Judy’s Hour of Peril – Daktari TV Show

The following episode guide for Season Two was contributed by Ken Lynch who hails from Australia. Photos are by Patrick Sansano. Patrick is from France and has an excellent and entertaining Episode Guide of his own which I encourage you to visit. If you don’t speak French, use Google Translate to read his commentary.

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The Second Season

Note: photo slide show of Season Two at the bottom on this post.

A second season of 29 episodes was screened between September 1966 and April 1967 just four months after the conclusion of the shorter 18 episode Season One in May 1966.

The cast remained the same for this (and subsequent third) season. Cheryl Miller wore her straight bobbed hair style for most of the episodes.

One noticeable change however was the theme and incidental music. While the first season’s theme was specifically written by Henry Vars, most of the incidental music was pinched directly from what Vars had recorded for Flipper. This is very obvious if both TV shows are watched close together.

Jazz musician Shelly Manne wrote very African-themed music for the second season and it soon became identified with Daktari and enhanced the apparent authenticity and atmosphere of the show.

In the first season, stock footage of animals and scenery was repeated to the point of annoyance. However, during the production break, Marshall Thompson and a film crew actually visited Africa and filmed many background scenes of animals, the bush and natives in their villages.

These sequences were effectively edited with the other stock footage to often give the series an authentic look that added to its appeal. One way this was achieved was by having Thompson almost always wearing his white hat.

Another difference in the second season was the absence of any scenes filmed on the lounge/bedroom sets of the compound house which were the primary setting for most of the first season.

Many of the same production crew continued their involvement in the second season. Writers such as Stephen Kendel (1), William Clark (3), Richard Carlson (1) were joined by new regulars D.D. Oldland (2) and Malvin Wald (6) (who was the series’ Story executive) with Alan Cailllou even writing one episode for this season.

Regular Paul Landres returned to direct over half this season’s episodes (15) with John Florea directing the bulk of the remaining episodes (8). Marshall Thompson’s behind-the-camera involvement became more intense when he directed one episode.

Storylines were generally stronger but the undercurrent between Paula and Jack only featured in a number of episodes.

The Second Season Episodes

(First aired on Tuesdays on CBS in the US)

2.1 (19) Return of Clarence (First aired 13 Sept 1966)

Suffering from amnesia after Mike’s truck strikes him in the head, Clarence turns on Paula and causes her to tumble into a pit occupied by a baby leopard. When Clarence wanders away, the mother leopard springs into the pit where Paula protects herself temporarily by jabbing the big cat with a sedative. Knowing the animal will awaken in half-an-hour, Paula waits in terror for help to arrive.

Notes: Written by William Clark and directed by Paul Landres. New theme and incidental music by Shelly Manne is used for the first time. Several references to past episodes are made – Lady Pembrook (Episode 1.3) and the visual image cards (Episode 1.8). There is obvious body-doubling for Paula in some scenes.

2.2 (20) Deadline to Kill (First aired 20 Sept 1966)

Slow-moving livestock are easy prey for lions and leopards which, after learning how easy they are to bring down, may raid farms and ranches bordering the reserve. The cows are released by a playboy rancher who realises once the cats become livestock killers, it will be an excuse to drive Dr. Tracy from the area and claim the reserve’s land. Daktari sweeps the brush before the lions and leopards attack the cows. A killer lion then mauls Daktari during his desperate search for the cows.

Notes: Directed by John Florea and featuring rare footage of Marshall Thompson on horseback. Linden Chiles guest stars as the out-of-place playboy who makes a play for Paula (especially in her upturned hair) – prompting Jack’s jealousy. Prince, the dog, makes an appearance at the start.

2.3 (21) Daktari’s Last Hunt (First aired 27 Sept 1966)

Man hunts man when a white hunter forces Daktari to test his wildlife theories in a fight for survival. Dr. Tracy and Judy fall into his scheme when they enter the wild to investigate the presence of a tiger. Marsh survives, proving the hunter wrong. A desperate chase follows through the jungle when the white hunter stalks Daktari in a life-and-death struggle.

Notes: Written by Stephen Kandel and directed by John Florea. Jack Kelly guest stars. Better care seems to have been taken in this second season to match authentic African footage with US footage. This is one of the few occasions when the word “Daktari” is used consistently when addressing Marsh Tracy. Footage of gorillas from Clarence is re-used.

2.4 (22) Judy’s Hour of Peril (First aired 4 Oct 1966)

Death is hours away for Judy when Paula unknowingly injects her pet with a fatal virus. The accident occurs after Judy switches bottles while Paula is preparing a syringe for the chimp’s periodic fever shot. Unaware of the deadly situation, Judy vanishes into the bush. Discovering the mistake, Daktari assembles Judy’s friends – an elephant, a tiger, a dog, a bear and Clarence. With the animals assigned to Judy’s human friends as trackers, search parties set out with antidote packets in a race to find Judy before the virus destroys her.

