Love The Green Hornet/Kato.Bruce Lee and Van Williams put crime fighting and action of martial arts on the television series. First class series. Batman and Robin met these two at the pink stamp factory episode.great action all around. They don't make series like these anymore. Stuff of legend!
Compared to the other superhero series of the time period, Green Hornet seemed more realistic. The Kato character alone, was so exciting and real. Not your average Hollywood action show. Darker bad guys. Very good acting. Show was truly ahead of its time. Too good for TV. So glad to see the Green Hornet again. Thank you for posting.
It was a standard police drama for the time. The only difference was the hero had a mask. At this point the success of Batman made it almost impossible for a masked crime-fighter to be taken seriously. A number of articles and reviews that appeared when the series debuted stated that. However this series has aged very well, all of the Bruce Lee fanboys aside.
Unfortunately Batman (Adam West/Burt Ward) was being made around the same time--the audience wasn't as receptive to a "darker" version of a superhero in the Green Hornet after watching the "campy" Batman--its too bad the Green Hornet couldn't have been made a few years later after the Batman craze had played itself out
I just respect the actors on the green hornet they was extremely good and I just recently watched every single episode again for about the 30th time i still get mad every time at Hollywood for not renewing it for more seasons
or another network at the time seeing its potential and picking up the option and continuing it. There were shows during that era that started on one network and ended up on another (Get Smart, My Three Sons). In fact, the story goes that NBC was going to pick up Batman from ABC/Greenwood Productions and resume the "two night a week" format but when they found out the Batcave had been demolished and it would cost ~$800K to rebuild it they dropped the idea
Van Williams had said in an interview he was glad the series only lasted one season as it was physically so demanding that he was tired of doing it--he said the best thing about doing the show was the friendship he made with Bruce Lee (Kato)--he actually demanded that the writers give Mr. Lee more storylines as he knew most people watched the show to see Kato
It was such a shame that the green hornet was short lived it was such a great show with wonderful actors but Hollywood has made so many mistakes and this was one in the top 5 mistakes
Batman which aired around the same time-was played more of a "campy" way--whereas the Green Hornet was straight drama-and the audience at that time wasn't ready for that kind of portrayal
+Mary Hoffman What is really sad is that Van Williams is the only remaining cast member that is still alive. The rest of the Green Hornet cast has pasted away. :(
The police cruiser at the factory, 1966 Dodge Coronet 440. Hefty engine, fast as hell. I got my hands on one back in '90 to restore. Great car until it was stolen. Never found..
That would have been totally GREAT!!!! Kato did play get to speak in their confrontation with Batman and Robin. Every little kid in my neighborhood was looking forward to seeing that episode when it was first advertised. I knew very little about martial arts in those days but a kid in my class who was taking Karate classes told me "Kato is going to kill Robin!!!" Another kid in my class who was a Batman fan and had been taking some boxing lessons said to us "And Batman is going to kill the Green Hornet". They both turned out to be right!!! Wow!!!! P.S. After seeing the Green Hornet movie and have really come to appreciate this Green Hornet so much more!!!! A better fighter and much more cool and professional the awful character poor Seth Rogen had to portray!!!!
I think Kato did a LOT of talking with his hands& feet.matter of fact,he got more than mail than Van Williams & went on to do more but roles& eventually went to the orient for his film career.
Van Williams did all he could to get more screen time for Bruce Lee (they became very good friends while on this show)-Mr. Williams came to realize that most people tuned in to see Bruce Lee and wanted the writers to respect that and incorporate him into more of the stories
Al Hirt was the trumpeter of this theme. Interestingly he also took part in the half time show at Super Bowl 4 at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans (Chiefs vs Vikings)
Van Williams and Bruce Lee became very good friends while working on this show---Mr. Williams came to realize that most of the viewers tuned in to see Bruce Lee and as such pressed upon the writers to include Mr. Lee in more of the stories than just being his "houseboy"
First off,, Why would anyone kill someone in cold blood with witnesses around just to throw away their reputation? The police officer needs to get a CLUE 😉
This episode was very cleverly written and acted. A very professional and presentation. I always get a good laugh as it looks like no other vehicles and pedestrians are out after dark. Maybe it’s time for a reboot of this show. Should be interesting (as long as Seth Rogen isn’t involved!).
