‘Fame is the Name of the Game’ Cool or Campy '60s TV?

 

Tony Franciosa flashes a grin and his chest as randy reporter Jeff Dillon
in 1966's "Fame is the Name of the Game." 

 

Fame is the Name of the Game is one of the many TV movies that Universal Pictures cranked out in the '60s and '70s. This 1966 offering was later reworked as the much superior TV series, The Name of the Game. 

"Fame is the Name of the Game" was a Universal Pictures TV movie that
 evolved into the TV series "The Name of the Game." 

Tony Franciosa plays cocky reporter Jeff Dillon at Fame magazine. He takes up the case of a young woman’s death, a high class call girl, which results in multiple threats.  The reason why Dillon is so driven in pursuing a story that he literally stumbled upon—a gut feeling—seems weak. Especially as he's getting grief from all quarters, every person he talks to drops dead, plus a few beat downs for his troubles. Fame is the Name of the Game feels very TV hero, instead of real. That doesn't stop our star reporter, or him flirting with every woman he encounters, including a sexy artist, portrayed by Jill St. John.

Just another Casual Friday at Fame magazine! 

Franciosa was one of those actors who played sexy and sexist jerks, flying in the face of the liberated late '60s, and acting more akin to the early ‘60s Playboy era. Tony was segueing into TV at this point in his career. A little too pretty, glib, and affected to be a top movie leading man, he was more George Peppard than Paul Newman. Flashing his chest and Chiclets smile, while spouting sexist come-ons and put-downs, was Tony's stock and trade opposite sex bombs like Jill St. John, Ann-Margret, Raquel Welch, and Jacqueline Bisset. And natch, they were all a dozen years younger than Tony. While Franciosa was indeed attractive, his smarmy delivery wouldn't get him to first base today. 

Tony Franciosa as Jeff Dillon, with a souvenir from his last journalism jaunt,
 in "Fame is the Name of the Game." 

Jill St. John fared best when she spoofed her sex bomb image, whether opposite Sinatra, James Bond, or Tony's Jeff Dillon. As Leona Purdy, whose artist's pad looks like a swanky bordello, Jill's style today looks like an Austin Powers fembot. The finale's a hoot, with villain Jack Klugman shooting at Tony and Jill in a parking garage, with St. John sporting a black and white hound’s-tooth mini, a clear plastic jacket, and yes, white go-go boots!

Imagine being chased by two gun men and you have Jill St. John
in THIS get-up?! From 1966's "Fame is the Name of the Game."

From the back side!

Jill St. John had her redhead bombshell look down at this point. On the '60s bimbo bombshell scale, Jill St. John was below Raquel Welch and Ann-Margret, but above Joey Heatherton, on the ‘60s sex bomb food chain!

Jill St. John and views of her 'do! 1966's "Fame is the Name of the Game."

Yet, Jill was becoming increasingly fun in spoofing her image and is quite funny as Leona, who figures in this mystery and falls instantly for Jeff. Jill sports different hair and costumes in every scene and is outrageous in her flirting with Tony’s Jeff. Unfortunately, Game’s aging male screenwriter gives her some clinker chauvinistic lines, making her seem a husband-hunter, when she could have her pick. Thrown in for a finale twist is a nod to The Maltese Falcon, making her a femme fatale. Thankfully, St. John’s natural intelligence and humor off-set all this!

At first, I thought this jumpsuit was a Bob Mackie. Close! Ray Aghayan
 designed number, originally worn by Angie Dickinson for "The Art of Love."

Susan Saint James was just 20 when she made her film debut in 1966's
"Fame is the Name of the Game." 

Susan Saint James made her screen debut here as quirky editorial assistant Peggy—Chan here, later Maxwell in the TV series. Though she's the butt of smarmy Dillon’s barbs, Susan's Peggy is plucky and smart, if inexperienced.  Susan sports some unfortunate styles and unflattering '60s makeup. But those big brown eyes and husky voice come through. Susan went on to have a long TV career, starring in three series: The Name of the Game; McMillan and Wife; and Kate and Allie. She became a top comic actress, with warmth and charm.

Susan Saint James sporting heavy duty '60s eye makeup in 1966's
"Fame is the Name of the Game." 

Fame is the Name of the Game boasts a strong guest star lineup: Jack Klugman as the eccentric, sadistic, baddie; rat-a-tat-tat voiced George Macready as the original publisher Glenn Howard (later played by Gene Barry); Robert Duval as the grieving hubby of the dead woman; and Jack Weston as Tony's boss. Lee Bowman, and especially Jay C. Flippen, offer strong characters that Dillon encounters. Nanette Fabray has a bit as a flirty hotel phone operator—she was also married to Game’s producer/writer Ranald MacDougall.

Jack Klugman as the daylight-hating villain in 1966's
"Fame is the Name of the Game." Dr. Evil's grouchy brother?

