Tue 20 Sep 2016
A TV Mystery Review: DAN RAVEN “The High Cost of Living” (1960).
Posted by Steve under Reviews , TV mysteries[7] Comments
DAN RAVEN “The High Cost of Living.” NBC, 20 September 1960; 60 minutes. Cast: Skip Homeier (Lt. Dan Raven), Dan Barton (Det. Sgt. Burke), Quinn K. Redeker. Guest Cast: Bobby Darin, Corey Allen, Richard Carlyle, Sue Ane Langdon. Director: Joseph M. Newman.
There is seriously conflicting information about this series online. Wikipedia says that the series began as a 30 minute program on January 23, 1960, and expanded to 60 minutes on September 23, whereas IMDb suggests that that was the date of the first program altogether. If the latter is correct, the episode I’ve just watched is Episode 1 of Season 1.
The setting of this fairly standard black and white police procedural is Los Angeles, and Hollywood’s famed Sunset Strip in particular. The extra gimmick, at least for this part of the run, is to have famous actors, actresses and other celebrities play themselves in leading roles in dramatized versions of scrapes they might get into. (From the preview provided at the end of this one, the next episode starred Buddy Hackett.)
Bobby Darin is framed for murder in this one, and it’s a fairly flimsy setup at that — his photo is found at the scene of the crime in a smashed frame (hmm) and a charred piece of notepaper is discovered in the fireplace with the name Bobby on it, paper from the club where he works.
I didn’t keep track, but Darin also gets to sing at least two songs. There’s also an old friend of his hanging around town would could provide an alibi for him, if he could only be found. I’m not sure the plotting is at all airtight, but I don’t imagine anyone at the time was going to ask for their money back if it wasn’t.
Skip Homeier had nearly a 40 year career in movies and TV, and while he never became a star, he did make a successful transition from child actor to at least a busy one as an adult. In this single episode of Dan Raven I’ve seen, he reminded me a bit of Lee Marvin, maybe better looking, but without the latter’s overwhelming onscreen charisma.
September 20th, 2016 at 2:16 pm
Thank you for an intriguing review!
I’ve never heard of Dan Raven, let alone seen it. It sounds like my cup of tea.
Skip Homeier is a talented actor. He’s always fascinating to watch. I’ve mainly seen him in villain roles. Would very much like to see him as a traditional hero.
September 20th, 2016 at 6:30 pm
This is a new series for me also. I’m not surprised. It was on while I was in college, well away from TV and TV sets altogether.
September 22nd, 2016 at 11:38 am
I have a few episodes in my collection and watched one awhile back and was so underwhelmed I haven’t had any desire to watch another.. The TV cop/PI genre filled the TV schedule in the 58-61 period. I found this one of the dullest and most forgettable examples. If I remember right the story focused on the guest cast and not the star. In an era with all the Peter Gunn clones Dan Raven was just another bland TV cop/PI show.
September 22nd, 2016 at 12:18 pm
All the TV episode guides and reference books but Wikipedia have this premiering on September 23, 1960 with the episode The High Cost of Fame.
It aired on Friday and was always a hour long though some have it airing 8-9pm and others have it airing 7:30-8:30pm.
Here is the opening title that got my hopes up before I saw an episode.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2upvDnpB39U
There are some clips of this episode on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmJ6-6xwEMI
September 22nd, 2016 at 4:46 pm
Michael, I think the word “bland” is a good one to use to describe this series. I don’t know if it was on at the same time as PETER GUNN or M SQUAD, but it certainly doesn’t compare to either one in terms of unforgetability.
Which is why, I suppose, the series has been completely forgotten.
September 22nd, 2016 at 4:49 pm
Michael again. Even before your comment, I was inclined to go with IMDb over Wikipedia as to the (probably) imaginary 30-minute series that preceded this first of the 60 minute ones. Unless someone can prove otherwise, I’m going to assume that the 30 minute shows don’t exist.
September 23rd, 2016 at 11:00 pm
I always had problems with accepting Homeier as anything but a villain. He just played psychos so well.