I agree with the last reviewer. This is Classic M. I. with all the frills. More over, Martin Landau (playing a victim) should have been nominated for an Emmy. He is outstanding. It is no surprise, many years later, he finally did win an Oscar.
James Daly, soon to star in MEDICAL CENTER as a good doctor), plays a diabolical character here, called Belzig, operating out of East Berlin, whose mission it is to amass a fortune to re-build the Nazi party. His victims (with lots of money) wish to get out of Berlin safely, coming to him for a solution. He promises them a new life, gaining access to their money, and proceeds to kill them.
The trap here is a dark, secret passageway (their escape route), leading to a pit where they fall to their death and drown. The idea may have actually been lifted from an old Bela Lugosi horror film! Enter Martin Landau, playing a retired gentleman (Schneider), carrying a ton of money. He is perfect for this role. The only question is how did he get out of the tunnel?
Good support by popular character actor Gene Dynarski as one of Belzig's henchmen. Gene was another one of those familiar actors you always saw in movies and tv.
Well written by Brad Radnitz, who handled both cop shows and sitcoms. Prior to this episode he was writing for GILLIGANS ISLAND. A very interesting opening scene sees Phelps enter a thrift store and listens to his instructions via an antique record player or phonograph. That's a first.
Greg Morris (Barney) has a fun role as a suspicious bank depositer, seen on hidden camera, smoking a pipe and looking cool.
Best of it all is when Belzig, a real creep, gets burned big time. Wait and see.
SEASON 2 EPISODE 4 remastered Paramount dvd box set.
James Daly, soon to star in MEDICAL CENTER as a good doctor), plays a diabolical character here, called Belzig, operating out of East Berlin, whose mission it is to amass a fortune to re-build the Nazi party. His victims (with lots of money) wish to get out of Berlin safely, coming to him for a solution. He promises them a new life, gaining access to their money, and proceeds to kill them.
The trap here is a dark, secret passageway (their escape route), leading to a pit where they fall to their death and drown. The idea may have actually been lifted from an old Bela Lugosi horror film! Enter Martin Landau, playing a retired gentleman (Schneider), carrying a ton of money. He is perfect for this role. The only question is how did he get out of the tunnel?
Good support by popular character actor Gene Dynarski as one of Belzig's henchmen. Gene was another one of those familiar actors you always saw in movies and tv.
Well written by Brad Radnitz, who handled both cop shows and sitcoms. Prior to this episode he was writing for GILLIGANS ISLAND. A very interesting opening scene sees Phelps enter a thrift store and listens to his instructions via an antique record player or phonograph. That's a first.
Greg Morris (Barney) has a fun role as a suspicious bank depositer, seen on hidden camera, smoking a pipe and looking cool.
Best of it all is when Belzig, a real creep, gets burned big time. Wait and see.
SEASON 2 EPISODE 4 remastered Paramount dvd box set.