Never watched Adam-12 growing up - discovered it on MeTV! I think I 'm on my 3rd go-around through the episodes. Had to comment on Pete's obvious swagger- so funny! It's the way he bends his arm and holds his hand up slightly and almost slurs his words! Muy Macho!!!
Has anyone else noticed this?
Yes, Pete's particular "stance" has been commented on a number of times (but I think a lot of the threads have disappeared over time). A lot of people don't like how it looks when he held his hand bent at the elbow, etc. Some call it Vegas hands or jazz hands. I noticed it quite a bit in the first season or so, and then either I got used to it & didn't notice it anymore, or he stopped walking/standing like that. I wondered if maybe he wasn't comfortable putting his arm down because the gun holster was right there at his hip. But I don't know.
In general, though, one of the things that makes Malloy so attractive a character (in addition to his handsome boyish good looks!) is his confidence. You can tell he's the senior officer and training officer, and he's always very confident and never looks unsure of what to do or how to proceed. He's a take-charge kind of guy, and I find that very appealing.
I don't know, whatever he does he looks good doing it.
shareI totally agree!!! Pete Malloy is just about the perfect man, in my opinion. It'd be worth a ticket to see him up close and personal.
share🙌
shareAlways thought Milner was a big John Wayne fan.
shareI don't think Milner's walk or stance is put on, or that he's trying to imitate Wayne, he could be trying to look authoratative, like a police officer, would.
shareto me it looks John Waynish too. A little campy but still think he's great.
share[deleted]
It's a rumor that Milner's body movements, arm up, sometimes stiff, is from when he had polio as a young man. He had just got started in Hollywood, his character in "Life With Father" completed and a success, when he contracted the polio. He was out of Hollywood for a year recouperating from the disease but when he got better - and thank God he did - he went right back into acting and the rest is history :)🎥
shareI don't think so Spost. Since he had been drafted into the Army, I'd say the polio angle can't be correct. The reason is that you would be considered unfit for military service if you had any permanent defect like an arm that wouldn't straighten out enough to do a pull-up. Good theory though. I would guess that the John Wayne angle is more feasible. He's got the same swagger in his tone and he doesn't say anything unless it needs to be said; just like Wayne. He speaks for effect and the writers really played on that.
Bleach
I know real cops that acted just like Pete in Detroit. And that was before and during the time Adam 12 was on so I think his swagger is dead on for a seasoned, professional policeman. Side note: in season 7 Episode 164 "Victim of the Crime" Martin Milner's daughter Amy plays a shopkeepers daughter...she looks just like her father...it's uncanny.
share