I've recently gotten into a curious diversion: watching old episodes of Mike Hammer. No, not the 1980's Stacy Keach version, but the 1957 Darrin McGavin version Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer. Half hour episodes in b&w, on YouTube. I've never seen these before although I had heard of them.
Anyone who accuses Star Trek of being sexist really has to watch some 1950's television. This really is pure episodic television doing pulp style "two fisted tales." Most of the women are pure set decor dressed as revealingly as they could get away with. Men call women names you simply couldn't get away with today. And seemingly everyone smokes. Within the confines of what censors tolerated the show could get quite violent. We actually see combatants kneeing each other in the face and groin--ouch. Darrin McGavin wasn't as laconic or laid back as Stacy Keach could be. He could also be somewhat more comedic. But I also find McGavin more convincingly violent than Keach.
In the end, though, I find the character more suited to the 1950s than the '80s or more contemporary times. I'm rather enjoying these even if they are dated as hell.
There is something of a simpler charm to them. Interesting that some reviews of the time called the show "one of the worst on television" and tagged it as overly violent. It's tame as hell compared to today. 
Anyone who accuses Star Trek of being sexist really has to watch some 1950's television. This really is pure episodic television doing pulp style "two fisted tales." Most of the women are pure set decor dressed as revealingly as they could get away with. Men call women names you simply couldn't get away with today. And seemingly everyone smokes. Within the confines of what censors tolerated the show could get quite violent. We actually see combatants kneeing each other in the face and groin--ouch. Darrin McGavin wasn't as laconic or laid back as Stacy Keach could be. He could also be somewhat more comedic. But I also find McGavin more convincingly violent than Keach.
In the end, though, I find the character more suited to the 1950s than the '80s or more contemporary times. I'm rather enjoying these even if they are dated as hell.
There is something of a simpler charm to them. Interesting that some reviews of the time called the show "one of the worst on television" and tagged it as overly violent. It's tame as hell compared to today. 
