17 EPISODES ON 4 EXTENDED DISCS

       

HAWAIIAN EYE
Season One | Part One (17 Episodes on 4 Extended Discs)
Warner Bros Television series (1959-1963) 134 episodes throughout four seasons

directors: Robert Altman · Howard W. Koch · Andre de Toth · Paul Stewart · Leslie H. Martinson · Edward Dean
starring Anthony Eisley · Robert Conrad · Connie Stevens · Poncie Ponce · Arthur Lyman

      

In the original days of network television, a season would routinely consist of 33 to 40 episodes (not the 8 or 10 today). This special package includes the first 17 episodes of Season One [on 4 extended discs]. HAWAIIAN EYE was inspired by the immediate success of 77 SUNSET STRIP, put together by the same production team for debut in September of 1959. The structure of EYE was conceptually similar to 77. Two tough-guy detectives, Tom Lopaka (Robert Conrad) and Tracy Steele (Anthony Eisley), are partners in a chic private eye agency in Honolulu that specializes in investigation, surveillance. and protection. Depending on he case, they are sometimes assisted by nightclub singer Cricket Blake (Connie Stevens).

Besides the on-screen chemistry among the leading actors and the impressive guest stars, the series also benefits from a fine team of writers (including Raymond Chandler), the authentic Hawaiian music of Arthur Lyman, and a very impressive group of directors from Robert Altman to Howard W. Koch.

      

Robert Conrad would continue his success with the television series "Wild Wild West" (1965-69) and "Black Sheep Squadron" (1976-78). He died from a heart attack, February 2020.

Anthony Eisley left "Hawaiian Eye" after 96 episodes to star in Sam Fuller's NAKED KISS (1963), followed by Elvis Presley's FRANKIE AND JOHNNY (1965), a couple episodes of "Perry Mason" and the Mamie Van Doren monster movie NAVY VS THE NIGHT MONSTER in (1966). After a couple decades of television work (in "S.W.A.T," "Ironside," Streets of San Francisco, General Hospital, etc) he returned to the big screen with MONSTROID (1980) and DEEP SPACE (1988). Anthony Eisley passed away from heart failure at age 75.

Connie Stevens had a #1 hit song with "Sixteen Reasons" in 1957. A year later, she did the duet with Edd Byrnes for "Kookie, Kookie, Lend Me Your Comb." During the HAWAIIAN EYE shoot, Connie Stevens starred in two Warner Bros hit movies PARRISH and SUSAN SLADE with Troy Donahue. She followed EYE with "Wendy and Me," a two season sit-com starring George Burns. A marriage to Eddie Fisher lasted 16 months, ending in the summer of 1969. She starred in the Made-For-TV movie SEX SYMBOL (1974) which was released to theaters uncut [internationally] with controversial nude scenes. Connie Stevens founded an uber-popular cosmetics line called Forever Spring in 1986 which makes her life comfortable today.

  

Notes on the directors for Season One | Part 1:

This was an early project for legendary Robert Altman (M*A*S*H, NASHVILLE, et al). Prior to episode #8 here, Altman helmed Lee Marvin's TV series "M Squad" and Emmy winner "The Millionaire."

Howard W. Koch (episode #1) directed the grindhouse hits FRANKENSTEIN 70 and UNTAMED YOUTH. He was best known for helming the popular "Untouchables" TV series.

Leslie H. Martinson was essentially a TV director responsible for Batman, Fantasy Island, Wonder Woman, Maverick and episodes of Dallas. Here he directed #2 and #4.

Episodes #6, #15 and #17 were directed by William J. Hole Jr. He made the 1959 drive-in hit THE GHOST OF DRAGSTRIP HOLLOW and, later, produced/directed most episodes of TV's "Peyton Place" (1966/69).

Andre de Toth (#7, #12, #16) was probably best known for the 3-D genre film HOUSE OF WAX. He also won an Oscar in 1959 for DAY OF THE OUTLAW.

Edward Dean (episodes #5, #9) was essentially an early horror filmmaker, LEECH WOMAN and CURSE OF THE UNDEAD.

Episodes #10, #11, #13 and #14 were helmed by Paul Stewart, both a director ("Peter Gunn" and "Twilight Zone") and actor (IN COLD BLOOD, CITIZEN KANE plus a hundred more).

   

Here is a list of the 17 'hour' episodes:

1 MALIHINI HOLIDAY (10/7/59)
with guest star Efrem Zimbalist Jr
2 WAIKIKI WIDOW (10/14/59)
with guest star Myron Healy
3 SECOND DAY OF INFAMY (10/21/59)
with guest stars Miiko Taka & Yuki Shimoda
4 ALL EXPENSES PAID (10/28/59)
5 DANGEROUS EDEN (11/4/59)
6 CLOUD OVER KOALA (11/11/59)
with guest star Joanna Moore
7 BEACH BOY (11/18/59)
with guest star Troy Donahue
8 THREE TICKETS TO LANI (11/25/59)
9 THE QUICK RETURN (12/2/59)
with guest star Adam West
10 SECRET OF THE SECOND DOOR (12/9/59)
11 SHIPMENT FROM KIHEI (12/16/59)
with guest star Beverly Garland
12 A DIME A DOZEN (12/23/59)
13 THE KOA MAN (12/30/59)
14 STAMPED FOR DANGER (1/6/60)
with guest star Ruta Lee
15 THE KAMEHAMEHA CLOAK (1/13/60)
16 THE KIKIKI KID (1/20/60)
17 THEN THERE WERE THREE (1/27/60)