Quite a convoluted plot in this one. Some 70s detective show episodes are formulaic to the point that you can guess whodunit and why -- this one I couldn't guess, even when I was watching it for the second time in a little over a year. Some Mannix cliches -- he gets bonked on the head; there's a couple of shootouts -- but overall enjoyable due to the fast pace and all the twist and turns. I especially liked one scene where one character when confronted by their misdeeds fell apart like a wet newspaper -- not sure why I liked it, except it was unexpected and realistic (not everyone is a tough guy). Another plus is the many familiar faces -- Natalie Schafer from Gilligan's Island, Marta Kristen from Lost in Space, Kenneth Tobey from The Thing From Another World, Meg Foster, and a slew of "That Guy"s.
6 Reviews
Good but no so that it would not have benefited from being longer
belanger755 January 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Two nice looking ladies adorn this good ep. Meg Foster of the very pretty eyes and the slightly better looking Marta Kristen from original Lost in Space. The plot is followable with some unusual twists like a private eye who turns out to be with America's enemies (but still maybe American himself) and the fact that the murder suspect turned out to be from another country and was defecting to America. Had it just been half hour longer it would have been excellent!
Lots going on for fifty minutes plus commercials
Guad423 April 2021
Warning: Spoilers
The last episode was named "Light and Shadow" and this one is "A Game of Shadows". Despite the lack of original titles, this is an original episode. Joe is caught up in the cold war and spies as he tries to get a man off a murder charge at the request of his girlfriend (Meg Foster). Mannix episodes seem to have several girlfriends who won't give up on their guy despite what the circumstances are. It turns out her guy is an enemy spy on the run and that is why the murderer picked him as the fall guy as he couldn't turn himself in. Joe, followed by fellow PI Jerry Vane (Alan Bergmann), tracks our wayward spy down and manages to straighten out the situation while catching a few enemy spies himself. Tough assignment since everyone is lying for good and bad reasons. As stated by another reviewer, the murderer who started all this with the frame job does fall apart and confess faster than a murderer on Perry Mason but that is a nice change from the expected fistfight or car chase or shootout that is usual prior to Joe corralling the bad guys. Speaking of which, Adam Williams, a government agent here, was a murderer on Perry Mason back in the day.
The cast is good. Foster is fine and her eyes are on full display. Jack Ging is back as Lt Ives and acts a lot like Lt Malcolm. Paul Stevens, a veteran actor, is a good bad guy. Ken Tobey has way too little screen time. He must have done this as a favor for someone. Natalie Schafer has one long scene and makes the best of it. She is in between the Gilligan's Island show and the TV movies so nice to see her. Her character is named Bunny Mason (no relation to Perry) and the first name is apt.
Joe gets hit on the head and I'm not sure he got paid but he did serve his country so he has that going for him. Maybe Uncle Sam will throw a few bucks his way.
The cast is good. Foster is fine and her eyes are on full display. Jack Ging is back as Lt Ives and acts a lot like Lt Malcolm. Paul Stevens, a veteran actor, is a good bad guy. Ken Tobey has way too little screen time. He must have done this as a favor for someone. Natalie Schafer has one long scene and makes the best of it. She is in between the Gilligan's Island show and the TV movies so nice to see her. Her character is named Bunny Mason (no relation to Perry) and the first name is apt.
Joe gets hit on the head and I'm not sure he got paid but he did serve his country so he has that going for him. Maybe Uncle Sam will throw a few bucks his way.
MANNIX AND ONE MYSTERIOUS CLIENT!
tcchelsey28 September 2022
I agree, this is another episode you have to watch carefully --and you may still miss things. Leigh Vance wrote the story, also working on MISSION IMPOSSIBLE, later a producer for CANNON and HART TO HART. You have to give Vance credit for burning the midnight oil.
Joe's case concerns a man seen running away from a murder scene, but he's actually running for his life because he's caught up in some international intrigue and has assumed multiple identities. That's the confusing part, not only for the viewer, but for Mannix. Meg Foster plays the gal friend who hires Joe to prove his innocence, although she hasn't known him for a long time. Joe is also confronted with yet another bunch of people who aren't necessarily telling the truth. Sound familiar?
Paul Stevens plays Olsen, possibly the best actor for a story such as this. Stevens was known for playing some very interesting characters, generally untrustworthy. Warner Anderson guest stars as Professor Thompson, remembered for LINEUP in the 50s and beautiful Marta Kristen (from LOST IN SPACE) appears as Aileen in a very good dramatic role.
Two memorable supporting actors; sci-fi star Kenneth Tobey plays a sheriff and Natalie Shafer does what she always does best, playing a classy lady called Bunny. Shafer next appeared in the popular 70s romantic comedy 40 CARATS (1973).
The production notes are correct. Joe nearly gets run down on North Central Avenue in Glendale, near Crawfords Supermarket (later sold to Ralphs markets) one of many legendary family food stores in southern California to disappear. If you're a Los Angeleno this will bring back many fond memories.
Gerald Mayer directed, known for the POLICE SURGEON tv series. Merry Christmas, as this was the final episode of 1972, broadcast Christmas Eve. SEASON 6 EPISODE 15 remastered color CBS/Paramount dvd box set.
Joe's case concerns a man seen running away from a murder scene, but he's actually running for his life because he's caught up in some international intrigue and has assumed multiple identities. That's the confusing part, not only for the viewer, but for Mannix. Meg Foster plays the gal friend who hires Joe to prove his innocence, although she hasn't known him for a long time. Joe is also confronted with yet another bunch of people who aren't necessarily telling the truth. Sound familiar?
Paul Stevens plays Olsen, possibly the best actor for a story such as this. Stevens was known for playing some very interesting characters, generally untrustworthy. Warner Anderson guest stars as Professor Thompson, remembered for LINEUP in the 50s and beautiful Marta Kristen (from LOST IN SPACE) appears as Aileen in a very good dramatic role.
