Mannix (TV Series) Run, Sheep, Run (1967) User Reviews

Excellent episode with an edge

[Guad42 · 9/10 · 10 July 2021]

The tone for this outing is much more menacing than your average Mannix episode or most other TV police/PI shows. Several threats, a few punches between comrades, and lots of cigarettes smoked. Joe is called in to escort a witness (Ruta Lee) back to LA so she can provide information about crooked cops. She is killed enroute and Joe wants revenge. After her death, we learn she was a policewoman impersonating the witness and the witness Mavis Miller (Susan Crane) is still out there. Joe hunts for her through an old friend Lola Collins (Joyce Van Patten) who knew Mavis. Eventually, Joe find Mavis and the bad cops close in right behind him, but Joe with his pistol and a little luck brings the case to a close.

Very surprised when policewoman Jean Coleman (Ruta Lee) is killed. I thought Joe would get her back to LA. Nice plot twist. Why did Lola open the door when the bad guy identified himself as a cop and everyone knows there are bad cops involved? Nice to see Joe being backed up by his boss Lew when the police threaten him. They make a good team when not arguing with each other.

The cast is very good. Malachi Throne, Richard Devon, John Abbott, Joyce Van Patten and Susan Crane are all veterans and get the job done here. I have to say I knew Captain Randolph (Richard Devon) was the bad cop because Devon always played the bad guy. He made a long career out of doing those roles.

Run, Sheep, Run is a kids game and also the names of episodes of Combat and Gunsmoke. A good Mannix offering that you will enjoy.

Very good--and the first half is a remake of the movie "The Narrow Margin".

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 19 April 2013]

Back in 1952, a film noir classic, "The Narrow Margin", was made. While this is definitely a film most folks today haven't seen today, it's one of the best movies of its time. Exciting, taut and full of great twists--it's a picture you ought to see. The first half of "Mannix: Run, Sheep, Run" is clearly a reworking of "The Narrow Margin"--with the exact same twist. The major difference is that this story is not set aboard a train. The final portion is a bit of a surprise--as after the remake portion, I though the show was finished--but it only turned out to be half complete.

My overall impression is mixed. On one hand, the first half of the show had nothing original about it, the second half was a bit better. However, the pacing was odd--and I really felt the first or second half could have made up an entire show on their own. Good, but not great.

Thought this was going to be just like the later "The Gauntlet"

[belanger75 · 10/10 · 12 February 2019]

The 1977 film was about a law officer escorting a lady cross country from the mob. When Joe goes to pick up the suspect Mavis Miller they begin driving back to LA and a bunch of crooks are pursuing. I thought the episode would be just about Joe protecting the beauty but she turns up dead very quickly and Joe alone goes back to the city. But first he finds out the dead Mavis was a decoy and actually a policewoman. It is a little strange how "Miller" told Joe her real name when he came to pick her up. But the episode just gets better and better like in much more exciting as Joe eventually locates the real Mavis Miller. (played by doll Susan Crane) and he very successfully keeps her from getting killed.

As to the other poster's comments. I am not positive this episode is based at all on the 1950's movie he claimed as there may have been a lot of shows about cops protecting beautiful women cross country.

This episode has three very beautiful lady guest stars and it is just excellent for it. More Mannix episodes should have done this. A winner!

SEE THIS ONE IF YOU'RE A NOIR BUFF.

[tcchelsey · 10/10 · 4 January 2023]

This was the only episode directed by one of the best Gene Reynolds, producer and director for M. A. S. H. And he shows his talent. We lost Gene a few years ago at the age of 96, among so many tributes.

Writer Howard Browne had the classic noir THE NARROW MARGIN in mind --only there's no train. That's too bad, because a cat and mouse chase in such closed quarters would have added to the paranoia, instead the usual abandoned warehouses and buildings, frequently used on the show. They probably didn't want to make it too, too obvious. Browne was long associated with Warner Brothers tv (HAWAIIN EYE etc), a prolific writer and his super work is evident here. The only catch it that he "borrowed" a bit from a classic film.

Even the best writers in the biz, and Warners had the best... sometimes needed a little inspiration, right?

A well produced adventure, all about Joe protecting a witness who turns out to be an undercover cop. In the old Marie Windsor role is Ruta Lee, another top actress. The only debit here is that Lee (as Jean) gets killed too soon. Ruta Lee, who is still around Hollywood today, was a natural in both comedy and dramatic roles and holds a record for tv appearances.

Matters really begin to snowball as Mannix now has to find the "real" witness, held by some nasty types. If you are a film buff, you may not know that the original version of THE NARROW MARGIN (1952), featured dirty cops. It was later rewritten so the police were on the right side of the law. Interestingly, Howard Browne used the original concept, which is more in line with Mannix going after corrupt cops and detectives.

Some familiar faces here, including Joyce Van Patten (as Lola), popular on COLUMBO, and Malachi Throne (as Inspector Kyler), who portrayed Robert Wagner's wise boss on IT TAKES A THIEF. Throne later became a popular voice actor for many tv commercials.

Look for veteran John Abbott (as Monty), who appeared in numerous classic films (MRS. MINIVER and JANE EYRE) in his long career. Not too long before this episode he appeared in BEWITCHED as Leonard Di Vinci? A master of all kind of fun roles.

Filmed at the old Desilu Studios in Culver City, now known as the Culver Studios. When Lucy and Desi finally sold the studio after their divorce, the unit moved to Paramount in Hollywood on Melrose Avenue, where they had access to a lot more historical buildings and sets. And, of course, the Brady Bunch set came with the deal, too.

GOTSTA SEE episode, especially for buffs. SEASON 1 EPISODE 13 CBS dvd box set.

Great vibe from late 1960s

[george_cherucheril · 10/10 · 26 February 2024]

Mannix it's so cool and is in his prime. I love the vibe of the late 1960s and the colorized TV shows. This was a time where they were clear rules about life and clear rules about what's good and what's bad. Men were men and women were women.

I fell in love with Joyce Van Patton was luminescent with her long stunning blonde hair and her big beautiful eyes. Sometimes when I see an actress who's so beautiful like Joyce was back from so many years ago I just dream that I could go into a time machine and and meet her at that time where although I would be 20 years older than her. I was born in 1969.

Ruta Lee was also great but she was killed off early in the episode. The mail supporting actors were excellent led by the inspector who was played by the actor whose first name is Malachy.

The plot was pretty good and I didn't notice any plot holes maybe there were some but just an enjoyable episode and it reminds me that there's so much gold out there. Sometimes we we are prejudiced and think oh something from 50 years ago couldn't be any good. But people who say that don't know what they're missing. This is just great performance and acting and writing and production. And it just invokes a simpler time a time for my childhood where it was Prime Time and Mannix came on and I could as a little kid snuggle up next to my parents and watch this great action show. Thank you Mike Connors rest in peace. We miss you and love you and you were great in Mannix.

Mannix is Intertect's Best Man?

[miketypeeach · 3/10 · 13 April 2019]

For Intertect's best man, Mannix must have been in quite a slump. When dealing with dirty cops, NEVER take the car they've provided for you. A good detective would've arranged for his own. Also, NEVER take the same route back! Sure, it was convenient for the writer, but lousy in terms of keeping a client from harm. Was I the only one who saw through what the driver of the passing station wagon was doing? Again, what a slump the writer put Joe Mannix in.

The writing was horrid, but the cast was good, despite what they had to work with.