John Herzfeld, Executive Producers: Gary Adelson and Craig Baumgarter, Supervising Producer: Bruce Zabel. Producer: Paul Pompian, Co-Producer: Robert Florio. Music by David Michael Frank.
Over at YouTube I found a clip for the forgotten TV series THE FIFTH CORNER:
As a fan of spy and noir fiction, I was hooked. The series itself was short lived with six hours filmed (two hour TV Movie and four hour long episodes). NBC cancelled it and took it off the air after its second week leaving three of the hour-long episodes unaired.
I have found a copy of all six hours in the Collector’s market at sell.com.
John Herzfeld (DR. VEGAS) created a flawed but delightful mystery, full of clues, red herrings, twists, macguffins, betrayals, sex and violence. His most serious mistake was taking the cynical hardboiled spy noir story and telling it with the emotional, express-your-feelings style of the early 90s.
The man with amnesia had many names. His evil co-workers called him George, but to simplify things we will call him by the nickname they had given him, Fifth Corner. He was called the Fifth Corner because when there was no way out he would find one.
Star Alex McArthur (RAMPAGE) played Fifth Corner like the typical early 90s male hero, the sensitive man, intense, emotional, not afraid to cry. Fifth Corner had been a top spy and ruthless killer but when he loses his memory McArthur’s version becomes an emotional wreck. This unlikely change for the character cost the character much of its appeal and believability. In his favor, McArthur seemed to find the character’s stronger side as the series progressed.
Fans of Kim Delany (NYPD BLUE) will enjoy her wardrobe or lack of, as she does what she can with the stereotypical character of the beautiful, headstrong, independent woman who becomes the hero’s love interest. To add to her challenge her character, saxophone playing, NY Times reporter Erica Fontaine had some of the most out of place dialog in the series such as, “I never let down my guard, but with you I dropped it like a whore’s nightgown.â€
J.E. Reeder (MILLER’S CROSSING) was convincing as Fifth Corner’s sidekick. But the character was weakened by too many quirks, the lover of take-out food, comic book reader, AA member with a fear of bad breath who lives in the front seat of the limo. Attempts to comment of Fifth Corner’s problems by mirroring them with Boone’s problems from his past did not work. The bit with Boone being a former op of The Corporation who fell in love with the wife of the last man he killed was a gratuitous side-trip from the all ready complicated story.
I am a fan of James Coburn (DAIN’S CURSE) especially when he is using his cool laid-back persona as he does here as evil billionaire Dr Grandwell, a man who never lets a life or country get in his way of making money. I do wish the story had spent more time with Grandwell and his mysterious beautiful, blind, female companion (Julia Nickson-Soul, BABYLON 5).
Grandwell’s second in command “The Hat†(Anthony Valentine, CALLAH) might have worked as a noir character but the bit with the hat was too silly visually. His minions all had the proper noir background, the blonde femme fatale (Madchen Amick, TWIN PEAKS), the femme fatale’s killer boy toy (Mark Joy, DOGMA) the psychopath Cristoph Ohrt, (EDEL & STARCK), and the good solider (Voyo, RAMBO FIRST BLOOD PART 2).
David Michael Frank’s (ABOVE THE LAW) soundtrack was delightfully appropriate for film noir. The one exception was his original song, “Hold Onto That Feeling†(co-written with Robert Jason who performed it) for the episode “Home†that as a bad sentimental 90s pop song may have fit the melodrama of the episode, had no place in a spy-noir TV series.
EPISODE INDEX:
“Trio.” (April 17, 1992) Friday, 9pm-11pm (Eastern). Written and directed by John Herzfeld. Guest Cast: Sergio Calderon *** A man who lost his memory finds himself tied to the murder of a woman and a larger conspiracy. He discovers he has many names, one of which is the nickname Fifth Corner. A beautiful redhead named Erica is on his trail. Everyone wants his mysterious diary (a laptop with details of all his assignments). His evil boss Grandwell wants him back working for The Corporation, which disappoints Fifth Corner’s rival The Hat who wants him dead.
Each episode featured a self-contained mystery involving another persona of Fifth Corner. We began with the name Richard Braun, but then switched to George Thompson. The mystery was who killed the woman “Richard†woke up with in bed, and why she was killed. “George†switched our attention to Grandwell and the mystery of who the Fifth Corner was.
The TV movie was fun, if flawed. As with most spy-noir fiction, the story was not overburdened with reality. The murder mystery was solved and Fifth Corner, Erica and Boone joined together to take on Dr. Grandwell and his evil corporation.
Ratings: 16 share. Opposite: ABC aired repeat DINOSAURS (20), repeat BABY TALK (20) and new 20/20 (27). CBS had a repeat of JANEK “Murder Times Seven (1990) (15). FOX had a new SIGHTINGS (13), repeat TOTALLY HIDDEN VIDEO (9) and turned 10-11pm over to local stations.
