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 (Peter Graves) is the head of a super-secret government agency, the I.M.F. (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 | pantyhosed leg | mission | disguise | deception | 

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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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Did You Know?

Trivia

Because of the disguises he wore, Rollin Hand (Martin Landau) was known as "The Man of a Million Faces".

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Goofs

In almost every episode someone has to pick a lock. They insert the pick, wiggle it a few times and open the door. To actually open a lock you must also rotate the cylinder just as you do with a key. For this you would use a second "L" or "Z" shaped pick to exert pressure while you moved the pins with the first pick. This is never done.

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Quotes

[repeated line]
Voice on Tape: As always, should you or any of your IM force be caught or killed, the Secretary will disavow any knowledge of your actions. Good luck, Jim. This tape will self-destruct in five seconds.

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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 Castle: The Human Factor (2013)

User Reviews

Good Morning, Mister Phelps!

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to forget what Tom Cruise and John Woo made of MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE with their movies and watch this intelligent and entertaining TV series instead. It's (even after more than 30 years) the best show of its kind. The stories are complex, very exciting and the music score... Well, who doesn't love that wonderful theme written by Lalo Schifrin. This tape will self-destruct in five seconds. Good luck, Jim!

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