Gilligan’s Island - the complete third season
DVD review of Gilligan's Island, the complete third and final season - starring Bob Denver as Gilligan, Alan Hale Jr. as the Skipper, Jim Backus as Thurston Howell III, Natalie Schaefer as Lovey Howell, Tina Louise as Ginger, Russell Johnson as the Professor, Dawn Wells as Mary AnnGilligan’s Island - the complete third season, starring Bob Denver, Alan Hale Jr., Jim Backus, Natalie Schaefer, Tina Louise, Russell Johnson, Dawn Wells
This is the final season of the classic television series, "Gilligan’s Island." It make me sad that there weren’t more. It contains some of the funniest television ever filmed. Some of the gems include the comedy team of the Skipper and his "little buddy" Gilligan (portrayed by Alan Hale Jr. and Bob Denver, one of the great TV comedy teams, in my opinion). Thirty years after having seen these episodes for the first time, I still remember vividly some of them, such as Gilligan’s dream of being on trial as a Jekyll/Hyde creature, when he thinks he’s becoming a vampire after having been bitten by a bat, the rapid-fire conversations between Mary Ann and Gilligan, Gilligan’s attempting to fly back to the mainland with wings made from palm trees - and the Skipper telling him, as Gilligan’s airborne, that it can’t work—"It can’t?" "No, it can’t!" bellows the Skipper—only to have Gilligan fall and land on him, now that Gilligan knows that he can’t do (what he was already doing).
Are there any caveats to the DVD? Only the fact that there was no fourth season to look forward to. Extras on the DVD include season introduction by creator-producer Sherwood Schwartz, a commentary by Sherwood Schwartz on his favorite episode "The Producer" (episode 4, guest-starring Phil Silver), and the documentary "Gilligan’s Island: A Pop Culture Phenomenon". Any reason for not buying the DVD? Only if you plan to get all three seasons - you can order the complete Gilligan’s Island series instead of season by season, and save a few dollars. Feel free to look at reviews of Gilligan’s Island Season 1 and Gilligan’s Island Season 2 as well.
Editorial Review of "Gilligan’s Island, the complete third season" courtesy of Amazon.com
Though Gilligan and his fellow castaways will remain forever marooned in syndication, the series’ network run actually did come to an end in 1967 after a three-year run and 98 episodes. The final 30--which for Gilligan fanatics, include many of the show’s best--are compiled in this three-disc set, along with input from creator Sherwood Schwartz. It’s not known if Schwartz knew that the series was headed for cancellation, but he and the writers definitely appear to pour on the steam in season 3 to produce some of the series’ most imaginative episodes, many of which break out of the island sets through dream sequences; these include the season kickoff, "Up at Bat" (after being bitten by a bat, Gilligan dreams of being a vampire); "Pass the Vegetables, Please" (the castaways gain extraordinary powers after eating radioactive produce); "The Producer: (Phil Silvers guests as a Hollywood director whom the castaways attempt to win over with a musical production of Hamlet); "The Invasion" (the discovery of a government briefcase leads to Gilligan dreaming about spy capers); "The Secret of Gilligan’s Island" (a stone table leads to a caveman dream), and so on. A cruise ship’s worth of engaging guest stars (Don Rickles, Rory Calhoun, Strother Martin) and amusing performances by the always-game cast make this final season a worthwhile addition to any Gilligan groupie’s collection. And doubling its value is commentary by Schwartz on "The Producer" (arguably, one of the best episodes of the entire series), and a featurette about the show’s impact on pop culture. --Paul Gaita
Episode Synopsis of Gilligan’s Island, Season 3 DVD
- Episode 1 - Up at Bat - After being bitten by a bat, Gilligan is convinced that he is turning into a vampire.
- Episode 2 - Gilligan vs. Gilligan - Gilligan can’t convince the others that there is a Russian spy on the island and he looks just like him!
- Episode 3 - Pass The Vegetables Please - Gilligan finds a crate of radioactive vegetable seeds that give the castaways superhuman powers.
- Episode 4 - The Producer - Phil Silvers guest stars as Harold Hecuba and the castaways try to impress him by staging their own version of "Hamlet."
- Episode 5 - Voodoo - A witch doctor makes dolls in the likeness of the castaways and casts spells on them.
- Episode 6 - Where There’s A Will - Mr. Howell decides to revise his will and leave everything to his fellow castaways. When they throw him a party, he thinks that they are out to kill him.
