its very easy to get taken in all over again by this sweet natured comedy. i was only 3 in 1968 but definitely remember watching it yrs later in reruns. catching it again on you tube made me fall in love with the late Edward Mulhare, not only is he handsome but he oozes such passion with his eyes that no words could express. in some scenes especially the dreams where he gets to hold and finally kiss Hope Lange is where it really tugs at your heart. I think this comedy did not survive more so because of the fact is was not a Brady bunch or family affair type of comedy at the time.
it was much more adult especially with the relationship between the captain and Mrs Muirs,those longing glances they gave each other. Everyone else on the show were more or less there to fill the screen when the capt wasn't on screen himself. the kids were not likable and always looked like they were having trouble saying their lines which was just a pain to watch . the housekeeper was also an unnecessary character like say aunt Clara was on bewitched and as for Charles nelson Reilly, his character was too over the top camp and played to the hilt.if you didn't know he was gay in real life you had to be deaf and blind. he simply was too much for this type of comedy- the bungling flamboyant loser and sight gags really brought it down sometimes.
i think had they given it a bit more substance and better writing it might have competed better. some of the later episodes focused too much on claymores life and infantile comic plots than good comedy. the pratfalls and objects floating around to scare people became less fun and more yawn worthy with Mulhare's talent being wasted in more juvenile plot elements. there was not enough witty comedic banter between Lange and Mulhare that could have been so good if they had hired better writers. in the end i will always remember the romance of the capt and Mrs Muir.Who could have resisted him?. i know i couldn't have .
it was much more adult especially with the relationship between the captain and Mrs Muirs,those longing glances they gave each other. Everyone else on the show were more or less there to fill the screen when the capt wasn't on screen himself. the kids were not likable and always looked like they were having trouble saying their lines which was just a pain to watch . the housekeeper was also an unnecessary character like say aunt Clara was on bewitched and as for Charles nelson Reilly, his character was too over the top camp and played to the hilt.if you didn't know he was gay in real life you had to be deaf and blind. he simply was too much for this type of comedy- the bungling flamboyant loser and sight gags really brought it down sometimes.
i think had they given it a bit more substance and better writing it might have competed better. some of the later episodes focused too much on claymores life and infantile comic plots than good comedy. the pratfalls and objects floating around to scare people became less fun and more yawn worthy with Mulhare's talent being wasted in more juvenile plot elements. there was not enough witty comedic banter between Lange and Mulhare that could have been so good if they had hired better writers. in the end i will always remember the romance of the capt and Mrs Muir.Who could have resisted him?. i know i couldn't have .