Dr. Richard Kimble is accused as the murderer of his wife, tried and
convicted. on his way to be executed, he escapes. The only chance to
prove his innocence is to find the man who killed his wife. Kimble,
pursued by Lt. Gerard, risks his life several times when he shows his
identity to help other people out of trouble.
After being on the run for 6 months, Richard Kimble falls in love with a
beautiful woman who has a young son. She also has a physically abusive,
estranged husband, that wants Kimble out of town, or dead.
A friendly country girl has a crush on Kimble and wants to help him
escape on the condition she can go with him, as the Sheriff and Lt.
Gerard close in on them.
Richard Kimble helps a black boxer realize that he may have a brain
injury that will kill him if he continues to box. Meanwhile, an
undercover police Sgt. closes in on Kimble.
Kimble and a group of farm workers are surrounded in the hills by a huge
fire and he must reveal that he is doctor in order to save the life of a
pregnant, illegal immigrant.
Sailing from Seattle to Alaska, Dr. Kimble finds himself in the middle
of a murder mystery. To prove his own innocence, he must play detective
to figure out who the real killer is.
Kimble breaks jail with a friendly, slightly retarded young man, and
finds out the man may have been falsely blamed for a crime he did not
commit years ago.
After saving a busload of kids in an accident, Kimble is knocked
unconscious and later identified as a fugitive. Gerard comes to this
Massachusetts town to extradite him back to Indiana, much to the dismay
of the town's grateful residents.
Working at a remote construction site, Dr. Kimble tries protect a
coworker with a low I.Q. from being lynched when the caring married
woman who's been teaching him to read, is assaulted by an unknown
attacker.
A beautiful airline stewardess badly injuries Kimble in a traffic
accident and in his delirium he admits who he is and she helps him. In
turn, Kimble helps her realize the married man she's dating is not right
for her.
Dr. Kimble returns to his hometown where he reunites with his father
John, and his loving sister Donna, who absolutely believe in his
innocence, but Kimble's bother Ray has serious doubts about him.
Dr. Kimble spots the murderer of his wife in Chicago, but is unaware
that the newspaper man helping him is under pressure by his editor to
turn Kimble into the police, if they fail to catch him.
After escaping a police dragnet in Lincoln City, Nevada, Kimble comes
upon Sister Veronica and her broken-down truck on a road in the desert
hills. She convinces him to accompany her on her trip to Sacramento,
despite his protests that he's heading in another direction.
Kimble and Sister Veronica continue their journey, not realizing that
each of them is hiding a secret. In Sister Veronica's case, she plans to
renounce her vows when they reach their destination.
A man helps Kimble escapes from a Sheriff and is wounded. As he nurses
him, he discovers the man is tortured by a very guilty conscience in
connection with a murder rap he was acquitted of months before.
Richard Kimble meets an old army buddy who saved his life during an
explosion in the Korean War, and got badly disfigured in the process.
Filled with bitterness, this ex army person plots to either disfigure
Kimble, or kill him.
Kimble's current boss, A warehouse owner with a terminal disease, wants
to help Dr. Kimble by impersonating him, leading Lt. Gerald to the
Country of Greece, and dying at sea.
Dr. Kimble tries to protect a young woman from her evil stepmother who
may be be trying to force her to have a second nervous breakdown over
the dog mauling death a young boy a year before.
An attractive woman, along with her swindler boyfriend, recognizes Dr.
Kimble and forces him to ferry them to an island in the Florida Keys
during a hurricane.
A dragnet traps Dr. Kimble to within a few city blocks while hides out
in a house owned by two men. one of the men believes Kimble is innocent
and the other does not, and wants to turn him over to the police.
A private detective hired by Dr. Kimble's defense attorney has found the
one-armed man. The attorney's daughter meets Kimble to help him but
ultimately hopes to run off with him and start a new life together.
Kimble helps Lucey when her car won't start. The next morning, she's
accused of murdering a man at the exact time that she was with Kimble.
Kimble wants to help but knows it's too dangerous to stay and testify on
her behalf at the inquest.