- Episode 7 - Man With A Net - John McGiver guest stars as Lord Beasley, a butterfly collector in pursuit of the elusive pussycat swallowtail.
- Episode 8 - Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow - Gilligan and the Skipper mysteriously go bald and decide to live in a cave to avoid the stares of the others.
- Episode 9 - Ring Around Gilligan - Vito Scotti guest stars as mad scientist Dr. Boris Balinkoff who controls the castaways with a hypnotic ring.
- Episode 10 - Topsy-Turvy - Gilligan is having vision problems and there are headhunters on the island.
- Episode 11 - The Invasion - Gilligan finds an attache case filled with top secret files and has a dream that is Agent 014.
- Episode 12 - The Kidnapper - Don Rickles guest stars Norbert Wiley, a kidnapper who holds the women for ransom.
- Episode 13 - And Then There Were None - The castaways are vanishing one by one and Gilligan, thinking he is responsible, has a dream that he is Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde.
- Episode 14 - All About Eva - Tina Louise has a field day as the drab Eva Grubb, who gets a beauty make-over from the girls and ends up looking just like Ginger.
- Episode 15 - Gilligan Goes Gung Ho - Law and order is needed on the island so Skipper becomes the sheriff and Gilligan his deputy.
- Episode 16 - Take A Dare - Strother Martin guest stars as George Barkley, who is trying to win $10,000 by surviving on a deserted island. Only this island isn’t deserted!
- Episode 17 - Court-Martial - The Skipper is distraut when he hears that he is at fault for the Minnow shipwreck.
- Episode 18 - The Hunter - Rory Calhoun plays big game hunter Jonathan Kinkaid, who wants to hunt humans.
- Episode 19 - Lovey’s Secret Admirer - Mr. Howell is sending his wife anonymous love letters.
- Episode 20 - Our Vines Have Tender Grapes - Denny Miller guest stars as Tongo, the Ape Man, who is actually an actor vying for a movie role.
- Episode 21 - Gilligan’s Personal Magnetism - Gilligan becomes invisible.
- Episode 22 - Splashdown - The Professor calculates that a space shuttle will soon be flying over the island. The castaways prepare to get their attention.
- Episode 23 - High Man on the Totem Pole - After seeing his likeness on a totem pole, Gilligan thinks that he is the descendent of headhunters.
- Episode 24 - The Second Ginger Grant - Mary Ann thinks that she is Ginger after hitting her head.
- Episode 25 - The Secret of Gilligan’s Island - Gilligan and the Skipper find prehistoric tablets in a cave. Gilligan dreams that the castaways are living in prehistoric times.
- Episode 26 - Slave Girl - Gilligan saves the life of a native girl and now she wants to be his slave for life.
- Episode 27 - It’s A Bird, It’s A Plane - A jet pack floats into the lagoon - the Professor thinks that there is enough fuel in it to get one of them back to Hawaii.
- Episode 28 - The Pigeon - Sterling Holloway plays a prisoner who uses his homing pigeon to correspond with the castaways.
- Episode 29 - Bang! Bang! Bang! - A crate of molding plastic washes ashore and the castaways start using it but are unaware that it is actually an explosive.
- Episode 30 - Gilligan, the Goddess - Natives arrive on the island in search of a "white goddess" to feed to their volcano.
Funny quotes from Gilligan's Island
Ginger Grant: Wahine wiki huki luki nu, and I mean that from the bottom of my heart. Gilligan (Bob Denver): That's beautiful. What's it mean?Ginger Grant: It means this bar is off-limits to all military personnel.
The Skipper: You don't know anything about space.
Gilligan (Bob Denver): I do know one thing. You take up more of it than I do.
Gilligan (Bob Denver): Hiya, Professor. What are you doing?
The Professor: I'm making notes for a book. It's to be a chronicle of our adventures on the island... I think it's a book people will want to buy, don't you?
Gilligan (Bob Denver): Sure, I'll buy one. I'm dying to find out what happens to us.
Eunice Wentworth "Lovey" Howell: Anyone who says money can't buy happiness doesn't know where to shop. The Professor: Well, that glue is permanent! There's nothing on the island to dissolve it. Why do you know what it would take? It would take a polyester derivative of an organic hydroxide molecule.
Thurston Howell III: Watch your language! You're in the presence of a lady!
