Commander Steel
11-13-2001, 05:30 PM
HENNESEY (and that is the correct spelling)was one of the best--and IS one of the most undersung--situation comedies in television history.
The show ran for three years, from 1959 to 1962; and revolved around the events occurring to a new Navy doctor assigned to the San Diego Naval Base.
Lieutenant Charles W. "Chick" Hennesey, Medical Corps, USN (Jackie Cooper) reported to San Diego immediately after graduating from medical school. His commanding officer was the base's Senior Medical Officer, Captain Wallace A. Shafer (Roscoe Karns). Nurse (Lieutenant junior grade) Martha Hale (Abby Dalton) served as CAPT Shafer's administrative assistant and eventually became Hennesey's love interest. Assisting Dr. Hennesey in the dispensary was Hospital Corpsman First Class Max Bronsky (Henry Kulky). Other members of the staff who appeared in semi-regular roles were dentist Lieutenant Harvey Blair Spencer III (James Komack), nurse Ensign Hale (Lonie Blackman), and physician Lieutenant Dan Wagner (Herb Ellis).
The show relied on gentle humour growing out of situations (as opposed to "whacky characters")in the fashion of FATHER KNOWS BEST; and like that show, there was usually a poignent moment that left a lump in the viewer's throat at the end of the episode. The key was that Chick Hennesey was a genuinely nice guy. He was not naive--he had a number of life's experiences which gave him a balance of common sense (Hennesey had served in the South Pacific as a soldier during World War II). However, he was heir to the same occasional mistakes and misjudgements that we all are. The end of the episode might show Hennesey learning a lesson, although more often, he was the one setting the lesson simply by doing what was right.
The show took some liberties by avoiding a laugh track and relying upon overlapping dialogue--two techniques which were rare in those days. Also, having a military and a medical milieu, there were occasional moments of genuine drama.
The show progressed with some superficial developments over the years--CAPT Shafer was promoted to rear admiral, Max to chief petty officer, and Hennesey himself to lieutenant commander during the course of the show--yet the basic relationship of the characters did not change over the series. The romance between Chick and Martha evolved naturally; the final episode of the series featured their long-awaited wedding.
HENNESEY was my first inspiration for becoming a Naval officer. A few years ago, I wrote Jackie Cooper (himself, a retired captain in the Naval Reserve) to tell him how the quality and entertainment of his show (he produced it, as well as starred in it) guided me on my career in the Navy. He responded by saying that of all the things he did as an actor, producer, or director, HENNESEY was the effort of which he was proudest.
I have spent many years trying to acquire video tapes of the episodes. I have about thirty, a little less than half the run. The show holds up as well to-day as it did forty years ago. I don't have the vocabulary to express accurately what makes this show so good. But if you ever have a chance to see it, do so--you won't be disappointed.
Hope this helps.
Steel
The show ran for three years, from 1959 to 1962; and revolved around the events occurring to a new Navy doctor assigned to the San Diego Naval Base.
Lieutenant Charles W. "Chick" Hennesey, Medical Corps, USN (Jackie Cooper) reported to San Diego immediately after graduating from medical school. His commanding officer was the base's Senior Medical Officer, Captain Wallace A. Shafer (Roscoe Karns). Nurse (Lieutenant junior grade) Martha Hale (Abby Dalton) served as CAPT Shafer's administrative assistant and eventually became Hennesey's love interest. Assisting Dr. Hennesey in the dispensary was Hospital Corpsman First Class Max Bronsky (Henry Kulky). Other members of the staff who appeared in semi-regular roles were dentist Lieutenant Harvey Blair Spencer III (James Komack), nurse Ensign Hale (Lonie Blackman), and physician Lieutenant Dan Wagner (Herb Ellis).
The show relied on gentle humour growing out of situations (as opposed to "whacky characters")in the fashion of FATHER KNOWS BEST; and like that show, there was usually a poignent moment that left a lump in the viewer's throat at the end of the episode. The key was that Chick Hennesey was a genuinely nice guy. He was not naive--he had a number of life's experiences which gave him a balance of common sense (Hennesey had served in the South Pacific as a soldier during World War II). However, he was heir to the same occasional mistakes and misjudgements that we all are. The end of the episode might show Hennesey learning a lesson, although more often, he was the one setting the lesson simply by doing what was right.
The show took some liberties by avoiding a laugh track and relying upon overlapping dialogue--two techniques which were rare in those days. Also, having a military and a medical milieu, there were occasional moments of genuine drama.
The show progressed with some superficial developments over the years--CAPT Shafer was promoted to rear admiral, Max to chief petty officer, and Hennesey himself to lieutenant commander during the course of the show--yet the basic relationship of the characters did not change over the series. The romance between Chick and Martha evolved naturally; the final episode of the series featured their long-awaited wedding.
HENNESEY was my first inspiration for becoming a Naval officer. A few years ago, I wrote Jackie Cooper (himself, a retired captain in the Naval Reserve) to tell him how the quality and entertainment of his show (he produced it, as well as starred in it) guided me on my career in the Navy. He responded by saying that of all the things he did as an actor, producer, or director, HENNESEY was the effort of which he was proudest.
I have spent many years trying to acquire video tapes of the episodes. I have about thirty, a little less than half the run. The show holds up as well to-day as it did forty years ago. I don't have the vocabulary to express accurately what makes this show so good. But if you ever have a chance to see it, do so--you won't be disappointed.
Hope this helps.
Steel