Diamonds Are a Spy's Best Friend (19 Oct. 1968)

To keep a priceless diamond out of KAOS's hands, a jeweler sells it to 86 for an engagement ring for 99.

Director:

Jerry Hopper

Writers:

Mel Brooks (creator), Allan Burns,

Stars:

Don Adams, Barbara Feldon, Edward Platt

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Don Adams	...	Maxwell Smart
Barbara Feldon	...	Agent 99
Edward Platt	...	Chief
Oren Curtis	...	Sommers
Jerome Raphael	...	Winters (as Jerome Raphel)
Dick Wilson	...	Jeweler
Robert Karvelas	...	Larabee
Gino Conforti	...	Agent 8 ½

Storyline

While shopping for an engagement ring for 99 at Spiegel's Jewelery, Max accidentally stumbles into a robbery being conducted by KAOS agents Winters and Sommers, members of KAOS's smuggling arm the League of Bald Headed Men. Spiegel, sells Max the valuable Morris Diamond to keep the Winters and Sommers from getting their hands on it. When 99 shows the ring to the Chief, he suspects that Max might be on the take. However, he is cleared and accidentally returns the ring to the two agents. Now Max and 99 must find out how the duo intend to smuggle the diamond out of the country before its too late.

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Plot Keywords:

marriage ceremony

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Mystery

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 October 1968 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Talent Associates

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The title is based on the song "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" from the musical Gentlemen Prefer Blondes written by Jule Styne and Leo Robin, which became the theme song of Carol Channing.

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Quotes

Chief: [on fire hydrant-phone] Max, this could be the work of the League of Bald Headed Men, that's KAOS' smuggling unit. They're clever and ingenious. There's nothing they can't accomplish.
Maxwell Smart: [on steering wheel-phone] How come they can't grow hair?
Chief: Max, they don't wanna grow hair, that's their trademark. That's how they identify each other.
Maxwell Smart: Alright, Chief, I'll keep my eyes open. In the meantime, you pick up Yul Brynner and Dean Rusk.

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Connections

References Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)

User Reviews

Ballad of $80

Uneven gang written episode has some great moments but is wildly uneven. Dick Wilson (TV's Mr. Whipple, "don't squeeze the Charmin") is Spiegel, a jewelry store owner who's being forced by KAOS ("the league of bald headed men") to turn over the $275,000 Morris diamond. When Max comes in the store to buy a diamond engagement ring for 99 ("money is no object") with a budget of $80, Spiegel gives him the diamond, hoping to keep it out the hands of KAOS. Max of course gets the ring stuck on his finger and he and 99 desperately try and get it off. Then the story goes south for awhile as the Chief sees the ring, knows it value and suspects Max of selling secrets to KAOS. They return to Spiegel's, KAOS gets the ring back, and now Max and 99 are assigned to investigate bowling alleys as possible KAOS fronts where they are passing the stolen diamonds to their couriers. The funny stuff includes the Chief trying to talk on the hydrant phone, the one and only appearance of agent 8 1/2, taking over where agent 13 once was, the chase through the bowling lanes, and the final scene in which Max and 99 shop for diamond rings. It's also nice to see Max's blue Shelby Ford Mustang GT convertible again. Lowlights include another obvious Adams double, bad cutting with Agent 8 1/2 in the ball return and a dust off routine when Max falls down in the alley that just doesn't fit in this show. Still considering some of the other early shows of season four, this one is one of the best of the bunch.