The Skipper: Ginger, I've got a problem... I've got a real problem... now you're a girl, right?
Ginger Grant: Well, if you're not sure about that, you have got a problem!
The Skipper: Gilligan little buddy come with me.
Gilligan (Bob Denver): I'm not finished yet.
The Skipper: Gilligan come with me!
Gilligan (Bob Denver): I'm finished.
Thurston Howell III: The 'Wizard of Wall Street' strikes again!
The Skipper: I'm not gonna marry that native girl!
the castaways have set up a courtroom and are conducting a trial
Thurston Howell III: Your Honor, will you get another gavel?
The Professor: Why?
Thurston Howell III: That one's squirting milk all over me.
Later in the same courtroom sequence
The Skipper: Ginger's very damaging to us.
Gilligan (Bob Denver): Yeah, her testimony.
The Skipper: No, her legs.
And finally...
Thurston Howell III: I'd like to charge Mary Ann with murder.
The Professor: Murder?
Thurston Howell III: Her testimony's killing me.
Gilligan (Bob Denver): You're a big man with a big head and - -...
The Skipper: Gilligan!
Gilligan (Bob Denver): And a big heart.
The Skipper: Oh, thank you.
Thurston Howell III: What is this slop?
The Skipper: It's Gilligan's own creation, Mr. Howell, It's coconut pot pie.
Gilligan (Bob Denver): What was that stuff you just gave me?
Eunice Wentworth "Lovey" Howell: That will help you sleep, it's a setative.
Gilligan (Bob Denver): Thanks, Mrs. Howell, but you're wasting your time. Those things don't work on me. I remember once ...
falls asleep
Gilligan (Bob Denver): Skipper, should I pick the yellow bananas or the red bananas, because the yellow bananas are green.
The Skipper: Then pick the red ones.
Gilligan (Bob Denver): But the red ones are pink.
The Skipper: Gilligan, I don't care if you pick red white and blue bananas, just pick some bananas!
Gilligan (Bob Denver): Okay, Skipper... Blue bananas?
The Professor: I'll get Mr. Howell and we'll reconnoiter.
The Skipper: Alright, we'll get Mr. Howell and we'll reconnoiter. Come on.
Gilligan (Bob Denver): Okay, but I think we ought to scout around a bit first.
Gilligan (Bob Denver): Do those headhunters really collect heads, Professor? The Professor: Yes, Gilligan. They boil them... they shrink them... and then they mount them on sticks.
Gilligan (Bob Denver): Eeeeeeew, what a crazy cane!
Thurston Howell III: You goofed, didn't you?
Robot: I am not programmed for that information.
Thurston Howell III: I wonder what next year's models are gonna look like.
Robot: I am not...
Thurston Howell III: Oh shut up!
The Skipper: I guess it will be a long time before you'll eat another mushroom.
Mary Ann Summers: You can say that again.
laughs
Gilligan (Bob Denver): Don't worry about mushrooms anymore, I got a book that tells all about them.
The Skipper: You do?
Gilligan (Bob Denver): Huh huh. Yeah, and it's called, "'How to Tell A Mushroom From a Toadstool'" by the late Dr. Morton Kepstone.
The Skipper, Mary Ann Summers: Late?
Gilligan (Bob Denver): Late?
The Professor: Listen, Gilligan, how far down was she? How many feet?
Gilligan (Bob Denver): Professor, in navy circles, we don't say "feet". We say "fathoms".
The Professor: Alright, how many fathoms?
Gilligan: Oh I don't know, about 15 feet.
upon finding a robot
The Skipper: If I were ever seen talking to this refugee from a junk yard, they'd think the skipper lost all his marbles.
Robot: The skipper lost his marbles.
Trivia about Gilligan's Island
- Jayne Mansfield turned down the role of "Ginger"; Carroll 'OConnor tested for the role of The Skipper; Dabney Coleman tested for the role of The Professor.
- Raquel Welch auditioned for the role of Mary Anne.
- Jerry Van Dyke turned down the role of Gilligan.
- The first season had the cast using cups that were made from real coconuts. However, they found that the cups were porous and soaked through like they were sweating. Thus in the later seasons, the coconut cups were plastic replicas.
- Natalie Schafer's contract stipulated that there be no close-ups of her in the show. The reason was producers knew her real age, which was 13 years older than Jim Backus, who played her character's husband. It was not until years after the series ended that her co-stars found out her actual age.