I thought it was well written and acted too. The only part I question is why Miss Case suddenly remembers where the killer slipped the activating device into the flower vase. Seemed to me she would have told the police/Mr. Reid about that ASAP and not have remembered it later in the storyline.
I always thought the Green Hornet was a modern version of the Lone Ranger - a masked man who fights criminals with a partner from another culture. I just learned that, George Trendle, the man who created The Lone Ranger, also created The Green Hornet. Oh, and the Ranger - real name, John Reid - and the Hornet - Britt Reid - are related. I'm just finding this out now? Blimey! 🧐
Excellent episode. We got to see Kato kick some ass (it was too bad they were policemen but that is how it went in this episode) and Miss Case looked great. The Green Hornet has a great right hand.
The temporary publisher is Carey Loftin, who played General Bradley’s jeep driver in the movie, 🍿 “Patton.” He is Hollywood’s greatest stunt driver, and drove the 1970 Dodge Challenger in the movie, 🎥 “Vanishing Point.” 🎌 thanks 🚩
I always just for fun like to think about how Batman (Adam West) would have handled that situation. If that man gives Bruce Wayne a gun the first thing Bruce would do is carefully point the gun toward the ceiling. Next he would immediately carefully and safely remove the gun's clip. He then would check to see if it had bullets in it. Upon finding a bullet(s) in the clip he would have given that guy a stern look and a lecture. He would have told him "That was a very foolish thing to do giving me a loaded gun as a gift, It could have gone off and hurt someone. Never give anyone a loaded gun as a gift it is extremely stupid". He then would have removed the bullet from clip and given the three separate parts to Alfred to lock up in a hidden safe somewhere!!!! Ha! Ha! Bruce would have left that criminal looking stupid!!!! Lol!!!! Lastly he would told Robin "Are you taking notes?" And Robin with a big smile on his face, would have said "Yes Bruce I sure am!!! Lol!!!!
I do agree with on of the comments this episode would have been great as a two parts with part one ending with Britt being arrested which would lead to Kato Miss Case and the D A attempting to prove Britt's innocents Through I would have added a gang working for true ring leader. Kato has to have someone to beat up and follow the plot remote controlled gun and all that perhaps a season finale like that would have saved the series. I know that the show was much better than Batman but the one thing Batman had over the Green Hornet was that the weekly villians were all played by famous actors, I E Ceaser Romero Burgess Meredith Frank Gorshin Julie Newmar Cliff Robertson Shelly Winters George Saunders Otto Preminger and Tallulah Bankhead all of them A or B list actors including two academy award winners Cliff Robertson and I think Burgess Meredith so yes while Batman was campy as hell, I think it was Tallulah Bankhead said you know you have made it when you guest star on Batman.
This show was so much better as it wasn't as "campy" as Batman. Kato was every boy's hero and we all watched just to see his fight scenes. I liked and enjoyed Batman too, but This WAS a great show, as some of the things done were more "believable." As a 12-13 yo, these shows were the talk of my 6th grade class the next school morning with all my friends. LOL.
Batman premiered in January 1966 and The Green Hornet in 1967. Audiences had gotten used to the "campy" Batman and thought the Green Hornet would be a continuation of that. When they saw that it was done as pure drama they weren't as receptive to it. It was only in syndication that The Green Hornet was truly appreciated for what a great show it was. I always wondered if the Green Hornet had started before Batman if it would have been better received initially.
Fun Fact: From the beginning, Bill Dozier wanted Green Hornet to be an hour-long show, at a later time period. Late in the season, Dozier wrote a detailed memo to ABC, asking that the series be expanded in just this fashion; the memo's been published in a book about the series (you should all read it when you get the chance).
This one had me until Dad started teaching me to shoot. A collector like Reid would've cleared that pistol the second he picked it up. That said, I like this show.
