Over the years I’ve enjoyed many TV private detectives: Mannix, Rockford, Magnum, 77 Sunset Strip, SurfSide 6 and Checkmate, however none more than Harry O. Harry O was the melding of a great actor and a perfect role for that actor.
The Fugitive is one of my favorite series, however I’ve always felt that he was as good, or better, as Harry O. The character of Harry Orwell was sort of a low-key and grouchy one for Janssen, definitely not your average tv detective. (Janssen does a noirish voice-over at the beginning and the end of each episode.) He was a former cop for the San Diego Police Department, shot in the back on the job and receiving disability from the department.
He works as a private detective on the side to supplement his income. He lives on a drydocked boat on the beach that he is always fixing. His departmental buddy is Lt. Manny Quinlan played by Henry Darrow. Harry doesn’t drive around in a flashy car like Rockford or Joe Mannix, he takes the bus.
Halfway through season one, Harry relocates to Los Angeles where he has to deal with a somewhat less-friendly cop, Lt. K.T. Trench well-played by Anthony Zerbe. (Zerbe won a best-supporting actor Emmy for this series.)
When he moves to LA, Harry trades in his bus pass for a beat-up sports car that is in the shop most of the time. If you have never made the acquaintance of Harry Orwell, then you should check this series and see for yourself — you won’t be disappointed.
Character to watch: David Janssen as Harry O.
Journal your answers to the following questions after you watch the series.
- How does this particular character’s journey compare with yours?
- Did the character develop certain characteristics during the movie that you have or that you would like to have? If so, what are those characteristics?
- What obstacles did this character face? What was his or her biggest challenge?
- What would you have done differently if you had been in the same position as the character?
- Is this character the type of person you would be friends with? Why or why not?