- The characters' full names: - The Skipper: Jonas Grumby - The Professor: Roy Hinkley - Mr. Howell: Thurston Howell III - Mrs. Howell: Eunice Howell - Ginger: Ginger Grant - Mary Ann: Mary Ann Summers - Gilligan's first name: the subject of some debate ever since the series first aired.
- The original pilot was filmed in November 1963 but not aired until October of 1992. In it, the characters of the Professor and Ginger were player by a different actor and actress. There was no character of Mary Ann. There was a character called Bunny, who was a buxom blond, and Ginger was a practical brunette. Ginger and Bunny were both secretaries. The music for the theme song was written by John Williams (then known as Johnny Williams). This music had a Latin sound and the lyrics were sung with a Spanish accent. In the pilot, it was a six-hour trip, not a three-hour tour.
- The show was originally slated to return for the 1967-68 television season but cancelled at the last minute by CBS head William Paley, to make room for the long-running "Gunsmoke" (1955).
- The three-man folk singing group The Wellingtons sang the theme song for the first season, but were replaced by a similar sounding group, The Eligibles, for the following seasons. The Wellingtons (plus one) also portrayed 'The Mosquitoes' in a classic episode of the series.
- The opening credits for the first season were shot shortly after the assassination of U.S. president John F. Kennedy. A flag at half mast can be seen in the background.
- The character of the Professor was supposedly a graduate from SMU, TCU and UCLA, Thurston Howell III went to Harvard. Howell would call an inferior a "Yale Man".
- In the credits, Russell Johnson and Dawn Wells were relegated to being simply "The Rest". That changed in the second season when Bob Denver demanded that they be given an equal share in the credits, thus changing the lyrics to "The Professor and Mary Ann." Sherwood Schwartz, who composed both themes, has said it didn't occur to him the Professor and Mary Ann would turn into prominent characters.
- According to series creator Sherwood Schwartz, Gilligan's full name was Willy Gilligan. Bob Denver says he never heard the name Willy Gilligan until long after the show was off the air.
- The lagoon set was located at the CBS lot in Studio City, CA. If sequences there were filmed too early or too late in the day, microphones would record rush hour traffic noise from a nearby freeway.
- Phil Silvers was cast as a producer in a episode partly because his production company was actually producing the show.
- Creator Sherwood Schwartz said that he dreamed up the idea of the show because he wanted the castaways to represent a microcosm of society and he wanted to show how they worked together to help each other when in trouble.
- As the show progressed, producers planned to introduce a new character - a pet dinosaur - but decided against it because of the cost of special effects. The character, however, was incorporated into the animated "Gilligan's Planet" (1982).
- The premise required that the characters use various devices that had to be constructed from only the various materials found on a tropical island. Thus the props had to be specially made and the prop department enjoyed the challenge which was a change of pace from simply bringing in the standard props from storage. The bamboo foot pedal-powered car used in one episode was a particular favorite with the cast queuing up to try it out.
- The name of Mary-Ann's hometown was Horner's Corners, Kansas.
- The Skipper served in the Pacific during World War II.
- Gilligan saved the Skipper's life once when they were in the Navy. A depth charge had broken loose from it's mount and was rolling across the deck. Gilligan pushed Skipper out of the way. Skipper would later say that Gilligan didn't save his life, he only prolonged it.
- The ship's name, S. S. Minnow, was not named for the fish but rather for Newton Minow, head of the FCC in 1961. Minow was the one who called television "America's vast wasteland". Sherwood Schwartz did not care for Minow so he named the soon-to-be shipwrecked ship after him.
- "The radio" seen in virtually every episode was a Packard-Bell AM Radio, Model AR-851. The small silver handle and telescoping antenna were added by the prop department (despite the fact that AM radios do not use telescoping antennas). The antenna was likely added to lend credence to the castaways' ability to pick up radio signals so far from civilization.
- Alan Hale Jr. was on location in Utah filming a movie when he got a call to come back to Los Angeles to do a screen test for "Gilligan's Island" (1964). Hale rode a horse to the highway, hitchhiked to Las Vegas and flew to L.A. to test with Bob Denver.
Posted by Tom Raymond, aka Raynbow on 11/16 at 05:44 AM
Next entry: Mr. Bean's Holiday
Previous entry: Gilligan's Island - the complete second season