moriarty@fluke.UUCP (Jeff Meyer) (02/25/86)
Was once again impressed by the people putting out this show; this two-part
episode dealt with St. Eligius's 50th anniversary, and the show kept jumping
between 1935 and 1985 in ten-year leaps. The hospital's contributions to
the community, and many of the main characters, is examined, in particular
Dr. Westphall, who grew up in the neighborhood, and a family whose members
are intrically tied up in the hospitals history. Also Dr. Auchlander and
Dr. Craig's involvement with St. Eligius are shown; the latter's attitude is
particularly amusing, as he appears to be as much of a brown-noser as his
current brow-beaten protoge, Victor Ehlrich (though Craig is far more
conceited and obnoxious).
As usual, this show has been a feast for character actors; the makeup used
to hide the age of the casts was variably effective (Westphall seems to be a
pretty much the same, but Auchlander and Craig hide their wrinkles well).
An excellent guest cast was provided; particularly good was Edward Hermann
as the Father McCabe, a character mentioned in previous episodes by
Auchlander with great fondness, and James Stephens (of THE PAPER CHASE) in a
brief stint as a young Auchlander -- his face is perfect for the role.
Jackie Cooper does a nice job as Dr. David Demidion, Craig's mentor (the
character has only been glimpsed in one earlier episode, after he has gone
through chemotherapy and has gone completely senile).
The best compliment I can give this episode is that you feel you could watch
episodes from any of these periods, and still find as many intersting
characters as are shown in the "present". A fine show which keeps getting
better, cliched as that is.
"A vicious firebrand of Law and
Order, his FOAMING WRATH is
MIGHTY!... Yet his heart flows
over with warmth and human
kindness to all the good and
honest people!"
"You're hurt pretty bad, Mister...
have some Wheaties!"
Moriarty, aka Jeff Meyer
ARPA: fluke!moriarty@uw-beaver.ARPA
UUCP: {uw-beaver, sun, allegra, sb6, lbl-csam}!fluke!moriarty
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