Run for Your Life

One of the most interesting dramatic shows that came from the mid-1960's,the series "Run For Your Life" was a grand showcase with a gimmick for the dramatic flair. The series was a showcase for actor Ben Gazzara who provided some the astounding acting that this show gave and then some. Produced by Roy Huggins(the creator of such classic TV shows as "Maverick",and "The Fugitive")under his production company Public Arts Productions and Universal Television for NBC-TV,the series produced 86 episodes,all in color when it premiered on NBC-TV from September 13,1965 until the final episode of the series on September 11,1968. The series "Run For Your Life" was one of the new shows that NBC had on its schedule on the 1965-1966 season. When it premiered it was on Monday nights where it was placed opposite ABC's "Ben Casey",and CBS' "The Steve Lawrence Show". It was placed at the 10:00 hour after "The Andy Williams Show". The series was based on an episode that aired during an episode of "The Kraft Suspense Theater" that was telecast in April of 1965 with Herschel Bernardi in the role as Paul Bryan defending a client accused of murder.

Ben Gazzara was Paul Bryan-a very successful 35-year old lawyer who had everything a man could want-intelligence,good looks,popularity,and money. He also had something that nobody wants-an incurable disease. Told by his physician that he had only two years to live,Paul closed down his successful law practice in San Francisco and started traveling the world in the hopes of cramming a lifetime of adventure and excitement with the little time he had left. With money that was no problem(he was financially secured),he went from one exotic and fascinating place to the other and along the way encounter all sorts of people and the adventures he encountered in which just about every episode assisted those in need,and just that David Janssen's character of Richard Kimble in "The Fugitive" went from place to place helping those in need while getting into tight situations and along the way including meeting interesting people and after moving onward to the next great destination. However,with Ben Gazzara's character of Paul Bryan,he had to come to terms with the disease that he had,but instead of running away from the situation,he dealt with it,even in some episodes,had several medical conditions with he had to be checked out by a physician or have someone take him to the hospital in case the unexpected happened. The show was so good that it was nominated for an Emmy in 1966 with Ben Gazzara for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Series(lost to Bill Cosby for "I Spy"). However,the show ran three seasons for NBC,even though he was supposedly to had only two years to live when it when off the air in 1968. During its final season,the show was moved from Mondays to Wednesdays in September of 1967 for the 1967-1968 season,where it was placed against the short-lived western series "Dundee and the Culhane"(produced by David Victor for CBS)and "The ABC Wednesday Night Movie",which fared very well in the ratings. When it ended its run in September of 1968,NBC had a show that replaced it...the short-lived series "The Outsider".

Grace Lee Whitney appeared briefly in the 1965 TV series "Run for Your Life," the story of the terminally ill Paul Bryan (Ben Gazarra). The fourth episode of the series is titled "Never Pick Up a Stranger" and begins in a small town on a Sunday morning. Whitney plays the character Millie, a fast-talking diner waitress, who serves a cup of coffee. The story revolves around Bryan's encounter with a runaway Kathy (Brenda Scott) and his decisions after returning her to that small town. Barry Sullivan portrays the hardass local sheriff, who is aggressive in his attempts to get Bryan back on the road. Grace makes another appearance in the middle of when the sheriff arrives to present Bryan with a warrant for his arrest. There are several twists until we find out why the Sheriff is after our innocent hero. Grace was on the cusp of joining the cast of "Star Trek" and would film several of the first few episodes but be written off the show before the first installment aired. This part is a perfect example of her underutilization as an actor despite a decade of dues being paid in good performances on a range of shows.

"Run for Your Life" was one of those shows that Johnny Carson loved to joke about, back in the sixties; with the premise that a wealthy 30-ish lawyer had a fatal disease with only one or two years left to live, when the show entered it's third season, did this mean the specialists were quacks, or that the hero's globe-trotting adventures invoke some 'miracle cure'?

The joking aside, the series' novel premise gave star Ben Gazzara an opportunity to display his well-respected dramatic skills (he'd created the role of Brick in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" on Broadway, and, with Peter Falk, would make a major impact in John Cassavetes' innovative films of the sixties and seventies), and turn the routine plots into often engrossing character studies.

There could never be a truly 'happy' end to any episode; even when 'Paul Bryan' resolved the issues raised in a show, he could never enjoy the 'fruits' of his endeavors, or even promise to return to the people whose lives he'd changed. If he fell in love (which, naturally, happened), he had to either deny it, or pass the reciprocated love to someone else (unless the girl herself died), so 'bittersweet' was the best term to describe the show, a quality similar to "The Fugitive", as well.

As NBC required 'action' in their series, "Run for Your Life" had Bryan often "in harm's way", and each time he was treated by a doctor or hospital, there was the added tension of whether his exertions might accelerate his disease. Gazzara's Bryan was not trying to commit suicide, but was trying to live his remaining time to the fullest, so his anguish when facing risks had a very 'real' basis, and gave Gazzara some of his best series' moments.

Despite the 'backlot' feel of the 'international' locales (the show never went on location), and the casting of the same actors who appeared in many other Universal-produced series of the period, veteran producer Roy Huggins tried to keep each episode fresh and original, through the use of stock footage, music, and clever editing.

"Run for Your Life" was not a 'great' series, but was unconventional for it's time, and, as a showcase for Ben Gazzara, was definitely worth watching.

It's obvious to me that early TV shows & movies formed much of who I am today. This TV series is one example. It taught me that each day on this earth is precious. The people you meet, the experiences you live through, the sights, sounds, tastes and smells of life. All should be consumed with passion. The good, AND the bad. As if you only had one or two years left of your life. For after all, we don't know how much time we have. But what ever length that is, it should not be wasted.

The theme of this series is provocative. And, always kept me anxious for next weeks show. The acting and production value is exceptional. I especially liked the recurring dreams (night mares really), or flashbacks that Ben Gazzarra's character would wake from, where he was being chased by Father Time (or was it he that was doing the chasing). I found these scenes to be very symbolic.

I do hope that this series becomes available on DVD soon. If you liked "The Fugitive" television series, you'll probably also like "Run For Your Life".

I loved this series and I am very disappointed that since it got cancelled on NBC in 1968 I have not been able to find this show anywhere. Today is August 4th, 2019, and I still have not found this show on any TV network or on any streaming service or even online. If you ever do find this show available for viewing in any form and anyplace please share this info here. I would love very much to watch all these episodes again. This show ran from 1965 till 1968, and there were 85 episodes in total. Thank you in advance.