MovieChat Forums > Santa Barbara (1984) Discussion > Who was the over the top villain?

Who was the over the top villain?

posted 8 years ago by leczorn
2 replies | jump to latest

I barely watched this show, but one of my few vivid memories was a fabulous villain. I remember he planted some kind of explosive device in a forest and another character, presumably a good guy, unknowingly stepped on it. The bad guy said there was a bomb that was going to go off in a few minutes, and that it would instantly blow up if he stepped off of it.

The bad guy sets a clock, which will ignite the bomb, down on the ground and leaves. Talking to himself, he hilariously delivers a eulogy for the other guy, who of course ends up getting away!

The villain was over the top, but gave a fabulous performance nevertheless! Any help in identifying him is much appreciated!

[–] engle_james 8 years ago

I don't remember this particular story, but it sounds like something Kirk Cranston, played by Joseph Bottoms, did in this link:

https://m.YouTube.com/#/watch?=Kw63zhH6K-O

If that site doesn't work, just go to YouTube and type in 'Cruz and Kirk a whale of a tale'

Kirk Cranston started out as a decent guy, a lawyer who was introduced as a spoiler for the #1 couple on the show, Cruz and Eden. Bottoms was a very interesting actor and was the only truly credible threat to the couple the show had. After about a year or so, he left and was replaced by Robert Newman, who was nowhere near as intriguing as Bottoms had been and the character was promptly sent to prison. At least twice, Cranston escaped from prison or presumed death to get revenge on Cruz and Eden, and was again played by Joseph Bottoms. Each time he returned, he was missing a body part so he really became a caricature- his last appearance I think he had a wooden peg leg along with his eye patch. Hope this helps.

[–] leczorn 8 years ago

Wow, thanks so much! That's it! Unfortunately, not 100% of it is included. It leaves out the part in which Cruz escapes and Kirk prematurely gives the eulogy.

But I'll keep looking for a complete version! Still, thanks to the internet and especially IMDB and YouTube, I've found so many things I long thought I'd never see again!

As for becoming a caricature, that happens to many characters over the long term, and more often than not for the worse. One of my favorite examples if Paulie from the "Rocky" movies. He gradually devolved from violent alcoholic to crude but harmless buffoon; a comic relief sidekick, before returning to a serious character in his last movie in the series "Rocky Balboa."

By the way, studying Santa Barbara, I see that one of the main stars was Jed Allan (C.C. Capwell), who starred for many years on "Days of Our Lives," which my mother and grandmother watched zealously.

And speaking of "Days of Our Lives," I wonder if the "Santa Barbara" people got the idea for the eye patch from "Days of Our Lives." It was the most distinctive feature of the character of Steven Johnson, whose nickname was Patch.

Thanks again; I greatly appreciate your help!