“Eva.” (April 24, 1992) Friday, 10-11pm Written by John Herzfeld. Directed by Albert Pyun. Guest Cast: Peter Kwong and Tim Thomerson. *** Fifth Corner (aka “Georgeâ€) search for his wife Eva is interrupted when he is arrested as Jack Previn for the murder of a Japanese electronic genius. He is about to be extradited to Japan when the blonde who works for The Hat arrives and post bail.
The new name is Jack Previn and the mystery is the death of a Japanese inventor and his missing amazing electronic gadget. The arc story of Fifth Corner’s search for his identity and Erica’s obsession about bringing down Grandwell continue as the series primary focus.
Ratings: 13 share. Opposite: ABC aired new 20/20 (26), CBS had repeat BURT REYNOLDS SPECIAL (15), and FOX turned the time over to local stations.
“Home.” (never aired). Written by John Herzfeld and Bryce Zabel. Directed by Sam Pillsbury. Guest Cast: Barbara Barrie and Chris Allport *** While Fifth Corner continues to search for his identity Grandwell has erased all evidence of Erica’s existence. Fifth Corner may have found his family and his name, John Avlean. The mob is moving in on John’s big brother’s restaurant. When the Fifth Corner and Boone take on the mob, things go wrong.
This week’s name is John Avlean and the mystery deals with the mob’s attempt to take over John’s big brother’s restaurant.
This episode suffers from too much emotional melodrama but the scene where Fifth Corner and Boone take on the mob was full of style and shocking surprises that made the scene one of the best moments of the series.
“Woman at Her Toilette.” (unaired). Written by Leslie Bohem and John Herzfeld. Directed by Gabrielle Beaumont. Guest Cast: Marina Sirtis, and Frank Stallone *** Grandwell wants the painting he had Anthony Parachini (Fifth Corner) steal for him. Fifth Corner can’t remember where the painting is, but finds yet another identity, Jean Michel, that leads him to it. To complicate things, a hit squad arrives to kill Grandwell, and Anthony and get the painting. To save Erica and get her life back, Fifth Corner makes a deal with Grandwell.
Two new names are featured, Anthony who worked for Grandwell and Jean who lead a secret life from Grandwell. The mystery is where is the painting.
Perhaps the weirdest episode of the series, highlighted by Marina Sirtis (STAR TREK NEXT GENERATION) doing an erotic performance art piece for Fifth Corner, Erica, and Boone that had nothing to do with the story or arc.
“Sword of Damocles.” (never aired). Written and directed by John Herzfeld. Guest Cast: Paul Cain and Tianna Thorpe *** Fifth Corner had agreed never see Erica again if Grandwell restores her identity. When Erica learns of the deal, she rejects it, even if it means she will be killed. Grandwell remains in his forgiving mood in regard to Fifth Corner, but The Hat finally convinces Grandwell to let him kill Fifth Corner. Grandwell expects and hopes The Hat will fail.
The last episode spares us a new name or mystery as we rush towards the resolution of Grandwell and Fifth Corner arc story. The final gunfight is the perfect example of where this series went wrong, as everyone was busy self-analyzing each other that the actual shooting was almost an afterthought. The series ends with many of the questions unanswered including the real name of Fifth Corner.
While I recommend this series, if there ever was a TV series that needs to be remade it is THE FIFTH CORNER. This spy noir series was a great idea that deserved better.
SOURCES:
January 14th, 2013 at 4:34 pm
For readers in the distance future and the link to YouTube might not work. Here is the narration by James Coburn,
“He woke up and couldn’t remember who he was, where he been or what he done. And then he discovered he was not just one man but many. A spy with many talents. An operative for a billionaire’s secret organization that wants him back. (MUSIC UP then softer)
His only chance to survive lies with a woman who holds the key to his past and knows the secrets of his soul. (MUSIC UP then softer)
So he’s running for his life, trying to discover who he is and why we call him the Fifth Corner.”
January 14th, 2013 at 7:48 pm
Thanks for adding that, Michael. Videos on YouTube do have a tendency to come and go without notice,
This, of all the TV series you’ve reviewed for this blog, may well be the most obscure. I wonder if anyone reading this actually watched it when it was first broadcast.
In any case, you make the show sound very interesting. I may have see if I can’t find a bootleg copy myself.
January 15th, 2013 at 8:07 am
Forgotten is right. How about “never heard of it?”
January 15th, 2013 at 9:11 am
Right, Michael sure knows how to pick ’em; he clearly has a fondness for “forgotten” shows, which is one of the reasons his selections are so interesting. I too have zero recollection of this show, which is surprising to me because in 1992 I was in my fourth and final year as a TV editor at Variety, and I read hundreds and hundreds of reviews during that time (many by “Tone,” the late Tony Scott).
