This aired originally as a two-hour movie and was broken up into two parts in syndication. I think it's better in two parts as two straight hours would make it a little plodding. However, it does build in drama and we even get a special hearing near the end, and while Ironside sits there and watches you know Raymond Burr wants to leap out of the wheelchair and become Perry Mason and finger the culprits!
But alas, he's Ironside and just has to watch.
The plot involves a man unjustly accused of murder and languishing in prison for 7 years and Ironside's obsessive quest to clear him.
Some highlights are: Early in episode one Mark gives a pawnbroker the finger! Watch for it. Obviously flew right by the censors!
Early in episode one Mark gets summarily transferred back to Ironside's crew after a number of episodes as a traffic cop! There goes that whole plotline! I suppose actor Don Mitchell was relieved as previous episodes had Ironside learning to drive and be more independent so it looked like Mark might disappear like Eve Whitfield!
In episode two Ironside is thrown off a pier! But he can swim! Not sure Ironside has the muscles to swim without legs given his size, but he does.
Also there's a unique spin on the flashback sequences. They film the flashback sequences in a light fishbowl effect, but they also put Ironside in the scenes, as if he's there, invisible, watching them, as he listens to the characters explain the flashback.
Lots of classic actors in this one, including a scene-stealing scene by J. Pat O'Malley in episode one as a political "fixer." And Marion Ross, "Mrs. C" from Happy Days, appears. But it's the Ironside/Star Trek connection that goes through the roof!
Roger Perry: Original Star Trek Antoinette Bower: Original Star Trek (and Thriller as well!).
And William Campbell! Appeared as the Klingon Koloth and as Trelane in the original Star Trek and then reprised both roles in the 1990's Star Treks (one a video game).
But alas, he's Ironside and just has to watch.
The plot involves a man unjustly accused of murder and languishing in prison for 7 years and Ironside's obsessive quest to clear him.
Some highlights are: Early in episode one Mark gives a pawnbroker the finger! Watch for it. Obviously flew right by the censors!
Early in episode one Mark gets summarily transferred back to Ironside's crew after a number of episodes as a traffic cop! There goes that whole plotline! I suppose actor Don Mitchell was relieved as previous episodes had Ironside learning to drive and be more independent so it looked like Mark might disappear like Eve Whitfield!
In episode two Ironside is thrown off a pier! But he can swim! Not sure Ironside has the muscles to swim without legs given his size, but he does.
Also there's a unique spin on the flashback sequences. They film the flashback sequences in a light fishbowl effect, but they also put Ironside in the scenes, as if he's there, invisible, watching them, as he listens to the characters explain the flashback.
Lots of classic actors in this one, including a scene-stealing scene by J. Pat O'Malley in episode one as a political "fixer." And Marion Ross, "Mrs. C" from Happy Days, appears. But it's the Ironside/Star Trek connection that goes through the roof!
Roger Perry: Original Star Trek Antoinette Bower: Original Star Trek (and Thriller as well!).
And William Campbell! Appeared as the Klingon Koloth and as Trelane in the original Star Trek and then reprised both roles in the 1990's Star Treks (one a video game).
