The 1979 made for TV movie, set in 1885, calls retired secret service agents Jim West (Robert Conrad) and Artemus Gordon (Ross Martin) out of retirement to investigate the kidnappings of various world leaders, who have been replaced in their seats of power by body doubles, including United States President Grover Cleveland (Wilford Brimley).
Dr. Michelito Loveless, Jr. (Paul Williams, pictured above), son of West’s arch-rival, is suspected of trying to take over the world by controlling world powers, one country at a time.
The Wild Wild West Revisited is a continuance of the western/comedy/spy TV series “The Wild Wild West”, which aired from 1965-1969. Just as in the TV series, The Wild Wild West Revisited is packed full of futuristic gadgets, including atomic bombs and mechanical human limbs powered by pulleys and steam.
I remember watching the TV series as re-runs on the weekends as a kid. That is probably why I enjoyed the 1999 remake, starring Will Smith and Kevin Kline, much more than most people. From watching the TV series, I understood the premise of the the movie… Not to be taken too seriously.
I recently (last summer) watched “The Wild Wild West” TV series, but never got around to the TV movies. Today, the urge to watch the movies hit me.
Recommendation
If you watched the 1999 remake, never seeing the original TV series, you probably will not enjoy the made for TV movie. I, however, did.
The Wild Wild West Revisited is rated 6.0/10 on IMDB.
