Gilligans Insel The Hunter (1964–1992) watch online HD

"The Hunter" is a small screen takeoff on the popular Richard Connell short story "The Most Dangerous Game," and a perfect choice for GILLIGAN'S ISLAND. Western veteran Rory Calhoun was an inspired choice for world famous big game hunter Jonathan Kincaid, outwardly handsome and charming, evil lurking underneath. In the role of native servant Ramoo is Harold Sakata, best known as Oddjob in the 1964 James Bond feature "Goldfinger." Kincaid interviews everyone before revealing his plan to rescue the castaways, provided his target can elude him and survive for 24 hours. The serious tone is established by the Professor: "do you intend to hunt one of us and then gun your victim down in cold blood?" Kincaid: "very well put, Professor!" One by one the castaways are eliminated, with one exception - Gilligan! The hunt is truncated for a half hour comedy, but this episode proves how versatile the concept was, able to handle any number of different plots, even one so deadly serious.

Well, many movies and TV shows have ripped off Richard Connell's story: "The Most Dangerous Game." I guess Gilligan's Island was a natural for it.

Veteran TV/Movie bad boy Rory Calhoun who is well cast as Harold Kincaid, an internationally famous big game hunter and sharp shooter. Upon landing on the island the island he realizes that the castaways are alone with out help and decides to fulfill a fantasy of hunting the ultimate prey: man. Assisting him is Ramoo, a manservant/assistant sporting a scowl and a large spear. He is played to great comic and politically incorrect affect by Harold Sakata, best known as Bond henchman Oddjob.

The normally farcical cast shows genuine shock and terror when he reveals his plan. When Gilligan is chosen as the prey the Howell's are shown in a more positive light when Mr. Howell attempts to bargain and then beg for Gilligan, and Mrs. Howell braves Ramoo's spear in an attempt to help him.

But in true Gilligan's island plot style there are enough holes to make a ton of Swiss Cheese. The most talked about on the web is a scene when Gilligan knocks Kincaid in a tub of water and runs. The Skipper and Professor watch from behind Kincaid as he flounders, and finally picks up his gun. In a prior scene the Skipper overpowered Ramoo easily so the obvious question of why he didn't deck Kincaid while the Professor grabbed the gun? But of course logic never mattered in the show so the slapstick hunt is good for many laughs, and the final scene where we learn the ultimate fate of Kincaid is hilarious as well as a great bonding scene with all of the men of the island.

Easily the darkest GI episode, The Hunter is a refreshing change of pace from the goofy, standard fare of the series. The adult tone gives a glimpse into what the show could've been if it had been aimed at an older, more mature audience. The humor may be subdued, but the drama and suspense more than make up for it.

Gilligan is listening to incidental music in the open as a copter lands behind him in the lagoon. Jonathan Kincaid and his man-servant Ramoo have arrived to get in a little hunting, but Gilligan informs them the island has no game to hunt. To kick off the plot, he does tell them there are six other castaways living there, and Kincaid realizes he has a more challenging target.

It's a quick build-up to the hunt. Kincaid quizzes the castaways on their physical fitness, and there are a lot of cheap one-liners. The Skipper rags on Gilligan's speed and agility, unwittingly putting his little buddy in harm's way.

Certainly, the darkest, most tense scene in the entire series follows. The castaways throw Kincaid a party to celebrate their imminent departure. (Don't jinx it, castaways...too late)! He casually drops his bombshell on the disbelieving group, and they uneasily realize he is not kidding. There is a nice mix of tension and humor as the hunter puts down those castaways who didn't make the cut. There is a bit of comic relief as Gilligan reacts to the news he is Kincaid's prey, then the tone darkens and the music grows ominous as the hunter puts the kibosh on the Professor's plan to radio for help.

Kincaid's hunt has high stakes; if Gilligan can survive for the next twenty-four hours, he and the castaways will be returned to civilization. For the most part, the desperate castaways are complicit in the plan. They do try out their typical bribery and seduction attempts. Kincaid, though, has no interest in the Howell's money, and he neatly turns the tables on glamorous Ginger and her pineapple juice sedative. With those diversions out of the way, it's on to the hunt.

The hunt itself is fun in fits and starts. Even though Kincaid is shooting to kill, the hunt never gets too serious, and is stocked with a lot of the usual goofy shtick whenever he gets close to his target. There is even a fairly dramatic moment where Gilligan outsmarts him at a trough.

The rest of the castaways are sidelined in that same all-purpose cave used as a prison this time, guarded by Ramoo. A diversion by Mrs. Howell frees the Skip and Professor to play a supporting role in the hunt. Their assistance is a dumb gag that reminds us of the dumb gag way back in the pilot, which sacrifices his speed and agility and nearly backfires. The hunt wraps up predictably with no surprises, and the castaways shoot another rescue attempt in the foot.

COCONOTES:

Gilligan saying there is no game on the island contradicts the Where There's a Will episode where they hunt a wild boar.

Rory Calhoun does a superb job as the big game hunter. He is an oily, handsome, rugged, and lethally serious villain, definitely the best in the series.

It's odd to see Harold Sakata as the turbaned Ramoo. He gives an equally solid performance, of course, but you keep expecting him to strike Gilligan with a hat.

"My malaria must be coming back."

"You've gone soft, Ramoo." "Yes, too bad."

The report of Kincaid's breakdown in the epilogue and the men's reaction to it is a fitting capper.

In the grand tradition of sixties television, this one swipes its story from a classic film. In this case, the hunting-human-prey plot from "The Most Dangerous Game" (1932). Suave Rory Calhoun lends some class as famous hunter Jonathan Kincaid -- who drops in via helicopter in search of big game. His turban-clad, spear-carrying native assistant Ramoo is played by Harold Sakata (Odd Job himself!) in a throwaway role.

Kincaid holds the castaways captive and selects the agile Gilligan as the object of his hunt. He can't be bribed by the Howells or seduced by Ginger so, the big hunt is scheduled for the following day. The expected hijinks ensue, but nothing funny or imaginative occurs. The series was clearly on autopilot by this point. Plus, the Gilligan-heavy story leaves the rest of the likable cast (the show's saving grace) with almost nothing to do.

Other contemporary shows borrowed the same Dangerous Game premise -- The Outer Limits, Lost in Space, Get Smart, I Spy, et al. -- with far superior results than this limp, run-of-the-island retread. For comparison, just look at Get Smart's creative, well-produced, and funny "Island of the Darned" episode.