Two memorable supporting actors; sci-fi star Kenneth Tobey plays a sheriff and Natalie Shafer does what she always does best, playing a classy lady called Bunny. Shafer next appeared in the popular 70s romantic comedy 40 CARATS (1973).
The production notes are correct. Joe nearly gets run down on North Central Avenue in Glendale, near Crawfords Supermarket (later sold to Ralphs markets) one of many legendary family food stores in southern California to disappear. If you're a Los Angeleno this will bring back many fond memories.
Gerald Mayer directed, known for the POLICE SURGEON tv series. Merry Christmas, as this was the final episode of 1972, broadcast Christmas Eve. SEASON 6 EPISODE 15 remastered color CBS/Paramount dvd box set.
Joe falls for the bird dog trick again
pkfloydmh20 November 2021
Warning: Spoilers
In this one, Joe gets hired by the wife of a guy who is accused of a murder but has since disappeared.
Of course, the minute Paul Stevens appears, you know something sinister is going on since he always plays villains and I knew right from the start that he was the killer since he ALWAYS is and since the victim was his wife, so there isn't any mystery with that aspect of the story, but the other aspect concerning the whereabouts and identity of Cameron IS a mystery and is very interesting.
Joe is once again used as a bird dog, where he unknowingly does the dirty work for a third party that didn't hire him.
Joe gets clobbered in the head again and shot at but not hit. He also nearly gets hit by a car.
There's a pretty good fight scene and stunt in a garage and a good action scene at the end.
For a change, we see a small-town sheriff (played by Kenneth Tobey) who is actually cooperative with Joe and doesn't threaten to throw him in jail or run him out of town. This is a major break from tradition.
Natalie Schafer is excellent in her one scene as Bunny. The performances from the rest of the cast are solid too.
So a really good episode overall with an interesting story and a nice conclusion, where Cameron's background and identity are revealed.
Of course, the minute Paul Stevens appears, you know something sinister is going on since he always plays villains and I knew right from the start that he was the killer since he ALWAYS is and since the victim was his wife, so there isn't any mystery with that aspect of the story, but the other aspect concerning the whereabouts and identity of Cameron IS a mystery and is very interesting.
Joe is once again used as a bird dog, where he unknowingly does the dirty work for a third party that didn't hire him.
Joe gets clobbered in the head again and shot at but not hit. He also nearly gets hit by a car.
There's a pretty good fight scene and stunt in a garage and a good action scene at the end.
For a change, we see a small-town sheriff (played by Kenneth Tobey) who is actually cooperative with Joe and doesn't threaten to throw him in jail or run him out of town. This is a major break from tradition.
Natalie Schafer is excellent in her one scene as Bunny. The performances from the rest of the cast are solid too.
So a really good episode overall with an interesting story and a nice conclusion, where Cameron's background and identity are revealed.
Confusing, wildly improbable and among the poorest written shows in the series so far.
planktonrules28 December 2015
Warning: Spoilers
A while back, I began watching all the "Mannix" episodes and I am midway through the sixth (of eight) season. "A Game of Shadows" is engaging and interesting but it also marks a low point in the series so far...and hopefully future episodes will be better written and will make a lot more sense!
The show begins with a man running off the property of his boss' estate--and when the boss' wife is then found dead, everyone seems to assume the guy who ran off is the murderer. However, his bright- eyed girlfriend (Meg Foster) hires Mannix and insists he's innocent...though she later admits that she hardly knows him. During the course of the investigation, Mannix uncovers that the man on the run has had multiple identities and is assumed dead! What's really going on in this case?!
Where to begin with the ridiculous improbabilities in this one?! First, Mannix has no clear evidence at all, just a theory as to who is the real murderer...and he gets the guy to quickly admit he was the real killer! Second, the back-story for the accused killer is just ludicrous...and more than strains the audience's ability to suspend disbelief--they'd need a head injury to believe it! Third, Mannix sees two evil baddies holding a gun on people two different times...and both times does NOT get help but yells "halt...I've got you covered!"...but what about the kidnap victims?! Why not just shoot the evil guys?! Why yell and give them a chance to kill their hostages or Mannix?!?! Huh?!?! The only things of any interest are seeing Natalie Schafer in a small role as well as the incredibly striking Marta Kristen in a post-"Lost in Space" role. Other than that, this one is just awful...but still oddly enjoyable despite its many logical flaws (several of which I haven't even listed).
The show begins with a man running off the property of his boss' estate--and when the boss' wife is then found dead, everyone seems to assume the guy who ran off is the murderer. However, his bright- eyed girlfriend (Meg Foster) hires Mannix and insists he's innocent...though she later admits that she hardly knows him. During the course of the investigation, Mannix uncovers that the man on the run has had multiple identities and is assumed dead! What's really going on in this case?!
Where to begin with the ridiculous improbabilities in this one?! First, Mannix has no clear evidence at all, just a theory as to who is the real murderer...and he gets the guy to quickly admit he was the real killer! Second, the back-story for the accused killer is just ludicrous...and more than strains the audience's ability to suspend disbelief--they'd need a head injury to believe it! Third, Mannix sees two evil baddies holding a gun on people two different times...and both times does NOT get help but yells "halt...I've got you covered!"...but what about the kidnap victims?! Why not just shoot the evil guys?! Why yell and give them a chance to kill their hostages or Mannix?!?! Huh?!?! The only things of any interest are seeing Natalie Schafer in a small role as well as the incredibly striking Marta Kristen in a post-"Lost in Space" role. Other than that, this one is just awful...but still oddly enjoyable despite its many logical flaws (several of which I haven't even listed).
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
