I liked "The Reluctant Dragon" for its interesting characters and performances. Often, especially in a one hour TV episode, the characters are one dimensional and predictable. This is pretty much a Rollin episode (Barney joins him but only plays a supporting role with very little tech work). Rollin's adversary, the Commissioner, is superbly played by John Colicos. Spoiler - Rollin and his adversary develop an admiration or respect for each other though they remain enemies. They share drinks several times, and at one point they play chess - how symbolic! At the end Rollin tries to save the bad guy's life - incredible! Plus, you get the feeling that the Commissioner lets them get away (he has an agent watching outside and could warn him to stop the escapees at the border). The barmaid character, Sophia, though a small part, steals some critical items - you wonder what her motives are? Also, one of the Commissioner's lieutenants, played by Michael Forest, has his own agenda and does not tell his boss about a key piece of knowledge. Joseph Campanella does a fine job as the reluctant scientist, and his wife is played by the memorable Mala Powers - he must have been really blinded by his work to leave a woman like that! Star Trek fans, take note that John Colicos and Michael Forest had memorable roles as a Klingon and a god (Apollo) in the original series.
4 Reviews
Amazingly violent.
planktonrules6 February 2014
Warning: Spoilers
Dr. Karen Cherlotov (Mala Powers) defected from behind the Iron Curtain. Now she's approached the IM Force in order to get them to get her husband, Dr. Helmut Cherlotov (Joseph Campanella) out of the country as well. However, when Rollin meets Helmut, he soon realizes that the man does NOT want to defect and his wife lied about this. His desire to stay and work on missile guidance for the enemy is a surprise, as his government no longer trusts him due to his wife's actions. In particular, Commissioner Jankowski (John Colicos) is making Helmut's life miserable. So, instead of getting Helmut to defect, Rollin must first help open the doctor's eyes and make him want to leave.
"The Reluctant Dragon" is a very violent episode with Rollin killing one guy and shooting another. This is very atypical for the series but made sense as you'd think spies would occasionally kill in real life. It's also a dandy episode--thanks mostly to a nice guest appearance by Colicos--a guy was was remarkably good at playing bad! During fight, it's obviously not Rollin.
"The Reluctant Dragon" is a very violent episode with Rollin killing one guy and shooting another. This is very atypical for the series but made sense as you'd think spies would occasionally kill in real life. It's also a dandy episode--thanks mostly to a nice guest appearance by Colicos--a guy was was remarkably good at playing bad! During fight, it's obviously not Rollin.
Excellent Episode
januszlvii7 February 2022
Warning: Spoilers
The Reluctant Dragon was one of the best episodes of Mission Impossible. What made it work was Rollin ( Martin Landau) against the Commissioner ( John Colicos). These two men actually liked and respected each other. Rollin's job was to get a rocket scientist ( Joseph Campanella) to join his wife in defecting to the US, and the Commissioner's job was to stop it. If you watch most episodes of Mission Impossible, you know that the adversary is usually evil ( Fritz Weaver and Robert Conrad come to mind as being two of the worst), and they pay the price in the end: Death or imprisonment, and the IM Force wins. Of course, in the end Rollin prevails, but the Commissioner although the enemy, is not an evil person and actually gains a large victory as well: Spoilers Ahead: He survives because after Rollin shoots him in a struggle, Rollin shows him how to keep pressure on the wound, which allows him to live, and you can see the smile on his face because he appreciated the gesture. One of my favorite episodes.
DOES THE SCIENTIST STAY OR GO?
tcchelsey13 August 2023
I agree with the last reviewer as this may be the very best episode of the first season. The storyline is excellent and so is the acting.
There's a bit of a twist here which makes it all the more appealing. Generally, the IMF team attempted to smuggle out VIP's from some small foreign country. Here, a rocket scientist (played by Joe Campanella) wishes to remain where he is. -- So the team has to convince him that it's in his best interest to leave, and ASAP. His wife, also a doctor, is played by Mala powers, popular in 50s actress.
Rounding out the top cast is John Colicos, playing the commissioner, a top actor in stern, overbearing roles. Not too long after this episode, Campanella would co-star in MANNIX as the head of a computer firm who employs Joe. Also Colicos would guest star many times.
Chester Krumholz burned the midnight oil on this one, also a contributor to MANNIX and for many years a writer for POLICE SURGEON and KOJAK.
Look for the field at Hollywood High School in one scene, surrounded by lots of buildings and traffic, which hasn't changed a bit. When it opened its doors in 1904, it was surrounded by lemon groves and bean fields and students generally arrived on horses! It remains one of the oldest schools in Los Angeles, and student Lana Turner was actually discovered across the street at a malt shop!
Veteran Felix Locher (pronounced Lo Shay) plays Yablonski, a staple in many films, especially sci fi adventures in the 50s as a scientist. He was the father of handsome Jon Hall, who was in many adventure films opposite Maria Montez, usually wearing nothing but a loin cloth! Hall later became a successful businessman in Hollywood.
Recommened from Season 1 CBS/Paramount box set 2006 restored.
There's a bit of a twist here which makes it all the more appealing. Generally, the IMF team attempted to smuggle out VIP's from some small foreign country. Here, a rocket scientist (played by Joe Campanella) wishes to remain where he is. -- So the team has to convince him that it's in his best interest to leave, and ASAP. His wife, also a doctor, is played by Mala powers, popular in 50s actress.
Rounding out the top cast is John Colicos, playing the commissioner, a top actor in stern, overbearing roles. Not too long after this episode, Campanella would co-star in MANNIX as the head of a computer firm who employs Joe. Also Colicos would guest star many times.
Chester Krumholz burned the midnight oil on this one, also a contributor to MANNIX and for many years a writer for POLICE SURGEON and KOJAK.
Look for the field at Hollywood High School in one scene, surrounded by lots of buildings and traffic, which hasn't changed a bit. When it opened its doors in 1904, it was surrounded by lemon groves and bean fields and students generally arrived on horses! It remains one of the oldest schools in Los Angeles, and student Lana Turner was actually discovered across the street at a malt shop!
Veteran Felix Locher (pronounced Lo Shay) plays Yablonski, a staple in many films, especially sci fi adventures in the 50s as a scientist. He was the father of handsome Jon Hall, who was in many adventure films opposite Maria Montez, usually wearing nothing but a loin cloth! Hall later became a successful businessman in Hollywood.
Recommened from Season 1 CBS/Paramount box set 2006 restored.
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