Mannix (TV Series) To Catch a Rabbit (1969) User Reviews

Not Great and No Conclusion

[samwa-27311 · 6/10 · 6 January 2020]

I couldn't believe it.

The whole episode was to prove Carlos innocent.

I kept waiting until the final scene to see who dun it. Who iced the brother of the lady.

I thought for sure, that it was Mike Brady, uh, Robert Reed, but the show ends without saying who the killer was, or if it was an accident.

Nothing. Zero.

Just a diatribe from the woman and a insane diatribe from Carlos.

Mistake

[bumonabusa · 6/10 · 5 September 2018]

When Mannix calls the police on a pay phone, he has to put a dime in the phone and then asks for the operator. With pay phones, you could just pick up and call the operator for free. The operator could then connect you to the police.

IF ONLY THE DEAD GUY COULD TELL US WHODUNIT!

[tcchelsey · 9/10 · 23 February 2023]

Shirl Hendryx (the guy with the cool name), a veteran of many cop shows, wrote this mystery that will keep you guessing. No question.

Once again, you've got to pay close attention as this one runs fast. The story could have been taken from today's headlines as it sounds like something from DATELINE or 48 HOURS. A doctor's son is found dead at the bottom of the stairs of his home --but was it an accident or murder? The catch is Mannix may have accused the wrong guy in the case, and the victim definitely had enemies.

Jack Bannon (future LOU GRANT co-star) makes another appearance in the series, playing Peter Martin. Popular actress Gail Kobe also returns, and for good reason, later to become a producer for several tv soap operas.

Robert Reed turns up as Tobias, though it makes you scratch your head as to why they didn't use Ward Wood (as Malcolm), especially after that terrific hostage episode he appeared in?

A bit of sports history here as this episode may have been one of the last tv productions to be filmed at legendary Wrigley Field. The famous baseball park, and home of the original Los Angeles Angels was closed down in 1969 and demolished, a popular stadium for ball games, boxing and concerts since the 1920s. This episode was probably filmed in late 1968, and probably for sentimental reasons.

Keep the late night coffee brewing for this one.

SEASON 2 EPISODE 25 CBS dvd box set.

Decent but it sure strains credibility...

[planktonrules · 5/10 · 28 July 2013]

The show begins with a man dying after confronting some burglar. Whether he was murdered or it was some accident wasn't certain, though the police rule it an accidental death. But the man's sister insists that Mannix should investigate and the trail soon leads into the barrio. There, Mannix is NOT treated very nicely and, of course, he gets the snot beaten out of him. But, Mannix persists and captures Valera--the other man that was in the house that night. But, and this NEVER made sense, Mannix soon starts to think the guy might be innocent. But before he can prove the man's innocence, the idiot escapes from jail with a cop's gun! What can Mannix do?

The episode wasn't bad but it never made sense why Mannix just knew that Valera was innocent. It's made even worse when Mannix puts his life on the line to save the guy as you wonder WHY! Also, there was a bit of overacting here and there. Still, not bad and worth seeing if you are a fan of the series. Otherwise, you could do a bit better.

By the way, that WAS Wrigley Field at the end of the show. Apparently, there was another Wrigley Field in south Los Angeles in addition to the famous one in Chicago. The place was used for minor league baseball, one season of the American League Angels and was used to film many Hollywood baseball movies such as "Pride of the Yankees". The place was in the middle of demolition when "To Catch a Rabbit" was filmed and you can see portions of the stadium are missing.

It all actually does make sense.

[sensate-25219 · 5/10 · 19 July 2022]

In reading previous reviews I came away with a false impression about the plot, but it does come together if one waits until the end. Mannix believes the immigrant's story.

But the story should be viewed in the eyes of the time period. This episode explores the complexity of race relations, elite power and pride affecting the lives of those without power, and the magic of Universal City television sets in 1960s television. However, this isn't Shakespeare folks.

Mediocre and routine

[Guad42 · 5/10 · 29 November 2020]

With the majority of the Mannix episodes, they are good enough that it is easy to forget that they were done fifty years ago. This isn't one of those episodes. The case takes place against the background of "Chicanos vs Anglos". Much like the episode a few before this one with "white vs black", the dialogue is dated and stilted. Mannix manages to overcome it and becomes a hero in the process. The whole show is a standard plot for detective shows and many westerns. Innocent guy is accused. Innocent guy thinks he won't get a fair trial so escapes. Innocent guy is surrounded and holed up somewhere and the hero has to get him to surrender before the police/lynch mob/town folks get him. I suspect there are Big Valley, Cannon, Gunsmoke, Hawaii 5-0, Bonanza episodes just like this. A couple of inconsistencies - why is the kid spying on the house? Nothing to be gained by it. If Mannix doesn't see him, he probably doesn't take the case. Why does Mannix go into "the bad part of town" to find this kid? Does he think there will be many smiling people happy to help him out? The acting is a bit over the top as actors address the ills of society. When weekly TV shows address race it is like when TV shows try to be "1960s-hip". (See Perry Mason.) It never works out well. Robert Reed as Lt Tobias is mailing it in. He says the same stupid things over a bullhorn trying to get the kid to surrender himself. Maybe the kid will surrender just to shut him up. The biggest irony is the original police conclusion was death by accident. That is exactly what happened, if the kid's story was to be believed. The show heavily implies that it is the truth. If everyone had accepted that conclusion, the case would have never happened, the dead guy would have kept his reputation and his sister would have been happier too. And Mannix does get beat up again. Not a horrible episode but not a season 2 highlight either.