Jack Klugman as the daylight-hating bad guy is good, but his dour demeanor had already typecast him as a comic grump. As a James Bond-esque villain, Jack barely seems mobile, much less imposing. 

Director Stuart Rosenberg became a big name shortly after this Game, due to his association with Paul Newman. Cool Hand Luke was the most successful of their collaborations. Here, Rosenberg goes in for some showy camera shots that border on the absurd.

No, Jill St. John's artist doesn't paint this way! From 1966's "Fame is the Name of the Game."

For a lunch date, Jill St. John makes yet another costume change,
from a bikini to a fur hat! 1966's "Fame is the Name of the Game."

The script is convoluted but also clichéd, given a hip surface veneer, typical of aging screenwriters like Ranald MacDougall in the increasingly permissive era. The comedic moments’ sensibilities are on par with a ‘60s Bob Hope movie.

The plot is run of the mill, convoluted, and too tedious to describe! When The Name of the Game later made its debut, the stories were more unique and stylishly presented, with younger writers, instead of dated studio writers like MacDougall. The downside was the three rotating male leads were all insufferable: smarmy Tony, pompous Gene Barry, and stiff Robert Stack. Thankfully, Susan Saint James reprised her role of Peggy Maxwell. And the series boasted excellent guest stars and up and coming directors like Steven Spielberg. 

Tony Franciosa as globetrotting reporter Jeff Dillon 

in 1966's "Fame is the Name of the Game." Tony was 38 at the time.

As for Fame is the Name of the Game, it's fun for star watching and as a '60s flashback. And Jill’s groovy fashion parade! Finally, if the story seems familiar, it’s a loose remake of Alan Ladd’s Chicago Deadline, from 1949.

Jill St. John as an artist with a checkered past! 1966's "Fame is the Name of the Game."

Watch The Name of the Game’s most famous episode, LA 2017, for the combined imagination of Steven Spielberg and the knowledge of Philip Wylie, for a look at the future that is mostly on-target—sadly. My take: https://ricksrealreel.blogspot.com/2020/09/the-name-of-game-la-2017-1971.html

When I was a grade school-age kid, The Name of the Game was one of those "grown up" TV shows that I loved. This episode, titled Ordeal, starred regular Robert Stack as hard-nosed Dan Farrell, Crime magazine reporter. Jessica Walter guest stars, in a showcase, sort of a mini-I Want to Live! My look:

https://ricksrealreel.blogspot.com/2020/05/the-name-of-game-ordeal-for-jessica.html

‘The Name of the Game’ an Ordeal for Jessica Walter 1968

Jessica Walter as topless cocktail waitress turned top-tier socialite Linda Ramsey.

When I was a grade school-age kid, The Name of the Game was one of those "grown up" TV shows that I loved. That Dave Grusin theme song instantly brings back memories. Game’s storytelling was considered hip and adult, and this Upper Michigan kid quickly made that distinction between what Mom liked, and what Dad liked. Mom favored cool shows like The Mod Squad, and Dad watched mostly westerns and the Green Bay Packers—though she watched the “modern” westerns, with hunky stars. When Name was still on at night time, its reruns were shown on our local afternoon movie show. My Mom enjoyed The Name of the Game, which was on NBC Friday nights, between two of Mom’s very favorites, High Chaparral and Star Trek!

Friday nights in 1968 were a fave TV night for my Mom!
'The Name of the Game' had three rotating stars: Gene Barry, Robert Stack, & Tony Franciosa.

The Name of the Game’s three leading men were essentially stars of their own 90 minute TV movies. Today, I still enjoy the shows more for the storytelling, and not so much the stars. In our house, we always thought Robert Stack was a stiff, with that sonorous voice and glowering eyes, sort of a minor league Charlton Heston. Gene Barry was another actor who acted with his voice, but seemed mellower, if slightly pompous. We thought Tony Franciosa was the king of cool back in the day, but now, he seems rather smug, like another Tony—Curtis. Still charming as ever is Susan Saint James, as the wisecracking girl Friday, Peggy Maxwell.

Veteran Robert Stack had youngsters Ben Murphy and Susan Saint James as his co-stars.

This episode, titled Ordeal, starred regulars Robert Stack as hard-nosed Dan Farrell, Crime magazine reporter, Ben Murphy as cocky sidekick Joe Sample, and Susan Saint James as Peggy, the quirky and often kidnapped secretary.

The guest stars are from my eye-roll Hollywood Hall of Fame: perennial plastic starlet Martha Hyer; middle-aged but still-pouty Farley Granger; and drum roll, please: Lloyd Bochner, with his trademark slicked back hair, ascot, and sneer. Most surprising is an uncredited O.J. Simpson, as the gas chamber prison guard. I guess The Juice got promoted when he rescued that cat in The Towering Inferno!

Jessica Walter faces the gas chamber with prison guard O.J. Simpson!

