Barbary Coast

Barbary Coast was a television show that aired on ABC in 1975 and was the first live action series that William Shatner appeared in after his run on Star Trek ended. It features Shatner as Secret Agent Jeff Cable, an agent that wanders the streets of San Francisco in many disguises. Being forced to work alongside him is Cash Conover (Doug McClure; The Virginian), the owner of the Golden Gate Casino and a fugitive from the law who has recreated himself as a slick casino owner. Together they will fight crime in 1880’s San Francisco. 

 

The Acorn release begins with the made for TV Pilot Movie, which features actor/model Dennis Cole (Felony Squad) as Cash Conover. It was directed by The Incredible Hulk’s Bruce Bixby (who also makes a cameo in the pilot) and was written by Douglas Heyes (Maverick). It also stars show staple Richard Kiel (Happy Gilmore), John Vernon (I’m Gonna Get You Sucka), and Lynda Day George (Mission Impossible). The rest of the set is comprised of the 13 episodes from the series.  

 

The show overall wasn’t that impressive to me. There wasn’t much chemistry between the two stars and the overall show was too much of a Wild Wild West rip off. From what I’ve read the show runners wanted to make the plots as close to those of mission impossible, hence hiring writers from that show, but they just felt drab and the actors themselves hardly seemed to be into the show. Shatner pretty much does what he always does and McClure, well, after over 200 episodes of The Virginian, being on a second rate show like Barbary Coast must not have been easy. 

 

Picture quality is pretty decent. There are a few times when the picture looks washed out, looks like sunlight exposure or something, but it is a better looking picture then most of the older releases from Acorn. If you’re a Shatner or McClure fan you might enjoy it, but for anyone born out of this shows demographic it may seem a bit boring. As always final judgment is yours.