Notes: Directed by John Florea who continues his habit of having actors walk into and from the camera for scene changes. Includes a seldom seen shot of the hippo pool. Prince appears again together with Hercules (from Episodes 1.10 and 1.11).

2.5 (23) Cheetah at Large (First aired 11 Oct 1966)

Natives lurk around the Wameru Study Center threatening to steal a prize cheetah entrusted to Dr. Tracy’s care by the chief of a rival African tribe. Judy creates trouble by leading the cheetah into the jungle. When the chief returns, Paula stalls him at the house while Dr. Tracy begins a desperate search of the bush in the hope of recovering the animal.

Notes: Written by Marvin Wald/D.D. Oldland and directed by Paul Landres. Raymond St Jacques guest stars. There is good banter between Jack and Paula. On-location African footage of Marshall Thompson is featured for the first time. Mike’s knowledge of the Emir’s water rights suggests he may have been around Wameru before Jack which had not been revealed previously.

2.6 (24) The Test (First aired 18 Oct 1966)

Mike uses Clarence to restore the courage of a young African boy whose chieftain father bans him from his village for cowardice. Allowing the youth to think Clarence is wild, Mike shows how a quick clap of the hands will send a lion running into the bush. When a killer lion terrorises the locale, the youth tracks the cat with the false courage Mike has given him. Daktari and Mike discover the boy as he is nearing the lion, but have their rescue efforts halted by the chief. The boy drops his spear and walks to the lion preparing to clap his hands.

Notes: Directed by Paul Landres. This episode is focussed on Mike and his native African background. Features a very rare scene of the cast in bathers swimming at a water hole.

2.7 (25) Born to Die (First aired 25 Oct 1966)

A former circus panther is under Daktari’s care when it escapes after Judy forgets to lock its cage. Daktari’s staff are searching the bush for the panther when Paula, Judy and Clarence discover the cat preparing to give birth to her litter. Paula sends Clarence for Dr. Tracy as she prepares to become a midwife with Judy’s assistance.

Notes: Directed by John Florea who over-uses his walking-to-the-camera technique again. This is one of the few times Paula has an instant dislike to an animal. Also watch for the silly out-of-place Tarzan call when Judy swings through the trees.

2.8 (26) The Trial (First aired 1 Nov 1966)

A young African’s greed to control his chieftain-uncle’s tribal land prompts him to drug one of Daktari’s elephants which goes on a rampage and injures the chief. Dr. Tracy had loaned the huge beast to assist the chief in removing heavy trees. The elephant is given a trial by village elders who condemn the creature to death. Daktari volunteers to destroy the animal, but uses a dart filled with a sleep-inducing tranquilliser. With the elephant drugged for only an hour, Dr. Tracy, with Judy’s help, attempts to discover the reason for his elephant’s strange actions.

Notes: Written by William Clark and directed by Paul Landres. Bob Doqui (the young African) is the same actor who had played a policeman in Clarence. The first on-location shots of Thompson filmed with natives in an African village are edited into footage at Africa USA.

2.9 (27) Death in the African Sun (First aired 15 Nov 1966)

During an African drought Judy and Jack are near death from thirst after trailing herds of wildlife in the hope the animals will lead them to water. Daktari and Mike set out to locate Jack when he fails to arrive at the Study Center after returning a young giraffe to its herd. The pair find Jack’s disabled Jeep and realize he is wandering somewhere in the desert. With Clarence assisting, they begin a search.

Notes: Written by D.D. Oldland and directed by Paul Landres. Like Episode 2.6 focussed on Mike, this is a Jack episode with his ‘Aussie’ hat making its first appearance. Filming of several sequences were done at seldom seen open range locations at Africa USA.

2.10 (28) Revenge of the Leopard (First aired 22 Nov 1966)

Daktari agrees to escort a beautiful and wealthy woman on a filming safari unaware that she intends to kill a phantom leopard. The spoiled cat is nearly a legend, having roamed freely while escaping harm from hunters. After tracking the leopard, the woman reveals her true objective by substituting a high-powered rifle for a tranquilliser gun. Disarming her, Dr. Tracy learns that the phantom killed her father years ago. Still bent on revenge, the woman sets out to kill the leopard, accidentally wounding Dr. Tracy. While attending the wound, she hears the leopard prowling in the dark jungle.

