A bit silly...but enjoyable. That's about how I'd sum up this one. The show begins with a neighbor of Mannix, Roger Bard (Christopher Cary), being met in his office by a man who is, apparently, from Scotland Yard. However, Bard is quick-thinking and locks the man in his closet. Then, on the way to make his escape, Bard drops by Mannix's office to tell Joe that there was someone locked in his closet!! Mannix has no idea what's happening, but after letting out the man, he sees that Bard's office is a front--he doesn't have any sort of business at all! Soon he learns that Bard is responsible for a robbery--a robbery in the UK that netted two million pounds!! And so the rest of the show concerns the Scotland Yard guy, a gang and Mannix all trying to track down Bard. And, of course, in the end, Joe ends up outsmarting everyone since the show IS "Mannix", not "Bard"! Overall, a decent but mentally undemanding show. You'll probably enjoy it, but it isn't among the series' best. But it is worth watching--just so you can once again see Mannix wearing an ascot--sort of like Fred from "Scooby Doo".
9 Reviews
This should have been the final episode of the series!
Abner_Kadabner6 June 2022
I say that for two reasons: one, it was one of the best of the series, with its array of characters, a slightly convoluted story with a couple of plot twists, and some entertaining dialog. ( Roger pops into Mannix' window, and hurriedly tells him to go to his office and release the guy he has locked in the closet there and then dashes off. Peggy says, "Don't worry, I saw him too." Mannix says he wondered if Peggy had put something strange in his coffee. ) And it would have been the finale because Joe could tell Peggy he's closing up shop.
That's because Joe could have retired after he recovered the money. I assume that he would have received the usual 10% of the loot as a finder's fee, an amount that today would have be equivalent to several million dollars. I don't know what Joe would have done in retirement - he enjoyed fishing - but it sure would have been better than getting knocked upside the head or getting shot at week after week. (Maybe he and Peggy could have gotten married...?)
That's because Joe could have retired after he recovered the money. I assume that he would have received the usual 10% of the loot as a finder's fee, an amount that today would have be equivalent to several million dollars. I don't know what Joe would have done in retirement - he enjoyed fishing - but it sure would have been better than getting knocked upside the head or getting shot at week after week. (Maybe he and Peggy could have gotten married...?)
The British are coming!
Guad4222 November 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Not a bad episode if you have an attitude of "it's all in good fun here." There is a comical undertone to this entry. Mannix chases around these British characters and they chase him around. Everyone pulls a gun and drops them when someone else pulls a gun on them. You never get the feeling Mannix is in any real danger. The niece is not really a niece and the cop is not really a cop and you're not fooled for a second. English accents and quaint nicknames add to the fun. The three co-robbers are keystone cops more than an actual threat. Two of them don't even have character names. The other is John Orchard who would soon be one of the original characters on the MASH series. Hopefully, Mannix got a handsome reward for turning in the stolen money. After all, he does get knocked out once. A couple of problems - Why does Bard have a office and a supposed business? He is a robber with the police and his former co-conspirators on his trail. He paid his lease for five years and redid his office for a business that did nothing. What does he need any of that for? How did Bard put together his Mexican cadre so quickly? The helicopter pilot can't find Ensenada? The "niece" is out driving around in Mexico and comes across Mannix? A getaway car runs out of "petrol"? I don't think it is an ascot Mannix is wearing but an 'apache tie', a brief fashion craze from 1970 or so. I remember one other episode he wears one in. He's too old for it and the less said about it the better. Hopefully, we won't see any Nehru shirts. The episode is all a bit much but if you go with the spirit of the thing, then it's alright. A decent enough installment to pass the time.
THERE'S A CHAP LOCKED IN MY CLOSET!
tcchelsey16 February 2023
I agree with the last reviewer; this episode had to be a bit lighter, as compared to the previous grim story. And its not bad.
Don Mullaly wrote many scripts for MANNIX, also IRONSIDE. Here he changes gears somewhat. Joe has an interesting British neighbor (well played by Christopher Carey), who has a strange guy locked in his closet?? Joe also discovers that his good neighbor may not be the businessman he claims to be. Carey is perfect for the role, co-star of GARRISONS GORILLAS, a WWII take off on MISSION IMPOSSIBLE. The show ran only one season, but became a cult series.
The British accents and disguises will keep your attention, in addition to a story all about a hunt for stolen money. Marianne McAndrew, a regular on cop shows, plays the lady mixed up with this wild bunch.
Look for popular character actor Ric Roman as the pilot. Roman was another one of those familiar actors, but you never knew his name. He appeared in many classic films, before switiching to tv.
Also keep an eye on Peggy's wardrobe as it improves with each episode, no doubt due to viewers comments.
SEASON 2 EPISODE 20 remastered CBS dvd box set.
