Match contre la vie

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.

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.

"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.

Ah the adventure this presented when viewed at the tender age of 3 or 4.

My classmates always called me "Austin" and other impolite variations of the bionic man, yet they did not know back then about the TV i watched before i met them. Now it is of little consequence; and so this is a show that i regard fondly. As seen through the experience of a 4 yr old this tv show was very exciting for it's day. Long before i knew of politics and history this show was fun to watch and get involved with. After 40yrs TV is and may never be so fun to watch as the shows of my childhood, the media may operate the same but my perception as influenced by education simply makes todays TV mundane and "directed"; Oh how advanced communication techniques jaded this boy to whom days of the week passed like an eternity unto themselves. Now I am sketchy as to the star.... I am thinking Ben Gazara, but I think it might have been Christopher George... I am very glad for IMDB: It provides me the access to my early memories, that 100 years ago would not have been possible. Here is another example I implore those who read these words and have the resources to make this show available, to do so in a historical style, with accuracy and full preservation of the original broadcast and even perhaps the "extra" perks we can in todays tech employ and excavate the treasures of a generation who were so filled with joy at these daily events.

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".