Notes: Directed by John Florea whose directorial style for scene changes is evident again. Doris Dowling has a second guest starring role having been in Episode 1.12 (which actually has a similar storyline), and would appear yet again in Episode 3.11. Cheryl Miller only appears in the first scene – perhaps indicating she may have had a week off as series stars often had during a long season of filming.

2.11 (29) Shoot to Kill (First aired 29 Nov 1966)

Wildlife in the Wameru Reserve is threatened when a diseased bear escapes from its beautiful female trainer. While rushing the beast to Dr. Tracy for treatment, her truck is knocked off the road by a giraffe. Fearing for their cattle, local ranchers post a reward on the bear’s head. A desperate race follows with Clarence and Judy assisting Daktari in the search to reach the bear before bounty hunters kill the animal.

Notes: Written by Malvin Wald and directed by Paul Landres. Features some on-location African footage of Thompson in the bush plus him getting out of a truck at a real African village. Allot of screen time is given to the bear.

2.12 (30) Cry for Help (First aired 6 Dec 1966)

Daktari attempts to save the life of a village chief after a self-made doctor fails to diagnose diabetes, mistaking the disease for an infection. The village doctor, a former Army medic, is ordered out of the area by the chief’s son who threatens death if his father dies. While Paula is assisting her father, a deadly spider bites her. She is near death and none of Dr. Tracy’s medicines will counter the insect’s poison. Only the banished doctor knows the correct antidote, but if he returns he would face death.

Notes: Directed by Paul Landres. Godfrey Cambridge (who actually looks like a cartoon character) guest stars.

2.13 (31) Clarence the Killer (First aired 20 Dec 1966)

Clarence is labelled a killer after a nearly-blind lion raids a village near the reserve. Hedley and Daktari discover Clarence with blood smears on his fur. The carcass of a goat from the village is nearby. Another lion with impaired vision is responsible. The cat belongs to Eric Lansing, a man Daktari once sent to jail for killing reserve animals. Lansing is determined to destroy everything Tracy has created in the hope of using the reserve for hunting. He also planted the blood on Clarence. Lansing traps Tracy in a pit with plans to tum his hostile lion loose against him. Once Tracy is mauled to death, Lansing will force Clarence to be blamed for Daktari’s death.

Notes: Written by Robert Lewin and directed by Paul Landres. Joe Higgins returns as Lansing, a role he played in Episode 1.12, but would also return in Episode 4.3 in a different role. Some scratchy film of the native girl in the village from the First Season is re-used here. But there are plenty of other good action scenes. Hedley also has a bigger and more authoritarian role than normal.

2.14 (32) The Chimp who cried Wolf (First aired 27 Dec 1966)

When a former TV comedian arrives at Daktari’s Study Center, animals at the compound and in the surrounding area are thrown into confusion as he attempts to record their various vocal sounds on tape. His bumbling efforts nearly cost Clarence his life and upset an experiment Jack is doing with a bear. While in lion country with Paula and Judy, he picks up a cub. The mother lioness spots his actions and calls her pride for assistance. Suddenly lions appear from the tall grass, and slowly move on the three intruders.

Notes: Directed by John Florea who uses his normal walk-to-camera technique – but he does try a few new editing ones to segue between scenes. Morey Amsterdam guest stars and hams it up shamelessly.

2.15 (33) Little Miss Nightingale (First aired 3 Jan 1967)

Judy finds herself in a desperate situation when the truck Mike, Judy and CIarence are riding overturns in the bush, pinning Mike’s leg under it. He must rely on Judy to keep animals from attacking the helpless pair until they are rescued, a rescue that can only come if Clarence makes it back to Wameru with a note tied to his collar. While vultures hover over Mike, Marsh and Hedley hunt for a giraffe which needs treatment for an infection. Only Paula suspects the truth – that Mike is in serious trouble.

Notes: Co-written by Malvin Wald and directed by Marshall Thompson. This was not Thompson’s first attempt at directing as he had directed several movies and episodes of Flipper. Watch for Paula kissing Jack at 9:40!!! Scenes of Clarence in the village had been used before but on-location scenes of Thompson capturing the giraffe are great. (Note: this possibly could have aired the third season because the show credits show Jack with the giraffe which was in the third season; note also Paula’s appearance is more like the third season. Other episode guides on the web list it as a second season episode so this is obviously in dispute.)

2.16 (34) Judy and the Gorilla (First aired 10 Jan 1967)

Poachers kidnap Judy, a gorilla and other animals from the study center. Earlier, the pair had killed the adult primates of the baby gorilla to capture the tyke. But the baby eludes the poachers and hides in a shed at the Compound where Jack and Paula discover him. When the poachers’ plans are uncovered, they sneak into the center and fill a truck with animals and vanish into the jungle.