Besides Cary Loftin, Bill Hickman portrayed General Patton’s jeep driver in the movie 🍿 “Patton.” Bill, another Hollywood stunt driver, drove the 1968 Dodge Charger in the movie, 🎥 “Bullitt,” starring Steve Mc Queen.
Rules for safe gun handling. 1. Treat all guns as if they are always loaded. 2. Never let the muzzle point at anything that you are not willing to destroy. 3. Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on target and you have made the decision to shoot. 4. Be sure of your target and what is behind it. Rule 2 would have kept Reid out of a lot of trouble.
One of my favorite episodes despite the goofy gun information and mishandling. This episode happened before Jeff Cooper and USPSA or IDPA. Thell Reid must have been around, and they could have used him to help parts of this script out. Anyway, still a good episode.
The Green Hornet was a great TV series. It's a shame it only lasted 1 season. I've never understood how they had Kato keep the same name even when he was at home with Britt Reid.
The guy who tried to set up britt played roger corby in star trek TOS alot of batman/GH series actors crossed over to star trek.. also a few KOLCHAKers in both series, ELIJAH COOK, RALPH MEEKER, RICHARD ANDERSON, BARRY ATWATER, JOHN CARRADINE, TO name a few..
did anyone besides steve20127 notice the typo on the sign at 15:44? dale maintains great composure at 20:47. he realized that britt knew what was going on, and likely would have figured out how it had happened. at 21:30 we see a big hole. if the radio would set off the receiver in the weapon when it was brought close enough, why did the gun not fire when britt put it on the table right next to the transmitter? i’d forgotten that michael strong had played roger korby (not corby!). i think they could’ve developed his character better, but we do see how ruthless he could be with his story convicting britt in print. i always liked this episode, but when i saw it originally, i missed the inconsistencies. one thing i noticed in some of these episodes: the use of the contrabassoon now and then. you hardly ever hear this instrument on television.
Van Williams had said in interviews that he was glad that The Green Hornet only lasted one season as it was a very physically difficult show to do and being only a half-hour show they were on a very tight schedule to put out an episode each week. The show's producer William Dozier (who was also doing Batman at that time) told Greenwood Productions and ABC that he would only agree to do another season if they made The Green Hornet a full one-hour show. Unfortunately, the budget simply wasn't there to do it so the Green Hornet only lasted for one season.
All on has to do…is to look at look at 9:05-9:10, (looking at how The BLACK BEAUTY took that curve ), to see just what a SUPERIOR ROAD CAR that IMPERIAL was , compared to Cadillac and Lincoln. Superior to its competitors in EVERY WAY!! That’s why IMPERIALS were considered the “Driver’s Car” among The Big 3 American Luxury Cars. A Lincoln or Cadillac would NOT be able to speed around that curve…without SKIDDING out of CONTROL!!
Its too bad this didn't last 2 more seasons. This and Batman could have been a great combo....since they are practically the same show. Style and everything. Even the title cards have the same font.
This is a great episode, the last truly great one, but I felt the two parter, while below normal standard, was okay. It was fun. Not nearly as campy as write ups say, but a little too much in the Irwin Allen style when it came to the alien costumes.
In defense of those two: while they were indeed campier, the situation was so grave that the Green Hornet wasn't out to take part in the operation, but to stop them outright no matter what. So that was neat. But it couldn't save the episodes unfortunately.
This reminds me of the MacMillian and wife episode "Cop of the Year" where John Schuck is seen shooting his ex-wife at a party (played by Lorraine Gary). MacMillian gets some clues how it happened from a movie stunt coordinator.
I LIKE SO MUCH THIS SERIES! BUT WHERE I CAN FOUND IT IN ITALIAN? EVEN IF I UNDERSTAND WELL THE ENGLISH, IT WILL BE NICE IF THIS SERIES COULD BE DUBBED IN ITALIAN! BY THE WAY,THANKS TO PERSON THAT HAVE PUT ON LINE THE SERIES!😀😃😄😁😆😅🤣