On the plus side, there’s Jessica Walter, at the start of her long roll in TV guest star roles, right up there with Vera Miles. Walter’s role was a showcase for her, sort of a mini-I Want to Live! And Jessica has that old time movie diva vibe, like Susan Hayward and Anne Baxter, theatrical, yes, but also intense and empathetic. Walter makes the most of her juicy role as Linda Ramsey, tough as the young "dancer/waitress," later the hurt wife, and finally the stoic figure on death row, fighting for her life. Walter looks lovely, even with her short '60s hairdo that would soon evolve into her famous Play Misty for Me shag.

I realized right off that Ordeal was a take-off on the infamous shooting of high society’s Billy Woodward by his former showgirl, now wife, Ann. This scandal was immortalized in the '70s by Truman Capote as part of his notorious Answered Prayers. Later, Dominick Dunne became a best-selling author with a fictionalized account, The Two Mrs. Grenvilles. Well, Ordeal got there first!

Socialite from the wrong side of the tracks shoots her boozy rich husband, & claims she mistook him for a burglar?! 'Ordeal' could have been called 'The Two Ms. Ramseys!'

In this take, Linda Ramsey is on death row, for the murder of her rich husband, Tom Ramsey, respectively played by Walter and Bochner. She shot him, claiming she thought he was a prowler. However, their marriage was very publicly on the rocks, and his wealthy family and friends thought she was a gold digger. The drunken playboy met Linda when she was a topless waitress, which is ironic, since Walter is rail thin here. Bochner's Tom seems to think of his marriage as a joke. He humiliates Linda by ripping her top off at a ‘welcome to his world’ cocktail party, to demonstrate how he met her. I recall being outraged by this as a 9-year-old!

Farley Granger co-stars as Jessica Walter's louche lover.

The bitter sister-in-law, Billie Ramsey, is played by Martha Hyer, in her usual mannequin manner. Her character is angry at being second banana to a brother who is bananas! Hyer’s Billie sees Linda as a fortune hunter and Tom as a debit to the family. However, Hyer’s expressions of unhappiness or anger looks like someone who just smelled something bad. At 44, Martha looks pretty, but the late '60s clothing and hair styles Martha sports make her slightly plump figure and face look like a glamorous bowling ball.

Martha Hyer as the sinister sister-in-law, with Farley Granger as a charming hanger-on.

Farley Granger plays the handsome, charming, and weak man with ease—sort of an American Louis Jourdan. Interestingly, Granger and Robert Stack acted together in the notoriously awful TV version of Laura the same year, with Lee Radziwill in the title role, Granger in the Vincent Price gigolo role, and Stack as Dana Andrews’ detective. Here, in Ordeal, their roles aren’t really that different.

The opening titles of 'The Name of the Game' were made even more memorable paired with Dave Grusin's theme song. 

Lloyd Bochner is haughty and hammy as Tom, first as the degrading husband, then suddenly hurt and pathetic when he finds out his abused wife is cheating. Bochner’s character is a lot like Robert Stack’s Oscar –nominated role of a rich boy drunk, whose wife is suspected of shooting him, in Written on the Wind. That too, was based on a real life murder. Back to Bochner, who made a career of supercilious and slimy characters, from cheesy movies like Sylvia and Harlow to television villains, most memorably as Dynasty’s Cecil Colby. 

Robert Stack doesn't take kindly to intimidation, as former FBI man now reporter Dan Farrell.

Robert Stack as Dan Farrell, was an extension of his famed Eliot Ness role in The Untouchables. Dan was also once an FBI man, now a crusading reporter, inflamed by the murder of his wife. The role is tailored for the actor, so the deadpan stare and booming radio voice are on full display. Now Bob Stack was by all accounts a nice guy, who had the good humor to spoof his image in the Airplane movies. But Bob’s humor is not on display as Dan!

Ben Murphy as Joe Sample, Dan Farrell's cocky sidekick.

Ben Murphy's character as the outspoken sidekick is rather annoying. Considering he’s supposed to be a hip young guy, his knee jerk reactions to everything are today middle-brow. Still, Murphy was an engaging actor, who always reminded me of a young Paul Newman mixed with Ryan O’ Neal. His big break, Alias Smith & Jones was just around the corner, another Mom favorite. Susan Saint James isn’t in this episode much, but it’s always nice to see her good-humored Peggy Maxwell.

Dan Farrell's wise veteran paired with energetic upstart Joe Sample is a TV show staple.

There are a lot of clever twist and turns in this episode and I won’t spoil them for you. The Name of the Game can be hard to come by, but YouTube is a good place to start, as are various classic TV cable channels, and Amazon.

The dramatic tale of Ordeal, especially as enacted by Jessica Walter, has stayed with me all these years, and I’m glad to have seen this episode again.

From gas chamber to cover girl--that was a close one, Jessica!

FYI: I put all the movie overflow on my public FB  movie page. 

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