Corey Allen directed this outstanding episode, long associated with many other cop shows, such as IRONSIDE, HAWAII FIVE-O and CANNON. He was the right man for the job and got a super performance from Mike Conners.
10 PLUS STARS.
Here, Mannix is after a maniac killer and is blinded in a shootout. The doc claims its a psychological affliction, but the question remains as to how long it will take to recover. This is a gripping story and the one that brought Joe and Peggy closer, as you began to realize their professional relationship was a marriage of sorts. Joe yells at Peggy, "I don't need a secretary, I need a seeing eye dog!" They argue, they fight, but Joe and Peggy are there for each other.
This is poignant, adventurous, amazing and true to life. It's also difficult to watch Mannix, who all us kids were accustomed to seeing bounce guys around a room, take baby steps in his office, helpless, with the aid of an instructor. Both Mike Conners and Gail Fisher turned in memorable performances.
Watch for the clever, clever scene where Joe (still blind) pretends he is driving a car --while actually Peggy is driving in the passenger side! The only debit is the obvious old car explosion, used many times in the series. Still it's way cool, and looks to be filmed on the winding road up to the Griffith Park observatory. I think!
Popular Canadian actor Joby Baker plays Rudy, who appeared many times in ALFRED HITCHCOCK'S tv show and in the 70s was cast in Walt Disney movies.
This story may have inspired the short-lived LONGSTREET tv series (ABC) a few years later, all about a blind detective and his seeing eye dog. That show, if you remember it, had possibilities and was quite popular in reruns in the 70s.
Not to be missed. SEASON 3 EPISODE 10. Remastered CBS dvd box set.