| Riding With Death | |
|---|---|
| |
| Riffed by | Mystery Science Theater 3000 |
| Riffers | Mike Nelson, Tom Servo played by Kevin Murphy, Crow T. Robot played by Bill Corbett |
| Series | None |
| Date Released | June 19, 1997 |
Gemini Man (aka Riding With Death) is an American action/adventure drama series that aired on NBC in 1976. This is the third of four weekly television series based on the H. G. Wells science fiction novel, The Invisible Man, created to replace the previous season's David McCallum series of that name utilizing simpler and less expensive special effects. It was riffed by Mystery Science Theater 3000 and aired on the Sci-Fi Channel in July 1997.
Synopsis and Preview[]
MST3K - Best of Riding With Death-0
The series starred Ben Murphy as laid-back denim-clad, motorcycle-riding secret agent Sam Casey who, while diving to retrieve a fallen Soviet spy satellite, was exposed to radiation in an underwater explosion which rendered him invisible. The agency he worked for, a high tech government think tank called INTERSECT ("International Security Techniques"), found a way to return him to visibility and control his new power by the use of a special wristwatch referred to as a "DNA stabilizer" which was invented by scientist Abby Lawrence (Katherine Crawford). Pressing a button on the digital watch would make him vanish clothes and all which was a helpful tool in his line of work, but he could only do this for 15 minutes per day or else he would die.
A pilot of the series aired on May 10, 1976, and the series began airing on September 23 of that year. Although 11 episodes were produced, only five were aired in the United States before the cancellation of the show, although the entire series was seen in Britain with somewhat greater success that led to a record album and hardcover annual based on the show. Richard Dysart played Casey's boss Leonard Driscoll in the pilot and William Sylvester played Driscoll during the series.
Two episodes, "Smithereens" and the unaired "Buffalo Bill Rides Again", were re-edited into one 90-minute television movie titled Riding With Death, which was released in 1981.
Riding with Death used scenes from Colossus: The Forbin Project as establishing shots for sweeping computer room scenes. The "Guardian" logo ("Guardian" was the Russian version of "Colossus") appears in at least one segment. Though not immediately verifiable, at least one segment uses the "Colossus" speaker/microphone.
The film dealt clumsily with the dropping of Katherine Crawford from the cast by the latter episode, the length of time between filming (William Sylvester had grown a thick bushy mustache in the interim), and the appearance of an arch-villain in the second "half" who did not exist in the opening of the series (save for a clumsy overdub referring to the villain's elusiveness in the final minutes of the first segment). Both parts feature singer Jim Stafford as a trucker named "Buffalo Bill" who befriends and helps Sam.
Cast and Crew[]
- Ben Murphy as Sam Casey
- Katherine Crawford as Dr. Abby Lawrence
- Richard Dysart as Leonard Driscoll
- William Sylvester as Leonard Driscoll
- Andrew Prine as Luther Stark
- John Milford as Elliott
- Alan Oppenheimer as Dr. Arthur Hale
- Smith Wordes as Tina
- Don Galloway as John Hiller
- Ed Nelson as Robert Denby
- Jim Stafford as Buffalo Bill Joe Hickens
Quotes[]
Notes[]
See Also[]
- Revenge of the Creature (MST3K)
- The Mole People (MST3K)
- Terror from the Year 5000 (MST3K)
- The Leech Woman (MST3K)