I loved this episode. But, talk about over the top, at the end, a border guard quickly recognizes that the bumper is made of platinum, and has the protagonist arrested.. I guess he must have decided to get out of the metal industry and decided to become a border guard. Well, the whole show is over the top and that's one thing that actually makes it great. This is one of the episodes that I don't remember as a kid. Well, actually, I don't remember any of them real well. So, this is almost like watching the show for the first time. As for the movies, me and a long time friend are still upset that they killed off Mr. Phelps .
3 Reviews
GIVE US YOUR MONEY SO WE CAN SPEND IT!
tcchelsey14 January 2024
Portrait of a couple of scoundrals. Period. I agree with the last reviewer, this is not your typical M. I. case, rather one for bunco, HOWEVER, the fake out is absolutely amazing to watch. And without fail, some exceptional performances.
Fritz Weaver, the master of villains, plays Eric Hager, who along with his greedy wife, Catherine (Hazel Court) steal from the poor and disabled to line their pockets for a phony baloney charity. They've now settled at a mansion along the French/Italian border where they plan their biggest heist --to dupe a group of millionaires into thinking they're buying into a new hospital?
This one is Cinnamon's show, playing a very wealthy woman who plans to write a big fat check to the Hagers. In the meanwhile, Phelps gets into the act, convincing Catherine her husband is going to dump her and steal her share of the fortune --platinum bars they've secretly stashed under a pool table.
Now comes the best. Behind the scenes, Rollin and Barney rig the front of Hager's car with melted down platinum --guaranteeing them long prison terms for smuggling! Very ingenious.
This intriguing idea was lifted from a classic film noir that used melted down gold (instead) for car parts.
Watch how it all unfolds in the bitter end, and it IS bitter for Hager and his wife. Weaver is exceptional in this type of role, likewise Hazel Court, best remembered as the queen of British horror films, married to tv director Don Taylor. French actor Jean Del Val plays Mr. Wolf, frequently cast as international officials, and in such greats as CASABLANCA.
Marc Daniels directed this one with his usual flair, at the time also directing episodes for GUNSMOKE. Best known for classic tv comedies, such as I LOVE LUCY. Written by Barney Slater, who was behind LOST IN SPACE. Slater was a very popular writer whose career was cut short, killed by a hit and run driver.
The Hager's mansion is the famous Pasadena estate on South San Rafael Avenue, also used as Wayne Manor on BATMAN.
10 Stars. From SEASON 2 EPISODE 10 remastered CBS/Paramount dvd box set (7 discs) 2007.
Fritz Weaver, the master of villains, plays Eric Hager, who along with his greedy wife, Catherine (Hazel Court) steal from the poor and disabled to line their pockets for a phony baloney charity. They've now settled at a mansion along the French/Italian border where they plan their biggest heist --to dupe a group of millionaires into thinking they're buying into a new hospital?
This one is Cinnamon's show, playing a very wealthy woman who plans to write a big fat check to the Hagers. In the meanwhile, Phelps gets into the act, convincing Catherine her husband is going to dump her and steal her share of the fortune --platinum bars they've secretly stashed under a pool table.
Now comes the best. Behind the scenes, Rollin and Barney rig the front of Hager's car with melted down platinum --guaranteeing them long prison terms for smuggling! Very ingenious.
This intriguing idea was lifted from a classic film noir that used melted down gold (instead) for car parts.
Watch how it all unfolds in the bitter end, and it IS bitter for Hager and his wife. Weaver is exceptional in this type of role, likewise Hazel Court, best remembered as the queen of British horror films, married to tv director Don Taylor. French actor Jean Del Val plays Mr. Wolf, frequently cast as international officials, and in such greats as CASABLANCA.
Marc Daniels directed this one with his usual flair, at the time also directing episodes for GUNSMOKE. Best known for classic tv comedies, such as I LOVE LUCY. Written by Barney Slater, who was behind LOST IN SPACE. Slater was a very popular writer whose career was cut short, killed by a hit and run driver.
The Hager's mansion is the famous Pasadena estate on South San Rafael Avenue, also used as Wayne Manor on BATMAN.
10 Stars. From SEASON 2 EPISODE 10 remastered CBS/Paramount dvd box set (7 discs) 2007.
The premise is weak from the outset
planktonrules22 April 2014
Warning: Spoilers
"Charity" is a weak episode because if you think about it, it makes little sense for the IM Force to be dealing with such a mundane group of criminals. After all, why not just shoot them?! Duh!
Mr. And Mrs. Hager (Fritz Weaver and Hazel Court) pose as wonderful benefactors and fund-raisers for charity. However, they have no intention of giving anything away and are using this as a scam to make themselves rich. In fact, the booty for all their scams is the form of platinum bars that are hidden in their home. The assignment is to discredit these thieves and get the platinum.
The plan is to convince both Mr. AND Mrs. Hager that the other is trying to have them killed. Then after dividing them, the hope is that they will end up chasing each other to the border--and what happens there you'll need to see for yourself.
Mr. And Mrs. Hager (Fritz Weaver and Hazel Court) pose as wonderful benefactors and fund-raisers for charity. However, they have no intention of giving anything away and are using this as a scam to make themselves rich. In fact, the booty for all their scams is the form of platinum bars that are hidden in their home. The assignment is to discredit these thieves and get the platinum.
The plan is to convince both Mr. AND Mrs. Hager that the other is trying to have them killed. Then after dividing them, the hope is that they will end up chasing each other to the border--and what happens there you'll need to see for yourself.
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