Mission: Impossible 

An elite covert operations unit carries out highly sensitive missions subject to official denial in the event of failure, death or capture.

Creator:

Bruce Geller

Stars:

Peter Graves, Barbara Bain, Greg Morris

Won 3 Golden Globes. Another 16 wins & 39 nominations.

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
Greg Morris	...	Barney Collier 171 episodes, 1966-1973
Peter Lupus	...	Willy Armitage 161 episodes, 1966-1973
Peter Graves	...	James Phelps / ... 143 episodes, 1967-1973
Barbara Bain	...	Cinnamon Carter 78 episodes, 1966-1969
Martin Landau	...	Rollin Hand / ... 76 episodes, 1966-1969

Storyline

Jim Phelps is the head of a super-secret government agency, the IMF (Impossible Missions Force), and is often given secret anonymous covert missions to attempt. Quite often, they are unmasking criminals or rescuing hostages. He picks his team depending on which tasks need to be done. One thing is vital on an Impossible Mission: the mission must be carried out in entire secrecy, often relying on high-tech equipment and elaborate deceptions.

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Plot Keywords:

stockings | mission | disguise | deception | 1970s | 

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Taglines:

No job is too dangerous, difficult or deadly for the Impossible Missions Force. In color.

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 September 1966 (USA)

Also Known As:

Mission: Impossible

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Desilu Productions, Paramount Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

50 min (168 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

4:3

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the pilot episode, Cinnamon seems to freely admit and accept that part of her IMF role includes being a distraction as a good-looking woman, when the Mission requires it. As she also is a model that would also suit her selection for certain Missions. Obviously she is also highly intelligent, and is a versatile team member able to play other women, often in disguise, whenever the Missions require it. She is far from being the "token" woman team member, and is an equal to the rest of the IMF team.

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Goofs

Multiple episodes set in European countries have Barney working on electrical wiring to achieve the team's aim, yet the switchgear, outlets, and other equipment depicted is North American.

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Quotes

Voice on Tape: Good morning Mister Phelps.

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Crazy Credits

During the first season, Martin Landau was credited as a special guest star. This was because Landau refused to sign a standard five-year contract, but producer Bruce Geller wanted him badly enough that he agreed to use him on a "guest star" basis. Although Landau ended up appearing in a majority of the Season One episodes, he didn't sign a contract (and then only for a year at a time) until the second season.

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Connections

Referenced in Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Phantom Planet (1998)

User Reviews

".....tom cruise should self-destruct within ten seconds"

Oh how i remember as a kid in the 60s and 70s on Sunday nights for 9 pm to come so i could post myself in front of the TV and get ready for the opening sequence of "Mission: Impossible" --- the quavering flute as the lit match ignites the wick and then the music gradually increases in tempo as the sequences of the show are montaged, and then the actors are shown....i literally lived and breathed "Mission: Impossible" -- i loved the plots of the stories and how the IMF team maneuvered amongst the villains, sometimes pitting them one against the other, the master of disguise Rollin Hand (played by Martin Landau), the femme fatale of Cinnamon Carter (Barbara Bain and Landau's wife in real life), the electronic genius of Barney Collier (Greg Morris -- who to me was SO fine!), the calm, levelheaded, don't-let-em-see-you-sweat Jim Phelps (Peter Graves, James Arness'["Gunsmoke"] brother) and Peter Lupus (Willy) these guys worked in perfect harmony with each other to outwit the villains and it was such a high for me to see them all reunite in an odd location getting in the IMF truck and speed off into the sunset...

1995 (a good 36 years later)...Tom Cruise plays in the movie version of "Mission: Impossible"....WHY? if anyone who is old enough to know about the MI series, the IMF were all a part of a TEAM, each person contributing to the success of the mission...yet "Mr Scientology-who-thinks-psychiatry-isn't-a-science-Tom Cruise" goes it alone and i have read here on the IMDb message boards that Greg Morris (one of the original MI actors) walked off the MI movie set saying to wit "this is a disgrace" --- i agree. and then to have the nerve to follow up with "Mission: Impossible 2"????? wtf? both were duds and should have self-destructed too! "your mission -- should you decide to accept it --- is to pray a box set of the original series can be purchased somewhere and never watch the movie versions of this classic espionage series ever again... if after viewing the classic series any viewer becomes happy and/or highly interested, the Secretary will disavow any of your actions...and Tom Cruise should self-destruct within ten seconds.....good luck...."