Contrary to another reviewer's opinion I think that Martin Sheen did his usual excellent job acting in this episode. He elevated it beyond the usual fare. And although I also was frustrated with the actions of the bad guy's girlfriend, the point they were trying to make is that like his so called friends had been, she was taken in by her boyfriend's lies and believed him to be wrongfully persecuted. Once she sees that he's not who she thought he was, she changes her view of him and acts accordingly. A fine episode in my opinion.
5 Reviews
FIRST APPEARANCE OF MARTIN SHEEN, AND HE'S GOOD
tcchelsey30 July 2022
This was the only episode directed by Marvin Chomsky,
who had previously directed the cult film, EVEL KNIEVEL (1971). Chomsky was an alum of MISSION IMPOSSIBLE, and it shows.
There are two distinguished actors featured here, Martin Sheen and Collin Wilcox, making this a must.
Here, Cannon teams with a bitter former LAPD motorcycle cop called Jerry (Sheen), chasing down stolen payroll loot that takes them into the remote countryside. Some nasty bikers trail behind to spruce things up. Wilcox plays Phyllis, who runs the local diner, seemingly in league with the baddies. But is she actually all that bad herself?
The only debit here is that Phyllis tries to have it both ways, which is a bit confusing. She does offer Cannon some chow! Add to the cast Daniel J. Travanti, playing a crook named "Lucky" and James B. Sikking (both from HILL STREET BLUES). Ned Glass plays Pete.
Sheen would return for another episode, and in the same role, soon to become an overnight star in BADLANDS. Wilcox, best known for TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, worked for her old boss, Bill Conrad, at Warner Brothers/ABC in westerns, including TEMPLE HOUSTON, which he produced with Jack Webb. Like Martin Sheen, she would also return to the series.
Keeping up with the travelogue locations, this episode was filmed at the remote town of Cold Springs, California, near the Nevada border. The population (as of 2021) was about 665 residents. You could only imagine the population here in 1972! Cannon driving a blue jeep through the bumpy desert is fun , not a bad driver. Buddy Ebsen would also have some jeep scenes in BARNABY JONES.
Look for famous bit actor Bob Harks (everywhere on tv) playing a deputy. Martin Sheen and Conrad make a very good team here, and I think if it wasn't for the enormous success of BADLANDS, Sheen would have probably had a recurring role as Jerry.
The first episode of 1972. Happy New Year! CANNON was catching on, soon to move to its mid-week time slot and blast off in the ratings.
SEASON 1 CBS/Paramount remastered dvd box set 2 of 2. Four discs per box, 11hrs running time for box 2, released 2008.
There are two distinguished actors featured here, Martin Sheen and Collin Wilcox, making this a must.
Here, Cannon teams with a bitter former LAPD motorcycle cop called Jerry (Sheen), chasing down stolen payroll loot that takes them into the remote countryside. Some nasty bikers trail behind to spruce things up. Wilcox plays Phyllis, who runs the local diner, seemingly in league with the baddies. But is she actually all that bad herself?
The only debit here is that Phyllis tries to have it both ways, which is a bit confusing. She does offer Cannon some chow! Add to the cast Daniel J. Travanti, playing a crook named "Lucky" and James B. Sikking (both from HILL STREET BLUES). Ned Glass plays Pete.
Sheen would return for another episode, and in the same role, soon to become an overnight star in BADLANDS. Wilcox, best known for TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, worked for her old boss, Bill Conrad, at Warner Brothers/ABC in westerns, including TEMPLE HOUSTON, which he produced with Jack Webb. Like Martin Sheen, she would also return to the series.
Keeping up with the travelogue locations, this episode was filmed at the remote town of Cold Springs, California, near the Nevada border. The population (as of 2021) was about 665 residents. You could only imagine the population here in 1972! Cannon driving a blue jeep through the bumpy desert is fun , not a bad driver. Buddy Ebsen would also have some jeep scenes in BARNABY JONES.
Look for famous bit actor Bob Harks (everywhere on tv) playing a deputy. Martin Sheen and Conrad make a very good team here, and I think if it wasn't for the enormous success of BADLANDS, Sheen would have probably had a recurring role as Jerry.
The first episode of 1972. Happy New Year! CANNON was catching on, soon to move to its mid-week time slot and blast off in the ratings.
SEASON 1 CBS/Paramount remastered dvd box set 2 of 2. Four discs per box, 11hrs running time for box 2, released 2008.
Full of illogical situations.
planktonrules7 June 2013
I've been watching the first season of "Cannon" on DVD and I must say this is the first episode I really hated. The first 80% of the show is fine--the last 20% is pure crap! The show begins with a criminal (Daniel J. Travanti) trying to evade the police. He then pours fuel on his car and ignites it--and the cops think he's inside. However, this dirt-bag put some poor schmuck in the car and used the fire to hide the fact it wasn't him. Only one cop on the force (Martin Sheen) believes the crook is still alive and he goes to Cannon to get his help tracking the guy down. The trail leads to a bunch of bikers and they manage to capture him hiding among them. However, and here is where the show gets REALLY bad, Cannon and the cop have the prisoner and they run to the prisoner's girlfriend's restaurant to hide. Okay. Then, the woman REPEATEDLY does things to help the bikers outside kill Cannon and his client! And, each time, neither of them hurt her, tie her up or shoot her!! In this situation, I would have shot her (perhaps not fatally) and then DEFINITELY shot the wanted man, as he was wanted for several murders and it wasn't like they needed to bring him back alive! Yet, again and again, the duo let him and his girlfriend nearly get them killed!! I just wanted to scream, as none of this made any sense. Sure, the unwritten TV detective code said (at the time) not to kill prisoners, but in a case like this, I sure as heck would have roughed 'em up a bit at the very least!! One of the dumbest endings I could have imagined. What's equally ridiculous in this show? Twice, Cannon made shots with his snub-nosed .38 that would have gotten him a gold medal in the Olympics!! Insanely difficult shots to say the least!! Overall, the show looked shoddy and silly and isn't worth seeing unless you are a Travanti or Martin Sheen groupie.
Bad actor
leeraymond-160789 September 2020
Nice off road driving by Frank
patmobile28 January 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Martin Sheen is a total knuckle head - Cannon yells "don't go in the mine" , Sheen stops, looks at Cannon and then continues toward the entrance.
It seems like Sheen constantly ignores Cannon's instructions. I don't know why Sheen is so heavily invested in catching the criminal when the accident that put him on disability was caused by his own poor driving skills.
The dumb waitress is clearly decades older than her criminal boyfriend- how deluded must she be to not know he is just using her? She also endangered Cannon's life numerous times , plus she stole the car keys AND told the gang about the money Cannon was carrying. She should have been arrested for being stupid.
It seems like Sheen constantly ignores Cannon's instructions. I don't know why Sheen is so heavily invested in catching the criminal when the accident that put him on disability was caused by his own poor driving skills.
The dumb waitress is clearly decades older than her criminal boyfriend- how deluded must she be to not know he is just using her? She also endangered Cannon's life numerous times , plus she stole the car keys AND told the gang about the money Cannon was carrying. She should have been arrested for being stupid.
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