Dr. Scorpion (1978)

A retired spy is reluctantly lured back into action to take down a mad scientist living on a tropical island.

Director:

Richard Lang

Writer:

Stephen J. Cannell

Stars:

Nick Mancuso, Christine Lahti, Richard Herd

Cast

Credited cast:
Nick Mancuso	...	John Shackelford
Christine Lahti	...	Tania Reston
Richard Herd	...	Bill Worthington
Sandra Kerns	...	Sharon Shackelford
Roscoe Lee Browne	...	Dr. Cresus
Denny Miller	...	The Dane
Granville Van Dusen	...	Terry Batliner
Philip Sterling	...	Adm. Gunwilder
Lincoln Kilpatrick	...	Eddie
Joseph Ruskin	...	Lt. Reed
William Lucking	...	Whitey Ullman
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Harvey Fisher	...	Tony
James Hong	...	Ho Chin
Richmond Hoxie	...	Morrison
Zitto Kazann	...	Arubella

Storyline

A retired spy is reluctantly lured back into action to take down a mad scientist living on a tropical island.

---

Plot Keywords:

missile | world domination

---

Genres:

Adventure

---

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 February 1978 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Stephen J. Cannell Productions, Universal TV

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

User Reviews

70's spy tale for a cold winter's night

I remember tuning into this show when it first aired in February 1978. The tropical setting made for a nice visual escape from a brutal upstate NY winter. A world-weary spy in retirement is drawn back into service when he learns of the death of a former partner. Down in the tropics he meets the villainous Dr. Scorpion played by a scene-stealing Roscoe Lee Browne. I guess they were going for the "Dr. No" approach here. Small details, like the main character spending his retirement on a boat in port watching Abbot and Costello reruns, gave the typical two-dimensional super-spy a little bit of character.

I always liked Roscoe Lee Browne's performances, which is why I tuned in over 30 years ago and why I continue to remember it over 30 years later. A nice bit of super-spy, tropical escapism on a cold winter's evening...