An emotionally fragile young woman steals another woman's baby, and
Kimble (whom she believes to be the baby's father) may be the only one
who can help them all.
The Cheyney's, bitter over Harold being hit by one of Pryor's trucks
without receiving proper compensation, plans to kidnap Pryor for ransom
but instead kidnaps Kimble working as Pryor's gardener thinking Kimble
is Pryor.
A wily old former country sheriff recognizes Kimble from a Post Office
poster and sets off in a mountain pursuit to redeem himself of the guilt
of losing a prisoner from years in the past.
When Kimble suffers temporary amnesia from an explosion, he finds
himself caught between a social worker who wants to help and a
psychiatrist who doesn't.
When someone develops symptoms of the plague Kimble is forced into a
difficult position: should he report it and risk getting caught or
ensure his safety by leaving town and ignoring a potential epidemic.
When robbers shoot two policemen, Kimble's nearby, so he hides in
orphanage's station wagon to get away from the dragnet. Two orphans he
met beforehand promise they'll alibi him, but Sean Dubose, another state
ward, plans to use Kimble in his own escape - fearing he'll be shipped
to an Illinois juvenile prison soon. Sean's embittered from being
abandoned by his alcoholic uncle, after Sean's parents' deaths. Kimble
is torn between an immediate, but risky daylight escape, or helping the
troublesome boy.
Kimble, on the run again, finds himself stranded on a broken down bus on
a remote mountain road. The passengers discover Kimble's true identity
and one of them, armed with a gun, is determined to turn him in to the
police.
Kimble is photographed with a Congresswoman during her inspection of a
military construction project. After they are trapped underground, Lt.
Gerard arrives on the scene, confident that he has finally caught
Kimble.
Kimble is riding with a man named Hanes who is driving back to his
hometown. When Hanes starts a fight, the sheriff arrests them both, as
he recognizes Kimble as a wanted man. A troubled youth named Tad plans
to help Kimble escape.
A singer, who bears a strong resemblance to Kimble's dead wife, arrives
at a club he works at and offends everyone with her boorish behavior. He
eventually discovers her rudeness is due to a personal and tragic
secret.
A woman hires Kimble to be the caretaker of her brother who was disabled
in a car accident. Her boyfriend wants her to run away with him along
with her brother's insurance money. Kimble becomes the unwitting patsy
in his scheme.
Kimble picks up a hitchhiker who then dies in a truck accident. Kimble
hopes that the body will be identified as his and then end once and for
all Lt. Gerard's pursuit of him.
A young woman, desperate to be free of her mother's manipulating
control, plans to marry a boy her mother doesn't approve of. Kimble
tries to help but the girl's other suitor threatens to expose him if he
interferes.
Dr. Richard Kimble re-assumes a former identity, and returns to a town
he had passed through, when he hears that an innocent man is about to be
executed for killing . . . Richard Kimble.
A police roadblock, including Lt. Gerard, causes Kimble to escape cross
country into an area populated with moonshiners. With Gerard in hot
pursuit, they're both caught, and Kimble must defend Gerard to keep him
from being hanged.
A small town is on edge because two women have been murdered. Kimble is
stopped by a group of vigilantes who suspect any stranger. He escapes
and hides in an abandoned building where he is helped by a young naive
woman.
Kimble comes back into contact with his wife's family when he learns of
their financial difficulties. Kimble may have a way to help, but his
mother-in-law's hatred for him may lead to his capture.
After being recognized Kimble is shot and then hospitalized. Lt. Gerard
arrives to claim him but a surprise awaits - someone else now claims to
be the murderer of Kimble's wife.
Kimble hides in a home for the blind after his likeness appears on
television. In the home resides former police chief Brady, blinded in
the line of duty and who wishes to prove the incompetence of the current
chief by nabbing Kimble.
After falling in with two other escaped fugitives Kimble has to
accompany them when they force themselves into the home of a woman and
her mother. He then has to figure a way out while also trying to protect
the women.
