Straightaway
Straightaway is a 26-week half-hour adventure/drama television series which aired on ABC during the 1961–1962 season – the story of two young men who operate a garage and engage in auto racing. John Ashley and Brian Kelly played race car designers Clipper Hamilton and Scott Ross, respectively. Scott designs the vehicles, and Clipper is the mechanic. Asa Maynor was cast in four episodes as Dixie. Most episodes center on the clients who bring a race car to the Straightaway Garage. The series was originally planned to be named “The Racers”, but the title had to be altered because of sponsor problems. Straightaway ran at 7:30 Eastern on Fridays opposite CBS’s Rawhide with Clint Eastwood and Eric Fleming. Straightaway was moved to Wednesdays effective January 10, 1962, for the remainder of its brief run.
Insights
Plot Summary
This anthology series explored various crime and mystery stories, often focusing on characters caught in desperate situations. Each episode presented a self-contained narrative, delving into the moral ambiguities and psychological pressures faced by ordinary people entangled in extraordinary circumstances. The show aimed to provide suspenseful and thought-provoking tales within its limited runtime.
Critical Reception
As an anthology series from the early 1960s, 'Straightaway' received moderate attention during its original run. Critical reception was generally geared towards its episodic nature, with some installments praised for their tight plotting and suspenseful atmosphere, while others were seen as more formulaic. It is often remembered as a solid, if not groundbreaking, entry in the crime drama genre of its era.
What Reviewers Say
- Praised for its suspenseful crime narratives.
- Some episodes offered compelling character studies.
- Generally seen as a competent, if not exceptional, genre series.
Google audience: Information regarding specific Google user reviews for 'Straightaway' is not readily available due to its age and the nature of its original broadcast.
Fun Fact
John Ireland, one of the show's main cast members, was also a successful screenwriter and director, contributing to his versatile career in Hollywood.
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