The Train (18 Mar. 1967)

The dying leader of a European nation has a protégé ready to assume power. What the leader doesn't know is his protégé has plans to crack down on liberty and execute his enemies. Briggs, in... See full summary »

Director:

Ralph Senensky

Writers:

Bruce Geller (created by), William Read Woodfield,

Stars:

Steven Hill, Barbara Bain, Greg Morris

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Steven Hill	...	Daniel Briggs
Barbara Bain	...	Cinnamon Carter
Greg Morris	...	Barney Collier
Peter Lupus	...	Willy Armitage
Martin Landau	...	Rollin Hand
William Windom	...	Deputy Premier Milos Pavel
Rhys Williams	...	Prime Minister Ferenc Larya
William Schallert	...	Dr. Harrison Selby
Noah Keen	...	Gen. Androv
Richard Bull	...	Oliver Donovan
Booth Colman	...	Dr. Huss

Storyline

The dying leader of a European nation has a protégé ready to assume power. What the leader doesn't know is his protégé has plans to crack down on liberty and execute his enemies. Briggs, in addition to his normal IMF operatives, enlists the help of a physician and an Academy Award-winning art director, as part of his plan. Eventually, the IMF runs an elaborate con, including a phony train ride, aimed at causing the protégé to show his true intentions.

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Details

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 March 1967 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Desilu Studios - 9336 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Desilu Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The locomotives used are General Motors GP-40 diesel units; the locos and the cars bear the colors of the Union pacific railroad.

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Goofs

When Dan is choosing his agents, when he looks at Willy's picture, you can recognize Rollin's picture as the next one in the folder. However, when he picks up the next one, it is of the Oscar-winning director and Rollin's is after his.

User Reviews

Xcellent Episode in one All-Time Xcellent Series!

WITH ALL OF those seasons that it was "Good morning, Mr. Phelps......", with Peter Graves in charge, we often forget the first season; before Phelps came on board. It was in those times that a different guy headed up our "Impossible Mission Fprce": someone who would depart, only to rise again some 20 odd years later. He once again became a familiar face to the TV audiences; albeit in a much different sort of a role on a much different network with very different call letters.

IN THAT INITIAL season of MISSION:IMPOSSIBLE (Desilu Prod>/CBS TV, 1966- 73), the team leader was named Daniel Biggs and he was portrayed by a dark haired, good looking leading man type (and quite very well trained dramatic actor with extensive stage experience)named Steven Hill. This is the same guy who would return and portray District Attorney, Adam Schiff on the long running and popular LAW & ORDER (Wolf Films/Universal/NBC TV, 1990-2010).

PERHAPS BECAUSE OF so much of the familiarity that the Peter Graves' Mr. Phelps character accumulated, many of us tended to overlook or even forget Mr. Hill's Briggs. This does seem to be true and there may be a sound reason for it; as the rerun episodes that went into the world of recycling via syndication, never seemed to include episodes from this first year on CBS, 1966-67.

THIIS WAS INDEED a pity; inasmuch as there were some fine stories in the offerings and all there was still very new and innovative. One such memorable story, THE FRAME, involved marking a big shot crime boss as being a traitor to the syndicate. Another one, today's choice for close examination is tit;ed THE TRAIN and it featured guest star, Rhys Williams.

THE GUEST STAR'S role is as the wise and benevolent Premier of a fictional central European country. Now being up in years and in poor health, the nation's leader has groomed his vice premier to be his successor. Believing him to be a worthy candidate to continue this nation's enlightened and pro-democracy policies, the Mr. Rhys Williams' guy has come to think of the younger man as his own son.

THE SECRET MESSAGE from the "Secretary" informs Briggs of the real truth behind this heir apparent. Their mission, if they chose to accept it was to formulate an elaborate ruse using a shortened railroad trip and wise up the old geezer before it was too late.

GEE, WE SURE wish that we had such right of choice and refusal in doing our job (with the Chicago Police Department). Wouldn't you?