ADVENTURES IN PARADISE – "The Black Pearl" – 1959
Gardner McKay is a Korean War vet who stayed in the east after the war. He bought a schooner, the "Tiki", and now runs a small cargo and passenger service out of Tahiti. This is the second episode of the series which ran for 91 episodes during 1959-62.
The Tiki is docked at a small island to pick up a cargo for the local trading post owner, Lon Chaney. Also on board are several folks taking a tour of the islands. This group is made up of Patricia Medina, Kurt Kaszner, Anthony Steel and Hal Baylor.
The local natives make a living pearl diving for Chaney. He trades them goods for the pearls. That very day, a rare black pearl is found. Chaney knows this is the score of a lifetime, and books passage with Gardner McKay for a trip back to Tahiti. He figures he can sell the Pearl for a cool $40,000.
Now we discover that the passengers on-board are not exactly upstanding citizens. Medina is husband killer on the run, Steel is tagging along living off Medina, Kaszner is an underhanded dealer in gems and pearls. They all want the Black Pearl and are willing to do anything to get it.
Needless to say Chaney ends up going over the side the first night out. McKay figures it is one of the passengers, but has no idea which one. The killer soon tips his hand and bodies start to pile up. What the passengers do not know, is that McKay had been given the Pearl to take care of on the trip.
The villain is collared and locked up below decks. McKay heads the Tiki to Tahiti where he turns over everyone to the Police.
A much better episode than I'm making it sound like. There are plenty of red herrings and false clues throughout the episode.
The episode is directed by big screen helmsman, Robert Aldrich. Aldrich's work includes the films, VERA CRUZ, WORLD FOR RANSOM, THE BIG KNIFE, ATTACK, THE GARMENT JUNGLE, WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE, HUSH, HUSH, SWEET CHARLOTE, THE DIRTY DOZEN, FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX, THE GRISSOM GANG, ULZANA'S RAID and the film noir classic, KISS ME DEADLY.
Gardner McKay is a Korean War vet who stayed in the east after the war. He bought a schooner, the "Tiki", and now runs a small cargo and passenger service out of Tahiti. This is the second episode of the series which ran for 91 episodes during 1959-62.
The Tiki is docked at a small island to pick up a cargo for the local trading post owner, Lon Chaney. Also on board are several folks taking a tour of the islands. This group is made up of Patricia Medina, Kurt Kaszner, Anthony Steel and Hal Baylor.
The local natives make a living pearl diving for Chaney. He trades them goods for the pearls. That very day, a rare black pearl is found. Chaney knows this is the score of a lifetime, and books passage with Gardner McKay for a trip back to Tahiti. He figures he can sell the Pearl for a cool $40,000.
Now we discover that the passengers on-board are not exactly upstanding citizens. Medina is husband killer on the run, Steel is tagging along living off Medina, Kaszner is an underhanded dealer in gems and pearls. They all want the Black Pearl and are willing to do anything to get it.
Needless to say Chaney ends up going over the side the first night out. McKay figures it is one of the passengers, but has no idea which one. The killer soon tips his hand and bodies start to pile up. What the passengers do not know, is that McKay had been given the Pearl to take care of on the trip.
The villain is collared and locked up below decks. McKay heads the Tiki to Tahiti where he turns over everyone to the Police.
A much better episode than I'm making it sound like. There are plenty of red herrings and false clues throughout the episode.
The episode is directed by big screen helmsman, Robert Aldrich. Aldrich's work includes the films, VERA CRUZ, WORLD FOR RANSOM, THE BIG KNIFE, ATTACK, THE GARMENT JUNGLE, WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE, HUSH, HUSH, SWEET CHARLOTE, THE DIRTY DOZEN, FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX, THE GRISSOM GANG, ULZANA'S RAID and the film noir classic, KISS ME DEADLY.
