Hawkins: The Complete TV-Movie Collection

Comments about Hawkins: The Complete TV-Movie Collection:

Jimmy Stewart was great in this series; as he was in most everything he starred in. Unfortunately, everything else was below par; supporting actors, especially his sheriff cousin was a poor choice.

Comments about Hawkins: The Complete TV-Movie Collection:

What appears to be a pre matlock series,Jimmy does his best Tv proformance.The same Jimmy that we loved all those years in Movies.

Comments about Hawkins: The Complete TV-Movie Collection:

It's great to see these made for tv movies starring Jimmy Stewart. They are well made.

Comments about Hawkins: The Complete TV-Movie Collection:

Proof that a criminal just makes simple mistakes and gets caught by them.

Comments about Hawkins: The Complete TV-Movie Collection:

An unusual series starring James Stewart, in fine form as a small town West Virginia lawyer with a talent for catching murderers Perry Mason style, right there in the courtroom. It's not much of a stretch to say that the Matlock show could have been inspired by the Hawkins series.

Each episode features at least one good emotive scene as Stewart decries injustice in one form or another, though you can kind of tell these moments were somewhat contrived to give Stewart something dramatic to do. There's also some of that gentle Jimmy humor mixed in with the drama, balancing out each episode nicely.

The mysteries range from fair to good, and by the time you've screened the last installment, you'll be sorry there aren't any more. Naturally, the killer is always caught, and Hawkins has "never lost" a case. He usually cons the killer into confessing, albeit in clever ways you don't see coming.

One problem with the series is that the stories are a bit slow, but watching Jimmy crack the case is usually worth the wait. And Hawkins flies all over the country defending clients, but no one ever seems to wonder why a West Viginia lawyer is allowed to practice law in all those other states!

Best of the batch is "Blood Fued," the only episode that takes place in Hawkins' ficticious home town. There's a great sequence where Jimmy has to break up a catfight between two ladies, then has to chase one out of the house trying to get information from her. Hawkins even lambasts the Press and Media whilst lecturing the editor of the local paper about justice. And then there's the performance turned in by the great Lew Ayres (All Quiet on the Western Front). You won't forget it! Plus, you can see an appearance of a pre-"Dukes of Hazzard" James Best. What's not to love?

This set is a must for fans of the great James Stewart, or perhaps a Matlock-loving grandma you know who's seen all the Matlock episodes already.