Mannix (TV Series) A Pittance of Faith (1969) User Reviews

I could predict this one but it still was entertaining.

[planktonrules · 6/10 · 23 May 2013]

"A Pittance of Faith" begins with a young woman being tossed off a balcony to her death. To make it look like a suicide, the killer leaves a typed suicide note. Now to me, this was a weakness, as I cannot believe anyone killing themselves and typing a note--and, oddly, the police chalked this one off as a suicide.

A short time later, a man representing a group of local merchants approaches Mannix. They want him to investigate the case and show it was NOT suicide--as the dead lady was Catholic and could not be buried in consecrated ground because of the way she died. Oddly, however, the lady's father (David Opatashu) is against the investigation--and you'd THINK he'd be in full agreement with reopening the case. Mannix correctly surmises there is more to this cases and somehow her identical twin has some part in this.

As I said, this one was a bit predictable but still it entertains. Not a great show and it sure had its flaws. Also, look for Larry Linville in his third appearance as a police detective as well as the singer/actor Bobby Troup as himself.

A bit predictable but still enjoyable

[Guad42 · 7/10 · 13 November 2020]

Mannix is hired by 21 people to look into a supposed suicide of a young girl going off a balcony. Of course, it is really a murder and a couple more happen before the hour is up. The girl has a twin sister so you should know what's coming. Joe has a couple of fights but is not wounded this time. He demonstrates his superior shooting in the climax. He make a fantastic shot with a stub nose revolver. Wasn't the first time and won't be the last. Larry Linville makes his second appearance as the cop on the case. He has been promoted to lieutenant and is a little more cooperative and proactive than in his first appearance. We will see him a few more times before he is drafted and sent to Korea. Peggy performs well after missing the last couple of episodes. All in all a good episode.

Any time there are twins....

[silvermaxfarms · 7/10 · 12 May 2022]

Stories never contain twins unless that is a key part of the plot. It's always some kind of a switch, either on purpose or by accident. That being said, you can pretty much see what's coming once you find out that there are twins in the story.

Mannix's thoughts were dubbed in for the first ~1/3 of the show as a lame shortcut, whereas good direction and acting should have been able to convey those thoughts. This device should either be used throughout or not at all, and the fact that it was used only as a crutch really takes away from this episode.

Interesting story though.

Mannix

[carnithan-24836 · 10/10 · 13 August 2021]

This episode keeps you guessing until the end. Love the plot.

Excellent episode

[smithbea · 10/10 · 6 August 2021]

Corrine Comacho is a tremendous and strapping guest star!

The story is not predictable.

Is it the worse Mannix?

[glitterrose · 6/10 · 12 May 2022]

No. But the series has better shows. Sad thing is the biggest issue I have could've been fixed with one scene.

Okay, we're dealing with religion for this story line. The dad has a scene where he's outraged at Gina having silk panties at 17. Mannix at least has the sense to claim the common sense defense of girls liking silky/pretty things. Mannix clearly didn't have any issues with a teen girl wearing silk panties. So daddy knows about the silk panties but he can't tell his daughter's apart???!!! I'm watching the Metv airings so perhaps the scene I think should've been there was in the episode and it got deleted so Metv can have more room for JJ Walker/Joe Namath/William Shatner Medicare hotline ads. But it would've been nice if the father knew the sister was the one that was killed and Gina's 'punishment' for her 'wild lifestyle' would be to live the way the sister lived. No more makeup, fancy clothes, elaborate hair styles, no more trashy panties. You're living the plain and simple life from now on, young lady. I could picture the dad having a meltdown on par with Mommie Dearest had over wire hangers. I could see the punishment option happening over Gina being terrified and her dad telling her to act as her sister until she's safe from the person that wanted her dead.

Must give praise to the actress playing Gina. I've seen her on Little House on the Prairie before and she really is an incredible actress.

And I must end this review going in this direction since I've pointed out thinking the writer writes Mannix as a sex god. I wonder if he got to see those silky panties with his own eyes? Maybe Gina is one of of Mannix's sex pen pals? I never saw him smile at a package the way he does the regular mail so I doubt she sent her panties through the mail. ;)

LISTEN TO THE PROFESSOR, WILL YA?

[tcchelsey · 10/10 · 8 February 2023]

Ben Roberts, a man with imagination, wrote this episode. Roberts was associated with CHARLIE'S ANGELS and to his credit penned the cult James Cagney thriller, WHITE HEAT (1949). Producer Ivan Goff often worked with Roberts and the two became a famous writing team in their own right.

This comes off as a slightly noirish tale, with Joe talking to himself and wondering just what happened to a model who fell from a balcony to her death. Of course, we know she was killed... but let's not give it all away. It also reminds me, just a bit, of the 40s mystery LAURA. This episode also holds the distinction of having the most people calling on Mannix at one time to solve a crime. A very good trivia question for devout fans. The answer is 21 people!

Top flight cast co-starring Corinne Camacho playing Maria, David Opatoshu (a regular in cop shows) and Larry Linville as the senior lawman this time around. The producers may have been trying out different actors as cops, before settling on Ward Wood as Malcolm. Ward just looked the part.

Seasoned veteran E. J Andre plays the professor who surprises Peggy in the office. He is memorable, long time actor and writer who appeared in dozens of classic films. Look for Bart LaRue, often cast as a reporter, who produced independent films in his career and singer and composer Bobby Troup in a bar playing a piano. Bobby was often cast in episodes of DRAGNET.

Partly filmed at the famous Santa Monica pier, which would become a regular location site for the crew. Do you blame them?

Try to figure this one out. That's the fun of it all. SEASON 2 EPISODE 14 remastered CBS dvd box set.