Underground (28 Oct. 1972)

A gang specializing in smuggling criminals out of the country manages to free Gunther Schell, a Syndicate finance man who knows the location of $27 million in Syndicate money. But this same... See full summary »

Director:

David Lowell Rich

Writers:

Bruce Geller (created by), Leigh Vance

Stars:

Peter Graves, Greg Morris, Lynda Day George

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Peter Graves	...	James Phelps
Greg Morris	...	Barney Collier
Lynda Day George	...	Lisa Casey
Peter Lupus	...	Willy Armitage
Peter Mark Richman	...	Dr. Hargreaves
Robert Middleton	...	Clavering
Joseph Bernard	...	Karp
Jeff Morris	...	Smiler
Dennis Cross	...	Arnold Lutz
H.M. Wynant	...	Gunther Schell
John Stephenson	...	Director
Carl Byrd	...	Takis
Herman Poppe	...	Kales
Robert Rhodes	...	Barman

Storyline

A gang specializing in smuggling criminals out of the country manages to free Gunther Schell, a Syndicate finance man who knows the location of $27 million in Syndicate money. But this same gang instead tries to use psychological torture methods to get Schell to reveal the location of the money. To recapture Schell and to put a stop to the fugitive smuggling operation, the IMF publicizes that Jim Phelps is a doctor wanted for murder who also needs the services of the fugitive smuggling operation.

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Plot Keywords:

torture | japanese garden | oxygen cylinder | truth serum | feeding an animal | 

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 October 1972 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

User Reviews

One WILD MI episode!!

This is one of those MI episodes I remember seeing as a child probably at least 30 years ago. I recalled something about a chair in a room, and it spun around, pretty fast, and the pole it was on swiveled around at the same time--resulting in an orbit of the room, while spinning. But I never did know which episode it was--till about this time in 1986, when "underground" aired,on WXIX, which WAS a metro media station(now it is fox, and has been since 1987) and I was lucky to have it ready to record. THEN--I did NOT know the episode name--but VERY quickly realized it was the "one I was after". But in the late summer of 87, MI was taken off of WXIX and NEVER shown around here again--till AMlife started airing it last October.

This episode was on the other night and I recorded it AGAIN, as the old tape it was recorded on is now 22 years old.

The basic synopsis of this episode is that a group of criminals offers a "way out" for mobsters and other rich, high-profile criminals, and promises to "get them out of the country under a new identity"--for a price.

But what REALLY happens, is that they kidnap a criminal and then take him to a mortuary, where in a secret, closed off area, is an IPCRESS (Induced Psycho neurosis through Condidioned REsponse and Stress) setup, used to "brainwash" the subject into telling where some money he has access to is at, or such. This is done with a powerful drug, more powerful than pentathol(and MUCH more dangerous), along with a high-tech(for the time) setup involving a small sealed room, with a chair in the middle, that can rotate quickly and also orbit the room while spinning. On the walls of this room are a bunch of psychedelic lights and such and also a powerful sound system. A subject is drugged, strapped into the chair, and then, the lights are turned on, and some VERY scary, loud sounds are blasted at him while he is in the spinning chair. The subject undergoes this treatment for several hours at a time--to "break him".

The IMF decides to infiltrate the group, to get back the latest "subject" they have--Gunther Schell. Schell hid over 27 million dollars, of mob money before he was arrested--and then "freed' by the "underground" group". Jim poses as Dr. Brady, a rich doctor on the run for murder. He is connected with the group, and promised "freedom', but instead is taken to the IPCRESS setup. Before he is put in the chamber however, he is able to sneak into the HVAC room and place a powder into the blower, which will circulate the powder throughout the room--and cause a severe reaction in Schell only, as he is a diabetic. At that time--Schell is in the IPCRESS room, and nearly breaks to his captors about the money's location--but manages to "hold out". He is then taken, babbling about wanting "no more" torture, to a holding room. Dr. "Brady" is then taken to the IPCRESS area, to begin his "escape", but instead is drugged and placed into the chair. Dr. Hargraves, the lead torturer, asks him some questions--but since Jim has been "programmed" not to reply unless he hears Barney's voice, he does NOT respond. Hargraves surmises some form of auto-hypnosis, and begins his session. The spinning chair, sounds and lights begin to weaken Jim's "resitance"--and would no doubt break him after awhile.

By now, the powdered drug in the ducts has caused Schell to show symptoms of death. Since they cannot risk bringing in an outside doctor, "Dr. Brady" is removed from the chamber, given an antidote to the drug, and brought to the room Schell is in. He resists to help Schell, but is told unless he does--he will not leave. "Brady" then summons his "Colleague" (Willy) , and He is brought, in a blindfold to the holding room. Jim and Willy apply tiny gas masks, and gas the room, and sneak Schell out. Barney then delivers Schell to his superior, Lutz, who demands to know if Schell "talked" as if he did--Lutz, Schell and all of their cohorts are dead. The group goes to a warehouse, uncovers the stolen money-and then, the IMF arrives, along with the "underground" group. A shoot-out ensues, and the Police arrive and arrest all of the crooks.

I consider this to be a GOOD mission episode. With the wild IPCRESS setup, and such--it is definitely NOT a "normal" episode!! 9 out of 10!!