The son of a rich landowner comes back home to take over the business
after his father's accidental death. The son's return brings resentment
from some of the workers who believe he's responsible for a young
woman's death.
Not knowing the cops are close behind him, Kimble gets a job at Jungle
Land, a small-town animal attraction that is in financial trouble. one
of the Jungle Land partners hatches a plan to have Kimble captured on
the premises for the publicity.
After being stabbed while rescuing a woman from her attacker, Kimble is
taken to the nearest infirmary, located inside a prison. one of the
inmates threatens to expose Kimble if he doesn't help in a drug
smuggling operation.
A woman with whom Kimble was dining becomes angry when he tells her he
must leave town. She disappears and is found roughed up but alive.
Kimble knows she must tell police he did not abduct her in order to save
him from being arrested.
After being snubbed by local police, a small-time mentalist sees his big
break in his crystal ball when he spies Dr. Kimble toiling at a gas
station. Instead of just turning in the escapee, Sal Mitchell plans to
boost his career by having his beautiful, blonde wife Joni Mitchell lure
the physician 200 miles away to Lincoln, Illinois, after predicting
where Kimble will be. Joni entices Kimble by claiming that, en route
from Chicago to Southern Illinois, she noticed a cruel-looking one-armed
man working near a statue of Abraham Lincoln. Kimble gets an urge for
going, ...
A man comes forward and admits to having seen the one-armed man running
from the house the night of Helen Kimble's murder. This gives Richard
Kimble hope of another trial which could clear his name. Will this man
be willing to testify; and will his testimony be enough?
A military test is conducted in the remote desert and headquartered in
the resort where Kimble is working. He learns of the top-secret
operation and this knowledge puts him in great danger.
A favorite son, now a huge success, comes back to his hometown to start a
new operation. At first everyone seems to be happy he's back, but
simmering jealousies come to the front when someone threatens to kill
him.
A woman hires Kimble to drive her daughter and herself to California.
The young girl has a rabbit with her that had been a test subject in a
research study and is infected with meningitis.
After injuring his ankle while running from the police Kimble winds up
in the care of a natural medicine practitioner. Kimble believes another
patient of his is seriously ill but is unsure how to save her.
Kimble's joined on the run by Lt. Gerard's wife, who's had it with being
no.2 to a phantom. Kimble stumbles, signing his own name on a
time-sheet, which sets off a manhunt, while residents battle a flood.
Gerard drags his wife off of their vacation to join the hounds. With
many roads out of the Midwest city under water, Marie Gerard &
Kimble end up on the same Eastbound bus.
Stranded in an abandoned town and awaiting help, the blind Mrs. Gerard
realizes she is with Kimble. With her husband on the way, she delays
Kimble's departure, hoping his capture will end her husband's obsession
and save her marriage.
The owner of a warehouse distributorship threatens to report Kimble to
the police if he doesn't stay away from his sister. He has no interest
in her but when she kidnaps a small boy he must choose between saving
the boy or himself.
After three police officers are murdered Kimble, the new stranger in
town, becomes the obvious suspect. His situation is complicated by his
boss, a former cop who suffers from a mysterious psychiatric problem.
Kimble is arrested in play arrest which soon turns real at an annual
town celebration in which Marshall Judd tries to hide from Gerard with
the aid of his much put off fiancée Laura to collect a suspected reward
.for Kimball's capture.
While running from the police, Kimble "borrows" another man's wallet to
pay for a train ticket. He goes to great lengths to return the wallet
and money but in so doing he sees the man murdered and becomes the chief
suspect in his death.
At an off-season motel a woman turns to Kimble for help with her son,
who is an unusually bright but troubled child. Kimble helps the boy so
much that when he has to run from the local sheriff, the boy follows
after, imperiling them both.
Kimble works as a laundryman for an amiable fellow named Charlie, who
knows too much about the wrong people who are out to kill him. He has
arranged for his girlfriend to come join him, not realizing she may
bring the Mob with her.
After being mugged by four hoodlums Kimble is reluctant to deal with the
police. But while leaving town, he ends up getting handcuffed to a
policewoman. When she breaks her ankle Kimble has to help her while
evading the police manhunt.
