Pedigree

There are a couple of things I’d intended to mention about Peter Gunn when I posted on it the other day. The first thing is that although Blake Edwards created, produced, and occasionally wrote for Peter Gunn he’d also written for the old Richard Diamond radio program and I noticed something amusing. Every so often he, er, recycled dialogue from Richard Diamond into Peter Gunn and in at least one instance he reused an entire plot, adapting it for the different characters. I may be the first person to notice that. I’ve certainly never read anyone else commenting on it

There are some notable similarities between Richard Diamond and Peter Gunn other than the obvious, that they’re both private eye programs. They have close, friendly relationships with their local police departments (New York and Los Angeles, respectively). Both have long-suffering steady girlfriends—Helen Asher for Richard Diamond and Edie, the chanteuse at Mother’s, a jazz club, for Peter Gunn.

And both programs feature the performance of a song in nearly every episode. In Richard Diamond it’s sung by Dick Powell, seated at Helen’s piano, and in Peter Gunn it’s sung by Edie.

The last thing I wanted to mention is that in a certain sense Magnum, P. I. is a lampoon of Peter Gunn. Magnum is Peter’s opposite in practically every way. Peter is impeccably and rather formally dressed; Magnum is casual if not a slob. Peter is masterful; Magnum bumbles through most of his cases. Peter is independent to a fault; Magnum is dependent (on Higgins/Robin). Robin’s Ferrari is an important component of the Magnum program; in 50 episodes I don’t think I’ve ever seen Peter Gunn drive, somewhat surprising for a program set in Los Angeles. Peter Gunn maintains a steady and monogamous relationship; Magnum doesn’t. But, importantly, both of their theme songs are riffs.

Now we’re about to see a reboot of Magnum. Maybe it can recapture some of the original’s feeling and popularity, maybe not. I doubt if those involved in the reboot are aware of its pedigree.