Mannix (TV Series) Tooth of the Serpent (1969) User Reviews

Pretty good.

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 14 November 2013]

Peggy (Mannix's secretary) has an old friend, Eva, and she's worried about her son, Cap. However, she can't go to her husband. He's a tough cop who is a bit of a bully. His way of dealing with his son is NOT full of understanding and love! So, Peggy gets her boss to investigate and figure out what Cap's been up to since he left home. Eventually, the case intersects with an old armored car robbery and murder. However, will the detective father get in the way or be part of the solution to this family in crisis?

The plot is rather creative in this one and it is worth seeing. Considering that the show is it's 3424582th episode, it's nice to see one that is different. Plus, if you're counting, you'll get to see Joe Mannix knocked out for the 3424581st time!

I HAVE A SON WITH A LITTLE PROBLEM...

[tcchelsey · 9/10 · 14 March 2023]

This was the only episode written by Robert Lewin, who wrote many episodes for CANNON and other cops shows, topping his career with STAR TREK, THE NEXT GENERATION.

He did it right as this story gives Peggy a bigger role, and you also get to know a bit more about her past. Since her late husband was a cop, she has some friends from the old days, such as Eve (well played by Lynn Hamilton). Eve's problem is her wayward son is in and out of trouble with the law, now suspected in an armored car robbery.

Calling Joe!

There's more of a dramatic slant here, and of course the family life of a cop. Not to say, that Mannix has to keep his guard up for a sucker punch. Lynn Hamilton, who retired some years ago, is best known as Donna on SANFORD AND SON, the understanding gal pal of Fred Sanford, who was too good for him. Also look for Bert Freed, who fit into two distinct categories; either a hard nose cop or a villain, and terrific in both types of roles for years.

And don't you love that title! Worth a look, especially for Gail Fisher. SEASON 3 EPISODE 13 remastered CBS box set.

An unusual Mannix episode - it's boring!

[Guad42 · 5/10 · 16 September 2021]

As with any show having a long run, there will be episodes all over the maps as far as quality goes and it is true of the Mannix series. But the one thing about the great majority of Mannix episodes is they are not boring. Even bad Mannix episodes keep you engaged on some level but this one may make you want to check out in mid-story as you won't care how it comes out.

Joe is hired by a friend (Lynn Hamilton) of Peggy's to find her son (Harrison Page) who has gone astray. Her husband and the boy's father (Percy Rodigues) is a hard nosed cop investigating a recent armored car robbery. He rides his son hard and the kid has always rebelled against it. Lots of talk and threats. The cop orders his wife around a lot and she takes it. The kid has a bad friend (Stanley Kamel billed as Jonathan Brooks) who has his own agenda. Everyone figures out a warehouse night watchman (Bert Freed) did the robbery. The two kids eventually get to the warehouse, confront him, and Bert is killed by the friend while wrestling over his gun. The friend then shows his true colors by deciding to pin the killing on the son. Joe and the cop intervene, the cop gets wounded, Joe grabs the bad friend. The end. If it seems I'm speeding through this, well, I am. It's best that way or I would be bored twice.

There is some action. Joe get knocked out in a fall. The cop get knocked out. The plot of a hardnosed cop's son, daughter, brother, whoever going bad is an old one so it's not that interesting. I guess the director thought so too as there are a few shots where the camera is tilted at a 45 degree angle just to change things up a little.

The cast is okay. Percy Rodrigues did authority figures all his career. He has the voice and gravitas for it. Bert Freed played shifty characters his whole career and he is good at it. Lynn Hamilton is fine as the put upon wife. Barney Phillips, as the warehouse supervisor, has the "everyday working Joe" down cold. Harrison Page is good as the son. Brooks/Kamel is suitably slimy as the friend. Hard to believe he will be Monk's understanding shrink at the end of his career before dying of a heart attack at 65.

It all adds up to nothing or rather it all adds up to a five star rating. None of it is particularly horrible but watching paint dry is not particularly horrible either. At least Joe got paid. You can skip this one without feeling like you missed anything.

Familiar story seen many times before

[pkfloydmh · 3/10 · 9 July 2021]

This episode is about a cop's son being in trouble with the law, which is a tired story line that has been used on countless other detective/police dramas. Joe is hired by the cop's wife to find the son.

There isn't much action or mystery here as the episode focuses mostly on the cop and his family and the squabbles among the three of them.

The only enjoyable part of this episode is when the cop gets clobbered over the head and knocked out since he is so incredibly annoying, but beyond that, this one is a dud.