Lend Me an Ear (27 Feb. 1987)

Crockett and Tubbs' investigation of a paranoid dealer is complicated by a surveillance expert who decides to play both sides against one another.

Director:

James Quinn

Writers:

Anthony Yerkovich (creator), Michael Duggan (teleplay),

Stars:

Don Johnson, Philip Michael Thomas, Saundra Santiago

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Don Johnson	...	Detective James Crockett
Philip Michael Thomas	...	Detective Ricardo Tubbs
Saundra Santiago	...	Detective Gina Calabrese
Michael Talbott	...	Detective Stan Switek
Olivia Brown	...	Detective Trudy Joplin
Edward James Olmos	...	Lieutenant Martin Castillo
John Glover	...	Steve Duddy
Martin Ferrero	...	Izzy Moreno
Neith Hunter	...	Trace
Anthony Holyen	...	McGregor
Yorgo Voyagis	...	Alexander Dykstra
James Finnerty	...	Leon

Storyline

Crockett and Tubbs' investigation of a paranoid dealer is complicated by a surveillance expert who decides to play both sides against one another.

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 February 1987 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal TV

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min 60 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Goofs

Dykstra shoots his girlfriend, who falls into the swimming pool. A moment later we see her floating in the clear water, but there is not a single drop of blood.

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Soundtracks

"Climb"
(uncredited)
Written and Performed by Peter Himmelman

User Reviews

Miami Vice Meets Fistful of Dollars

There are many aspects of 3 that are related to the western genre. The other seasons don't present that, unless you talk about Season 4 pitiful, parody of the western Cows of October. I don't even want to talk about that episode or season, because it's not the Miami Vice that I love. Only 3 I love. Forget the rest. As I was saying before about 3, there are many references of western films and the culture. For a few examples.

Let's start with the phenomenal episode of El Viejo. That episode was one perfect blend of Vice meets the Wild West. With it's terrific mixture of western music, showdowns, and the man in the middle who represented the Wild West. The western 80's vibe themes of Jan Hammer and the two perfectly mixed western songs of 80's artists added a perfect western feel. Especially Cactus World News, "State of Emergency" that highlighted the sensational western showdown climax in the cemetery that had a The Good, the Bad and the Ugly feel to it. Let's also not forget about the western dude of Willie Nelson playing a Texas Ranger of the past added the perfect touch to this amazingly, outstanding classic episode. I love it in every way.

Another episode that was featured in 3 that had western shades was The Afternoon Plane, which in contrast was a modern day version of High Noon. Most of the scenes featured in this episode were from that classic film. The small town, the villains, the women, and the whole arch of the story. Of course the writers changed a few things here and there. It's a great episode, but in my opinion the least greatest episode of 3.

Now we come to the episode Lend Me An Ear which this review is supposed to be about. Lend Me An Ear in my honest opinion is a modern day version of Fistful of Dollars. Of course the story is extremely different from that classic film. There are though a lot of similarities that remind me of Fistful of Dollars. First of course the Man with No Name in this episode is Duddy played with such charisma and perfection by the great John Glover. One of the most underrated actors. Duddy is the man who milks for the green. He wants it and will do anything to get it. Even playing both sides in the episode of the good and the bad. In this case the good are Crockett and Tubbs and the bad is Dykstra played by Yorgo Yarvis. A unknown Greek actor who does an marvelous job in his role. In Fistful the Man with the No Name played both sides for the green and at the end realized he was wrong in doing what he was doing.

In this episode Duddy plays Crockett and Tubbs for the money and then in turn plays Dykstra for the same thing. Duddy knows what he is doing as did the Man with No Name. Duddy is sly and slick. He's a smooth one. So is his counterpart Dkystra. Who fits the bill of Rojas from Fistful. Rojas was a cold blooded, psycho who relished in the thrill of killing people. Take for instance the massacre of the solders with the Gatling gun. Dkystra is the exact same. Only when he kills he gives his victims an insanely, evil smile and then points a gun at them and fires away. Take for instance the way he did his super hot girlfriend Trace and his client McGregor. Both went out with a smile.

Those are the similarities of Lend Me An Ear that represent Fistful in some way or the other. The episode itself is completely engaging, fun, and thrilling. Another classic great from 3. Everything about the episode clicks perfectly. Also just like Fistful, Lend Me An Ear has a thrilling, exciting, and stylish climax. The episode also has the second best opening of 3 with the speedboat chase and an absolute moody and very cool scene of Crockett, Tubbs, and Switek bugging their opponents house accompanied in the background of the dreary but great song "Climb" by Peter Himmelman that adds a dreamy feel to the scene.

This is another episode that is not to be missed. More great cinematography of Oliver Wood and top notch directing from James Quinn. Quinn in my opinion was the best director of Miami Vice. He was outstanding in shooting action sequences and had a deadly eye for the camera to capture style and grittiness. It's a shame the guy never got anywhere in movies. He's a hell of a lot better than any filmmaker in this day and age we live in now that is supposed to be called film-making. In reality it's called garbage. See Lend Me An ear. You'll love it!