Joe Mannix is visited one night by Ken Gordon, a young police officer whose life Mannix once saved. Unfortunately, moments later Gordon takes a bullet meant for Mannix, fired by Victor Roark... Read allJoe Mannix is visited one night by Ken Gordon, a young police officer whose life Mannix once saved. Unfortunately, moments later Gordon takes a bullet meant for Mannix, fired by Victor Roarke, a criminal whom Mannix once helped capture. Roarke is taken into custody, but claims to... Read allJoe Mannix is visited one night by Ken Gordon, a young police officer whose life Mannix once saved. Unfortunately, moments later Gordon takes a bullet meant for Mannix, fired by Victor Roarke, a criminal whom Mannix once helped capture. Roarke is taken into custody, but claims to know the location of a missing judge's body -- but Mannix and Art Malcolm soon discover t... Read all
Photos
- Peggy Fair
- (credit only)
- Sarah Toller
- (as Maggie Johnson)
- Roy Webb
- (uncredited)
- Phillips
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaWith this episode, the opening of the series changed significantly. For the first five seasons, the show began with a teaser that cut to the opening titles at a dramatic moment. Henceforth, the series opened with an animated silhouette of Mannix running toward the camera which then cut to the opening titles. A shot of Mannix skiing from season five's "Cold Trail" is also added. The music is also changed somewhat, using a jazzier version of Lalo Schifrin's theme.
- GoofsAfter the bullet hits the lamp in Mannix's office the shade breaks, the lamp goes out but the bulb is intact. But when Lt. Malcolm arrives the bulb is broken.
- Quotes
Lt. Art Malcolm: [he and Joe enter on Roarke and his attorney in Roarke's hospital room] I suppose you instructed your client not to talk?
Roarke's Attorney: That would depend on what you wanted to discuss, Lieutenant. I won't permit him to incriminate himself, no.
Joe Mannix: He won't have to. He killed a police officer in cold blood.
Roarke's Attorney: You don't think he had the right to defend himself?
Lt. Art Malcolm: That's your plea, self-defense? That's a little far out, isn't it?
Roarke's Attorney: Why is that? Mr. Roarke went to Mr. Mannix's office to chat about the circumstance of their last meeting. The door was opened by an officer who immediately drew his gun.
Joe Mannix: It was still in his holster after the shooting.
Roarke's Attorney: There was nobody present to see you put it back in the officer's holster after the shooting.
Victor Roarke: Only me. I saw that.
Joe Mannix: Save it for the jury, Roarke. You're gonna need all the defense you can get.
Lt. Art Malcolm: Hold it, Joe. You sent word down that you were ready to talk. So far, I haven't heard anything worth the elevator ride. You change your mind?
Roarke's Attorney: What's all that about? You didn't tell me.
Victor Roarke: Cool it. I want to make a deal.
Lt. Art Malcolm: No deals.
Victor Roarke: Oh, sure. Yeah, sure. I understand, Lieutenant, you're lily white, but juries are paid to listen. And don't you forget where you heard what I'm going to tell you.
Roarke's Attorney: Look, I don't know what you're getting at, but shut up.
Victor Roarke: There was a judge that disappeared about a year ago. Remember?
Joe Mannix: Judge Bishop?
Victor Roarke: Yeah, that's the one.
Lt. Art Malcolm: Yeah. What about him?
Victor Roarke: I know where he's buried.
Roarke's Attorney: You must be out of your mind. You want to be charged with that, too?
Victor Roarke: I wasn't even around at the time. A friend of mine told me. No names, Lieutenant, or I'm a dead man.
Roarke's Attorney: Victor, listen, you're confessing to withholding evidence.
Victor Roarke: Sure. But maybe I'll buy a little consideration from the jury. Maybe they'll understand that at the time, I was too scared to talk. So I have this on my conscience, and I want to get it straight.
Roarke's Attorney: That's stupid. You're only buying yourself a cell eight feet by ten.
Victor Roarke: Lieutenant, do I have to listen to this clown?
Roarke's Attorney: I'll answer that for you, Lieutenant. You get yourself another lawyer.
[leaves the room in anger]
This story is familiar... but a real nail biter and with one outstanding cast. Famous NYPD detective turned actor Eddie Egan makes an appearance at Lt. Haber. This guy had the credentials. In his career he made over 8000 arrests and was one of the detectives in the real FRENCH CONNECTION heroin investigation, later an iconic movie, where he played the police captain. It would have been neat had he played himself in this episode. But that's the way it goes.
Making his only appearance on the show is Rip Torn (as Victor), an actor's actor. Watch him at his best.
Without too much surprise, he's the bad guy out to even a score. He kills a cop, thinking it's Mannix, then takes Joe and Malcolm (Ward Wood) hostage in a wild chain of events. There's a lot of running and ducking on Joe's part (across the Paramount lot), but Rip Torn is the one to watch with that itchy trigger finger. Doesn't it all remind you of a western? That's why they brought in Arnold Laven. Torn later played President Nixon and General Grant in his long career, garnering wide acclaim.
Parts of this episode (the helicopter scene) were shot near the fabled Hollywood sign, high in the rugged Hollywood Hills, and it fits the description. In fact, to this day, nothing much has changed in the neighborhood, except more high fences and always the chance for a brush fire. The old broadcasting building up there was later converted into the engineering and antenna site for KCBS TV.
Special nod to John McLiam (as Tim, one of the hostages) who appeared routinely on MANNIX and dozens of cop shows, usually as someone's dad or a family doctor. Model Maggie Johnson plays Sarah, who was married to Clint Eastwood at the time, and was his longest partner.
Always great to see another kook get his just dessert. SEASON 6 Episode 1 remastered color Paramount/dvd.
- tcchelsey
- Sep 7, 2022
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Filming locations
- Hollywood Sign, Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA(old Don Lee TV studios, demolished)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro