A Question of Midnight

If you want thrill, suspense, and excitement, this is it.

There are several times, where a person is explaining something, and it immediately goes to a flashback scene, so seemlessly, that it is hard to realize that it is a flashback.

It is so well done.

The setting for "A Question of Midnight" is very, very familiar. It's the clichéd small and VERY unfriendly town--one where just about everyone is angry at the detective and show through their actions that there is a lot that is hidden. This small town conspiracy angle is, unfortunately, just too familiar. And, when he's set up the first time, you KNEW exactly when it was coming. Fortunately, how this is all handled is very good--making it worth seeing.

The show begins with a woman paying Mannix to investigate an ex-doctor's past. It seems his license to practice was revoked and now he's in trouble for saving a dying boy's life. Mannix needs to uncover why he lost this license in the first place. Oddly, the doctor isn't grateful for Mannix's help and actually gets in the way of the investigation. How all this works out is pretty clever--plus, interestingly, it's one of the few episodes where Mannix actually gets the girl in the end of the show. This is unusual because so often women turn out to be louses and cheats! Overall, not great but quite good.

One of the most original titles, thanks to writer Barry Oringer, and an exciting story to match. True, it's another small town setting, however there's some clever twists adding to the intrigue and suspense.

Joe comes to the aid of Dr. Holland (Tom Troupe) who is facing malpractice charges. The good doctor went AWOL, and just WHY? More over, not too many folks are friendly, even the doc himself? The ingenius part is incidents are relived via flashback (and lots of people are talking), truly excellent photography thanks to director Sutton Roley. This may be one of his most creative episodes. At the time he was also directing MISSION IMPOSSIBLE.

Mike Connors said for years, the show was a contemporary noir, and "flashbacks" were a staple in all those classic 40s mysteries. Great idea on the part of Barry Oringer, perhaps for sentimental reasons for all us movie buffs.

Lee Meriwether plays Reva, a few years before fame on BARNABY JONES. Look for James Westerfield as the sheriff, best as a lawman. Westerfield was one of the most popular character actors on tv at the time, and with a unique style.

John Howard plays the distinguished senior doctor, and of honorable mention. He gained movie fame as BULLDOG DRUMMOND in the 1930s, working for years on the Paramount lot.

The inside joke -- parts of this small town were filmed at Van Nuys, CA (about 15 minutes from Hollywood), which is NOT a small town. By the way, if you're into sets, Reva's apartment is one cool pad, even by today's standards. It's the colors. Beautifully done.

Something different for all us Mannix fans, and its a shame Lee Meriwether's character did not return.

SEASON 3 EPISODE 5 remastered CBS/Paramount dvd box set. 6 dvds. Released 2009. Episodes like this is what makes this box a classic.

Readers will notice that most of the reviews of this episode are very positive, and I agree with those. This is a classic Mannix episode, showing that Joe is so likeable, kind and determined to always solve the case and help those in need of his services.

The guest cast here is first-rate: all are very good! Lee Meriwether gets to be both stiff and starchy, and then teasing and seductive; it's a great role for her. Lee Meriwether fans (I am one) will love this episode! Barbara Babcock, always memorable, was 31 or 32 when this was made in 1969, and gosh, the beautiful Miss Babcock looks in her 20's here!

Here is an amusing coincidence that the other reviewers have not mentioned: Barbara Babcock plays a nurse, of course, but there is another nurse, called "Miss Riley," a small role, that was played by Barbara Bosson. Both "nurses" would go on to have starring roles in Hill Street Blues.