Notes: Written by Malvin Wald and directed by Paul Landres. Virginia Mayo guest stars. The gorilla footage from Clarence is re-used yet again. Cheryl Miller’s hairstyle and the use of the back entrance of the house is a strong indication that this episode was filmed much earlier in the production schedule. It even features some of the ‘spark’ between Jack and Paula that had returned in the previous episode.

2.17 (35) House of Lions (First aired 17 Jan 1967)

Clarence is led to some deserted huts by an injured lioness who escapes Daktari’s hospital. While the cross-eyed lion follows the lioness, attempting to stop her, he is hit by a spear from a native trap. Dr. Tracy, Paula and Jack trail the bleeding lion and Daktari attempts to rescue Clarence from the house which is occupied by a family of lions.

Notes: Co-written by Malvin Wald and directed by John Florea. The soundtrack of this episode was released as an LP record. The deserted houses in the abandoned safari lodge was filmed in Africa with extensive scenes of Thompson wandering around outside. In fact for the only time in the series, the credits acknowledge that “much of this story was filmed at the Gorongoza National Park in Portuguese West Africa”. It would appear that the screenwriter built the story around the on-location footage.

2.18 (36) Undercover Judy (First aired 24 Jan 1967)

Judy’s duel undercover antics as an agent for both Hedley and Paula destroy the clever plan of two ex-German soldiers attempting to recover diamonds hidden on the reserve during the war. Hedley is tricked into assisting the pair, but he later uncovers their scheme. Hedley orders Judy to take the diamonds to Daktari. All return to the Study Center where the Germans attempt to force the chimp to reveal where she buried the diamonds.

Notes: Two well-known actors Alan Hewitt and Frank Marth guest star. Another of Jack’s seemingly never-ending experiments is a sub-plot. Paula’s birthday sets up the action at the start, but is never mentioned again! Hedley’s headquarters is seen again after being in Episode 2.14 and once before in the first season.

2.19 (37) Countdown for Paula (First aired 31 Jan 1967)

Paula attempts to outdrive a sweeping wall of water filling land behind a new dam. She is assisting Daktari in the removal of wildlife from the area when dynamite charges explode two hours earlier than expected, releasing the deluge. Unhappy over time lost in saving animals, a dam engineer has moved the timer forward on the explosives. He is not aware that Paula is in the area until she calls in over her radio, then he realizes it’s too late to save the girl.

Notes: Directed by John Florea. Despite the emphasis of the main storyline, there is time spent on an interesting experiment by Jack. There is some tension during the build-up to the flooding.

2.20 (38) Terror in the Bush (First aired 7 Feb 1967)

When his Jeep overturns, Daktari suffers delirium from a head injury while Paula and Judy are faced with moving Marsh through the wilderness to safety. Paula battles lions, leopards and struggles with a crocodile in her efforts to assist her father. Following behind the trio are Jack and Mike who are using Clarence to track their missing friends. Once Clarence picks up the trail, the boys begin a race to find the three before the jungle can destroy them.

Notes: Directed by Paul Landres. Cheryl Miller has the majority of screen time and makes the most of it!

2.21 (39) Judy and the Baby Elephant (First aired 14 Feb 1967)

When Daktari is called to help fight a brush fire, Judy’s left to observe the Compound’s latest experiment: putting a gentle baby Indian elephant with wild African elephants to see if the breeds are compatible. When a Ieopard attacks the baby, Judy runs for help but to no avail, as the herd has adopted the little elephant and won’t let humans near for treatment. Marsh frantically tries to get to the wounded baby, but sees the old elephants prepare for the kill rather than let their new friend suffer at the hands of scavengers.

Notes: Written by Malvin Wald. Features some great new footage of the animals. Cheryl Miller’s hair is noticeably longer. Some of footage from the Wall of Flames episode is re-used here. Listen for when Jack refers to Paula as “My love!” during Clarence’s eye tests. Some of the ‘African’ elephants look suspiciously like ‘Indian’ elephants with stuck-on big ears. Judy’s extraordinary communication skills are clearly displayed in this episode.

2.22 (40) A Bullet for Hedley (First aired 21 Feb 1967)

Judy and Clarence thwart a ruthless diamond thief’s attempts to recover jewels after the chimp hides the stones. The man succeeds in capturing Hedley, Paula and Jack, holding them hostage while Daktari searches for the missing diamonds. When Dr. Tracy is unable to locate the stones, he substitutes crushed quartz but the thief isn’t fooled. Marsh manages to slug the man but is nearly overpowered when Clarence and Judy appear, turning the battle in the favour of Daktari.

