Someone tries to kill world-famous opera diva Barbara Sonderman, who is about to return to the stage after a year's hiatus from performing. She hires Joe Mannix to find out who tried to kill... Read allSomeone tries to kill world-famous opera diva Barbara Sonderman, who is about to return to the stage after a year's hiatus from performing. She hires Joe Mannix to find out who tried to kill her and why, but Mannix becomes disturbed by evidence suggesting that his client may have... Read allSomeone tries to kill world-famous opera diva Barbara Sonderman, who is about to return to the stage after a year's hiatus from performing. She hires Joe Mannix to find out who tried to kill her and why, but Mannix becomes disturbed by evidence suggesting that his client may have withheld information from him. Nevertheless, Mannix pursues a lead involving the death of... Read all
Photos
- Barbara Sonderman
- (as Nancy Mehta)
- Anthony Spinner
- (as Ernie Orsatti)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe private detective that was following Mannix was named Anthony Spinner. Anthony Spinner is also the name one of the producers of Cannon (1971).
- GoofsWhen Joe and his client are talking to the police chief in the police chief's office, a mysterious shadow of what appears to be either a crew member or a police officer appears on the wall behind Joe. It shows a person with a hat on suddenly standing up and walking to the right, but based on the initial wide shot of the room, there's no one else in the room besides Joe, his client, and the police chief, all three of whom are stationary throughout the scene and none of whom have hats on.
- Quotes
Barbara Sonderman: [Joe enters her dressing room] I always thought private detectives wore felt hats and pencil mustaches.
Joe Mannix: [chuckles] Well, I could send out for one of them.
Barbara Sonderman: That won't be necessary.
Joe Mannix: Actually, Miss Sonderman, I didn't expect to see you until Saturday night.
Barbara Sonderman: You're coming to the opening?
Joe Mannix: Yes.
Barbara Sonderman: [laughs] A private detective who goes to opera?
Joe Mannix: Unless there happens to be a hard rock concert at the Bowl.
Barbara Sonderman: [laughs] Would it bother you if I changed while we talk?
Joe Mannix: Not at all.
Barbara Sonderman: I hope you won't be disappointed on Saturday. I used to be a very good Carmen... before I stopped singing.
Joe Mannix: Why did you stop?
Barbara Sonderman: My voice started to go. You have any idea what that means to a singer, Mr. Mannix?
Joe Mannix: Some.
Barbara Sonderman: Death. Like an early death.
Joe Mannix: Hm. Miss Sonderman, uh... you didn't call me here because you've had trouble with your voice.
Barbara Sonderman: No. Yesterday, after the run-through, someone tried to kill me.
Joe Mannix: Kill you?
Barbara Sonderman: I was alone on stage. There was a shot. It just missed me.
Joe Mannix: Did you call the police?
Barbara Sonderman: No.
Joe Mannix: Why not?
Barbara Sonderman: It's been a long year. I've waited a long time. I've got my voice back, and I want my return Saturday night to be the best performance of my career. I'm not going to have it postponed or canceled for anything.
Joe Mannix: Not even if your life's in danger?
Barbara Sonderman: The only life I have, Mr. Mannix, is singing.
Joe Mannix: Do you have any idea who shot at you?
Barbara Sonderman: None.
Joe Mannix: How about Karl Henning?
Barbara Sonderman: [laughs] What have you been reading?
Joe Mannix: Back issues- newspapers, magazines.
Barbara Sonderman: Publicity. Waste of a lot of good trees.
Joe Mannix: Not all of it. You graduated high school and you went to study with an internationally known voice coach. You had your operatic debut in Carmen at La Scala. Great success. "The best young soprano in years." Well, that's what Newsworld said. And then, uh, along came Karl Henning.
Barbara Sonderman: [laughs] What did Newsworld say about Karl?
Joe Mannix: He had too much money; you had too much temperament- boom!
Barbara Sonderman: Boom is right. We kept exploding in each other's face. That was a long time ago, and I haven't seen Karl in years. And, you know, if he shot at me... it was an awfully delayed reaction.
Nancy Kovack returns in another desperate role, this time playing a renown opera singer who's marked for death. Joe steps in and the two fall in love. In a previous episode, she played a young woman with ties to a gangster -- and also falls for Joe. If you can accept that premise, everything clicks. Stephen Kandell, one of the best, was also doing scripts for CANNON and HAWAII FIVE O at the time. He passed in 2023, leaving a legacy of classic scripts, including tv's BATMAN.
Kovack plays Barbara Sonderman, a beautiful singer with a past, crossing the wrong people who are now out to get her. I do agree with one of the last reviewers; watch this one carefully as you can get confused very easily. Lots of moving parts and guilty-looking faces. It's also the seventh season, so do not be too surprised.
Stacy Keach's father has a small role (as Grady) a distinguished actor for years, and no doubt an inspiration to his famous son. Laraine Stephens (as Angela) guest stars, who slightly resembled Anne Francis. Always fun to see veteran actress Linda Watkins (playing Lillian), popular in many classic cop shows, such as 77 SUNSET STRIP. METV's other channel is rerunning these episodes on Sunday nights.
There's an inside joke between Mannix and Cannon. Did you catch it? The detective following Mannix is named Anthony Spinner, named after one of the producers for CANNON. Stephen Kandel had to salute his other boss.
Fine direction by Arnold Laven, as usual, who headed 10 episodes. Laven was producer for the RIFLEMAN and the BIG VALLEY. Good trivia question for buffs.
Partly filmed at the elite Dorothy Chandler Pavillian in Los Angeles, for many years the site of the Oscar ceremonies, and since 1964 (when it was built), the site for Christmas Eve music concerts. It remains the largest performing arts center in the United States, even after all these years.
Recommended late night stuff for us amateur detectives and romantics? SEASON 7 EPISODE 9 remastered color CBS/Paramount dvd box set.
- tcchelsey
- Oct 22, 2022
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