Outstanding. 10 Plus Stars.
Carol Lynley, who's career was very similar to Patty Duke, successfully graduated to adult roles following a career as a truly gifted child actress.
Carol is the whole show here, and you really feel sorry for her. This is about as poignant as it gets for a cop show. She portrays Dorothy, a former Olympic champion, now in a wheelchair and a Hollywood recluse due to a tragic car accident. She also has another problem. Dorothy's getting creepy, threatening phone calls --or is she? Mannix enters the case and it gets genuinely eerie.
There are shades of BUNNY LAKE IS MISSING (1965), also starring Lynley in a similar role. In the movie, she claimed her baby was kidnapped --or was it all a hoax? Credit exceptional writing to Edward Lakso, who in a few years would be associated with CHARLIE'S ANGELS. Lakso had a hand in many detective shows, and with good reason. At the time he was also writing for the MOD SQUAD.
Look for veteran Paul Picerni, long associated with THE UNTOUCHABLES, a reliable heavy actor for decades. He later was the MC for the LA Rams.
Lakso wrote in a little inside joke. Picerni's character's name is Roger Stack, similar to UNTOUCHABLES star Robert Stack, ya think? All in all, a tidy mystery. The acting is tops. Robert Reed (as Lt. Tobias) returns. As I wrote in the previous episode, I think it's obvious Reed was cast to keep him "occupied" as he was not thrilled playing the dad on the BRADY BUNCH. There were lots of heated arguments and that surely got around the Paramount lot.
The beautiful Los Feliz Towers apartment building is seen again here, not that far from Paramount Pictures. Whoever owned the place must have had a sweet deal with the studio. It was a great find for filming.
Do not miss this episode.
SEASON 4 EPISODE 21 remastered color CBS/Paramount dvd box set.
Carol Lynley, who's career was very similar to Patty Duke, successfully graduated to adult roles following a career as a truly gifted child actress.
Carol is the whole show here, and you really feel sorry for her. This is about as poignant as it gets for a cop show. She portrays Dorothy, a former Olympic champion, now in a wheelchair and a Hollywood recluse due to a tragic car accident. She also has another problem. Dorothy's getting creepy, threatening phone calls --or is she? Mannix enters the case and it gets genuinely eerie.
There are shades of BUNNY LAKE IS MISSING (1965), also starring Lynley in a similar role. In the movie, she claimed her baby was kidnapped --or was it all a hoax? Credit exceptional writing to Edward Lakso, who in a few years would be associated with CHARLIE'S ANGELS. Lakso had a hand in many detective shows, and with good reason. At the time he was also writing for the MOD SQUAD.
Look for veteran Paul Picerni, long associated with THE UNTOUCHABLES, a reliable heavy actor for decades. He later was the MC for the LA Rams.
Lakso wrote in a little inside joke. Picerni's character's name is Roger Stack, similar to UNTOUCHABLES star Robert Stack, ya think? All in all, a tidy mystery. The acting is tops. Robert Reed (as Lt. Tobias) returns. As I wrote in the previous episode, I think it's obvious Reed was cast to keep him "occupied" as he was not thrilled playing the dad on the BRADY BUNCH. There were lots of heated arguments and that surely got around the Paramount lot.
The beautiful Los Feliz Towers apartment building is seen again here, not that far from Paramount Pictures. Whoever owned the place must have had a sweet deal with the studio. It was a great find for filming.
Do not miss this episode.
SEASON 4 EPISODE 21 remastered color CBS/Paramount dvd box set.