Notes: Written and guest starring (in a fleeting appearance at the start) Alan Cailllou who had written and co-starred as the ‘Hedley’ character in the pilot movie. Directed by Paul Landres. For the first time ever, authentic footage of a game warden (Hedley) walking on the African savannah is shown. There are some good scenes of Jack and Paula together again.

2.23 (41) Judy the Poacher (First aired 28 Feb 1967)

With everyone too occupied to aid Mike in his latest project·- cheering up the old, rejected Wabula natives – Judy decides to do a good deed. Real intrigue develops complete with abducted experimental animals, stolen keys and sedatives, so Marsh calls in Hedley to solve the sabotage. There seems to be no answer to the case until the culprit is caught with a hidden camera, solving a second mystery and teaching Marsh a valuable lesson in medicine.

Notes: Directed by Paul Landres. Rex Ingram guest stars as the only Wabula native with a speaking part. He would later appear in Episode 3.21. Cheryl Miller does not appear in this episode, but it does include a fun sequence of the cast rounding up an ostrich.

2.24 (42) Goodbye, Mike Makula (First aired 7 Mar 1967)

A beautiful visitor arrives at the Compound to buy animals for an American exhibit but Judy is suspicious. The new arrival convinces an enamored Mike to work for the organization in the States, but he’s unaware she is leading him on. When Marsh discovers a revealing letter, Jack rushes rescue his buddy but discovers his task is more dangerous than he thought.

Notes: Co-written by Marvin Wald and directed by Marshall Thompson. This was Thompson’s second directing job on this series after directing several movies and episodes of Flipper. This is definitely a Mike episode! It’s strange that much is made of his leaving when he ultimately continued to appear throughout the entire series. For the first time in the whole second season, the lounge room of the main house is shown and used – a welcome return!

2.25 (43) Operation Springtime (First aired 14 Mar 1967)

When Jack and Mike witness the death of an ostrich, they must somehow manage the almost impossible task of getting her eggs hatched. Judy helps by scaring away snakes and Clarence tries to keep the eggs warm, but it’s not enough. The boys find a substitute ostrich, which Clarence scares away, and with time running short, they receive more help than they bargained for.

Notes: Directed by Paul Landres. This has to be the silliest episode of all!

2.26 (44) King Clarence (First aired 21 Mar 1967)

Clarence becomes a hero when Daktari discovers he has the rare blood needed in surgery on the last of the royal tigers. But when Clarence and Judy are insulted by a general in charge of the valuable animal, they conspire and almost cause an international incident. Clarence disappears and is on the verge of starvation, Judy is placed in confinement, and Daktari must perform an almost hopeless operation.

Notes: Directed by Paul Landres. The treehut and ‘elevator’ is an affectionate homage to Tarzan. Being near the end of the season, the weather during filming may have been getting cold at Africa USA as all the cast wear jackets throughout the episode and additional key lights are used.

2.27 (45) The Long Hunt (First aired 28 Mar 1967)

When a young Indian visits the Compound, only Judy realises he has come to play a deadly game with one of Daktari’s tigers. Judy saves the tiger from death several times until Daktari’s suspicions are aroused by a wounded native and an animal who saves her enemy from destruction.

Notes: Written by William Clark. Paula’s older look becomes more pronounced with her long hair and newer clothes.

2.28 (46) Judy and the Vulture (First aired 4 Apr 1967)

Clarence becomes gravely ill when a new friend, Virgil the vulture, turns out to be a carrier of a dangerous germ. Virgil’s blood is necessary to create a serum, but he and Judy run away when they’re not allowed to play with Clarence. After being attacked by a leopard, the pair return to the compound, but Daktari is too far away to prepare the lifesaving liquid in time. Clarence’s life is in Paula’s hands (with some help from Toto).

Notes: Directed by Paul Landres. George Mitchell guest stars in a different role to when he played a rougher character in Episode 1.9 (as Prince’s owner). However, his house looks suspiciously the same as the one in the first season, only re-dressed. Some genuine suspense is built up when Clarence becomes sick, especially when he ‘dies’.

2.29 (47) A Cub called Danger (First aired 11 Apr 1967)

Paula violates the law of the wild and takes nature into her own hands when she discovers a cub being mistreated by his mother. She and Judy conspire to bring the cub to the Compound but almost lose their lives. Undaunted, they separately devise plans to save the starving baby. Judy’s comic efforts almost get Clarence killed while Paula’s well·meaning deed spells death for the cub.

Notes: Directed by Dick Moder. The false wall just inside the front door of the house is obviously used to shield off the inside which, once again, creates a difference to the first season’s ‘look’.