A young man accidentally kills the driver of a Jeep Kimble is riding in.
Kimble gets away, but is later captured by Gerard in a remote cabin.
But the real danger is from the boy's father who is determined to
protect his son, no matter what.
Kimble is befriended by a troubled woman who gets him a job working in a
veterinary clinic. Her involvement with a no-good carny worker brings
him trouble and the attention of her stepfather, a former cop, who
thinks he recognizes Kimble.
When Kimble reads of his father's death he goes back home to meet his
sister. Gerard is expecting this and the D.A. who convicted Kimble hopes
his capture will make him Governor. But Kimble has an unexpected ally
helping him.
Playing a kind of Prof. Higgins to his Eliza Doolittle, Kimble schools
an uneducated woman while her boyfriend works his next big score. An
undercover policeman, originally shadowing the gangster boyfriend, takes
an interest in Kimble.
Kimble is captured by Lt. Gerard while traveling with a group of migrant
workers. During a violent wind storm, Gerard is badly injured and
Kimble has to convince the others to help him save Gerard's life.
A young concert violinist virtuoso begins to buckle under both the
strain of performing and the demands of his authoritative manager Max,
himself a former violinist. Kimble suspects he might resort to a
desperate act to rid himself of Max.
While working as a delivery driver, Kimble rescues a man and a woman
from the wreckage of a small airplane. All three have a problem: the man
is a politician, the woman is not his wife, and Kimble doesn't want
publicity as the rescuer.
A computer scientist, appalled to discover that his chauffeur was
actually Dr. Kimble, uses his new state-of-the-art computer to assist
Gerard and predict Kimble's movements from city to city.
The 12 year old nephew of Dr. Kimble's girlfriend arrives to live with
her and recognizes him. He hatches a plan with his neighborhood friends
to catch him by purchasing a mail-order rifle.
'The Fugitive' is a
classic dramatic series I watch whenever I have an opportunity. David
Janssen was (and still is) the best Dr. Richard Kimble (sorry Mr. Ford
and Daly!). Barry Morse was equally effective as Lt. Philip Gerard, the
man obsessed with capturing our hero. This classic lasted four years
and 120 episodes. (The real reason I watch this show is because some of
its elements would be later used in 'The Incredible Hulk,' which is my
all-time favorite episodic TV series.)
Of course, the character
of Richard Kimble was loosely inspired by Dr. Sam Sheppard. The major
difference was that while Dr. Richard Kimble spent four years chasing
the real killer (a one-armed man) of his wife Helen, Dr. Sheppard spent
ten years in jail for the 1954 murder of his wife Marilyn.
It
might be interesting to note that when Dr. Sheppard was acquitted in a
second trial in November of 1966, 'The Fugitive,' which was then in the
middle of its fourth season, began to slip in the ratings. For this
reason, the producers were smart not to wait for the ax to fall and risk
having the series cancelled without doing a finale.
"The
Judgment," the two-hour series finale, aired in the summer of 1967.
After four years of chasing and being chased, Kimble finally catches up
with Fred Johnson, the one-armed man, who admits to having been Helen's
real killer. He is then shot and killed by Lt. Gerard, who saves Kimble
in the process.
While the finale was weak in some respects, it
was generally a fitting conclusion to the 'Fugitive' series. Of course,
it was also one of the highest rated TV finales of all-time.
After Dr. Kimble recovers at an Indian reservation from a gunshot wound,
a local deputy pursues him through the desert to make amends for a past
mistake.
In search of the one-armed man, Dr. Kimble finds himself in Clark City, a
town controlled by violent policemen and a mysterious businessman who
runs an illegal gambling operation.
Dr. Kimble is working as a hired hand on a failing ranch while the local
sheriff is looking for a recently escaped murderer. Meanwhile, back in
Stafford, a national newspaper publisher offers a $10,000 reward for
Kimble's capture.
While working for a small town veterinarian, Dr. Kimble comes across the
sick baby of an unwed mother whose religious father doesn't believe in
medicine. As Kimble secretly treats the baby, a jealous dismissed deputy
discovers his true identity.
While driving through vineyards, Dr. Kimble and two passengers are shot
by a sniper killing one who was a union organizer. Kimble can identify
the sniper but the police and powerful owners of the town winery
conspire to keep him quiet.
Working at a carnival, Dr. Kimble befriends a childlike, mentally
disabled, man who is wanted by the sheriff when he fled before he could
be sent to an institution.
While working as a bartender, Dr. Kimble sees the one-armed man in a
live news broadcast. After arriving on the scene Kimble chases the man
which causes a woman to be hit by a car. While treating her at a
hospital, he discovers she has had a relationship with the one-armed man
and might be able to tell Kimble where he is.
As a posse of sheriff deputies pursue Dr. Kimble on foot in the desert,
he is rescued by outlaw bikers who want to use him to settle a score
with local law enforcement.
The police are looking for a young fugitive who was dating the daughter
of a Hungarian family that Dr. Kimble is staying with. As the police
stake out their residence, Dr. Kimble discovers her father is also
running from a crime he was accused of.
Kimble's saves his boss' life, garnering the ranch owner's powerful
protection but Kimble doesn't want his favors, because the owner's a
hit-man gone legit. With Lt. Gerard closing in, the wealthy retired
assassin sends the detective in the opposite direction from the
fugitive, into a trap where Gerard will be taken off the hunt for good.
While fleeing the police through a forest, Dr. Kimble finds an armed
criminal with a bullet wound. The criminal guides him to a cabin owned
by a woman who is suspicious of their stories.
Police drag in Kimble when a co-worker robs the liquor store the
fugitive's clerking in. Some police suspect Kimble's involved, but their
chief knows he's not - because his alienated son is the stick-up man.
To repair their relationship the desperate father needs to get his son
off. Will he feed Kimble to his wolves to do so ?
While working as a deck hand on a charter boat, a company believes the
skipper left the country after embezzling cash and securities. The
police decide to use an agent as the boat's replacement skipper since
the next passenger is the embezzler's wife who intends to meet up with
him in Mexico. The police also decide to investigate the mysterious
deckhand since he has no background.
While attending a baseball game, a woman Dr. Kimble is sitting next to
is told that she has a phone call and is kidnapped. As Kimble is the
only one who saw the kidnapper, her rich father coerces him into helping
find his daughter.
Dr. Kimble meets with a fraternity brother who is now a professor of
sleep research at a university and has seen the one-armed man working
there. The professor has an elaborate plan to extract proof from the man
that he killed Kimble's wife.
While waiting to leave a small town in Montana, Dr. Kimble is spotted by
the authorities and arrested. He is cleared for having stolen a truck
but the sheriff decides to jail him for having resisted arrest and
suspects he's not who he says he is. While Kimble is held in jail,
another prisoner determines his true identity.
An immigrant cigar maker's son is accosted by neighborhood bullies and
calls the police to put a stop to the harassment. The only witness to
the incident is Dr. Kimble whose face seems oddly familiar to the
officers.
Kimble is blackmailed into slaving for a physician obsessed with curing a
deadly strain of meningitis prevalent in a remote Mexican province. The
fugitive put ashore in Mexico, after fleeing U.S. police, and swapping
places with a departing sailor. The expatriate Dr. Howell will stop at
nothing to wipe out his "tiny enemy," but Richard Kimble contests the
ethics of Howell's fanatical methods, as a wily local police sergeant
closes in on the convicted killer.
A diplomat's slip lands Kimble in the only place he can't be
re-captured: a Washington, D.C. embassy. Dr. Kimble ministers to the
ambassador from a newly democratized African nation, when the emissary
is almost flattened by a D.C. cab. Everything looks cozy for the
fugitive, who's in town to court an appeal specialist - especially
bunking down the hall from the legation's man-eater secretary.
Lt. Gerard agrees to work with Kimble for 24 hours to prove his
innocence, because someone who may have been there when his wife was
killed, posted bail for the one-armed man.