I must admit, I'm a pushover for this type of show, but I love the history and nostalgia of the era and geographical area that I grew up in.
This episode deals with a subject not often explored on this type of series, that of the relative helplessness of a child which cannot hear nor speak who is taken hostage by two small-time crooks, a husband and wife.
While Jean R Maxey is believable as a woman afoul of the law with concern for the child, John Sebastian turns in a hard-edged yet not quite evil performance as her impatient, petty criminal husband.
A young Lynette Winter (LaRue of Gidget fame and Henrietta Plout of Petticoat junction) is stellar as the deaf mute girl caught up in the robbery of her family's small market. Her portrayal is not underacted or overacted, but just right.
Linne Ahlstrand is also sharp and caring as the dispatcher. Broderick Crawford is his usual boorish self as is typical for the series, but he tones it down nicely when he questions the young girl after she is found alone by one of the HP officers.
The rugged terrain of the Chavez Ravine area as it was about a year prior to the groundbreaking for Dodger Stadium provides an adequate backdrop for the story. Despite a few well-documented mistakes, all-in-all a very satisfying episode and one of my favorites.
This episode deals with a subject not often explored on this type of series, that of the relative helplessness of a child which cannot hear nor speak who is taken hostage by two small-time crooks, a husband and wife.
While Jean R Maxey is believable as a woman afoul of the law with concern for the child, John Sebastian turns in a hard-edged yet not quite evil performance as her impatient, petty criminal husband.
A young Lynette Winter (LaRue of Gidget fame and Henrietta Plout of Petticoat junction) is stellar as the deaf mute girl caught up in the robbery of her family's small market. Her portrayal is not underacted or overacted, but just right.
Linne Ahlstrand is also sharp and caring as the dispatcher. Broderick Crawford is his usual boorish self as is typical for the series, but he tones it down nicely when he questions the young girl after she is found alone by one of the HP officers.
The rugged terrain of the Chavez Ravine area as it was about a year prior to the groundbreaking for Dodger Stadium provides an adequate backdrop for the story. Despite a few well-documented mistakes, all-in-all a very satisfying episode and one of my favorites.