Amnesia is a well-established noir motif (look here for some examples: http://www.criminalelement.com/blogs/2011/04/memento-and-amnesia-noir), and also frequently surfaces in what I would call TV noir (Coronet Blue is the most obvious example, but it also pops up in episodes of such series as The X-Files and Run for Your Life, and many others).
One interesting tidbit about Alex McArthur, for anyone who didn’t know: In 1989 he co-starred in the TV movie LA Takedown, which was written and directed by Michael Mann and intended as a series for NBC. When the network passed, Mann turned LA Takedown into the theatrical film Heat; McArthur plays the role that eventually went to De Niro.
January 15th, 2013 at 9:35 am
Creator and executive producer John Herzfeld is currently busy in post-production (according to IMdb) for REACH ME, a film he wrote and directed that stars Frank Stallone’s brother, Sylvester.
January 15th, 2013 at 2:15 pm
#4. David, Variety reviewed this. Carole Kucharewicz hated it. Its in the book “Variety TV Rev 1991-92” at google books. I don’t think she was a fan or aware of noir.
January 16th, 2013 at 5:14 pm
How I missed this …
Back in the early ’80s, I had a boss, about my age and with similar tastes in things, with whom I shared a long-standing fondness for All My Children, the ABC daytime soap.
It was during this period (roughly ’81-84) that Kim Delaney was a regular player on AMC.
Her character was Jenny Gardner, one of the most incredibly sweet-natured young girls to appear on any soap – which meant that she was the resident doormat for the mean girls.
My friend Jim had a major crush on ‘Jenny’; he suffered through every disaster that she went through – being blamed for things that she’d had nothing to do with, several near-miss sexual attacks, the worst white-trash Mama around … but somehow ‘Jenny’ always remained sweet and virginal, right up to her eventual marriage to the equally sweet ‘Greg Nelson’.
** Just thought of an old British TV joke:
“She’s so delightfully chaste.”
“And so easily caught up with.” **
Anyway, back to “Greg & Jenny”:
My boss/friend Jim was majorly hung up on ‘Jenny’, right up to the summer of ’84, when AMC killed her off.
Kim Delaney had been getting primetime offers which were kind of hard to ignore, and so ‘Jenny’ got blown up on a jet-ski, a fate that a jealous rival had intended for ‘Greg’.
This perturbed Jim, but that was nothing compared to Kim Delaney’s subsequent career.
Because, post-AMC, Kim Delaney almost never played a “nice girl” again.
Her NYPD Blue may have been sympathetic, but Jim was a bit of a prude, and that series’s “partial nudity” thing may have turned him off (or not; I can’t recall if we ever talked about that).
Her private life also turned out to be a bit on the disorderly side, with divorces and DUIs, among other things.
I’ve lost touch with Jim in the years since, but I don’t think that he ever quite recovered from Kim Delaney turning out to be not at all like ‘Jenny Gardner’.
So, based on what I’ve read about this “lost series”, I’m guessing that my friend Jim would have been disappointed once more by his long-ago “dream girl”.
Ok, that was sort of irrelevant, but I haven’t commented here in a while, and I needed an excuse, so there too.
January 16th, 2013 at 9:38 pm
#7. Mike, you are right, your friend would not have approved. She had at least three sex scenes. My favorite line came from her.
The Fifth Corner was trying to convince her to have sex. She said they were too different. He mentioned opposites attract. Her reply was, “Dogs chase cats. They don’t mate.” A few lines later the two were on the floor.
What was so off about her occasional out of character noir smart ass dialog was she was supposed to be the top investigative reporter for the NY “Times.” Now if she had been with the NY “Post” those odd moments might have been more believable.
October 17th, 2014 at 7:25 pm
This vaguely makes me think of a new show, “Legends”.
I will have to watch this and see if it compares in any way. Thanks for the great review.
October 17th, 2014 at 9:17 pm
Mr. Moe Curly Howard, I have watched both. THE FIFTH CORNER spy worked for a evil business corporation. LEGENDS spy worked for our good guys (as far as we can believe in today’s world) government. FC was the good guy who had done bad things. The bad guys knew who he was, even if he didn’t. LEGENDS is a broken man from his many fake identities that have lead to him to lose who he is. There is doubt if he is a good guy.
I preferred FIFTH CORNER, it is simpler and more bright noir than LEGENDS. The writing in FC is better than the cliche riddled LEGENDS. FIFTH CORNER has James Coburn as a great villain, LEGENDS had Sean Bean, neither series cast beyond that was much better than average.
I need to read Robert Littell’s novel LEGENDS (2005).