Don Mullaly wrote many scripts for MANNIX, also IRONSIDE. Here he changes gears somewhat. Joe has an interesting British neighbor (well played by Christopher Carey), who has a strange guy locked in his closet?? Joe also discovers that his good neighbor may not be the businessman he claims to be. Carey is perfect for the role, co-star of GARRISONS GORILLAS, a WWII take off on MISSION IMPOSSIBLE. The show ran only one season, but became a cult series.
The British accents and disguises will keep your attention, in addition to a story all about a hunt for stolen money. Marianne McAndrew, a regular on cop shows, plays the lady mixed up with this wild bunch.
Look for popular character actor Ric Roman as the pilot. Roman was another one of those familiar actors, but you never knew his name. He appeared in many classic films, before switiching to tv.
Also keep an eye on Peggy's wardrobe as it improves with each episode, no doubt due to viewers comments.
SEASON 2 EPISODE 20 remastered CBS dvd box set.
Tongue in cheek episode
shakspryn8 November 2023
This is one of the more lighthearted Mannix episodes, which makes a good change from the often downbeat plots that all detective series have. This one is more of a caper. There are some clever plot developments, and one big moment that had me going, "What?!" When Joe's conduct seemed to me to come out of left field. But in an episode such as this, you don't want to examine the plot too closely.
This time, the guest stars are nearly all English, which is fun! I'm sure they enjoyed hobnobbing with each other while making this show. Marianne McAndrew does a good job as the sexy lady guest star. One of the nice aspects of Mannix is that most weeks, there is a different beautiful lady appearing on the show, in addition to Joe's stalwart and attractive secretary/friend/assistant, Peggy.
Also nice in this episode, is that we get to see some really appearing exterior scenes. It's always a plus when a show opens up the action and doesn't keep the viewer stuck in a couple of sound-stage rooms for the whole hour.
I wasn't sure exactly how this one was going to wind up, because there were more twists and now-I-have-the-gun, now-you-have-the gun moments than I remember on any other episode! I think the ending was satisfying, and I imagine you will also.
This time, the guest stars are nearly all English, which is fun! I'm sure they enjoyed hobnobbing with each other while making this show. Marianne McAndrew does a good job as the sexy lady guest star. One of the nice aspects of Mannix is that most weeks, there is a different beautiful lady appearing on the show, in addition to Joe's stalwart and attractive secretary/friend/assistant, Peggy.
Also nice in this episode, is that we get to see some really appearing exterior scenes. It's always a plus when a show opens up the action and doesn't keep the viewer stuck in a couple of sound-stage rooms for the whole hour.
I wasn't sure exactly how this one was going to wind up, because there were more twists and now-I-have-the-gun, now-you-have-the gun moments than I remember on any other episode! I think the ending was satisfying, and I imagine you will also.
Nice disguise
trozl21 November 2020
A Mannix parody of Mannix
Jelevision27 August 2022
The previous episode, "End Game," was so dark and somber that the producers seemingly wanted to balance it off the next week.
So this episode, with its back-and-forth plot, plays like a Mannix parody - and I think that's intentional.
To maximize the comedy, most of the guest stars are given English accents and say things like "old chap" a lot. The rest wear over-the-top Mexican sombreros.
As for Mannix, they dress him up like a cross between a cowboy and Fred from Scooby-Doo.
(By the way, what's with the neighborhood where Joe's office is located? It looks like Paramount just grabbed every fake building they had - regardless of business type or architectural style - and dropped them randomly together with no regard for proportional scale or how the streets would have to snake around them. Pretty funny.) Anyway, I hope Mannix and Peggy weren't exposed to asbestos when he pried out those acoustic ceiling tiles.
So this episode, with its back-and-forth plot, plays like a Mannix parody - and I think that's intentional.
To maximize the comedy, most of the guest stars are given English accents and say things like "old chap" a lot. The rest wear over-the-top Mexican sombreros.
As for Mannix, they dress him up like a cross between a cowboy and Fred from Scooby-Doo.
(By the way, what's with the neighborhood where Joe's office is located? It looks like Paramount just grabbed every fake building they had - regardless of business type or architectural style - and dropped them randomly together with no regard for proportional scale or how the streets would have to snake around them. Pretty funny.) Anyway, I hope Mannix and Peggy weren't exposed to asbestos when he pried out those acoustic ceiling tiles.
Joe Falls for a Pretty Face
miketypeeach28 May 2019
Warning: Spoilers
What else is new? Even James Bond can't help but to save the girl--even when she's the enemy. Fortunately for Joe, he solves the case and will surely receive a handsome reward for his efforts.
The turnabouts in this episode will remind you of a slapstick comedy. Everyone except for Peggy whips out a gun, and yet no one gets shot. Of course, this wouldn't be a proper Mannix episode without Joe getting pistol-whipped or otherwise knocked around a bit, so you can expect plenty of that. Also, Joe's taste in pajamas--and his decision to pack them at all--is a bit suspect. However, this is '60s television, so there are standards to maintain.
This is a rather lonely episode. I miss the earlier episodes--especially of Joe's Intertect days--when there were lots of supporting cast members milling about and adding life to the scenes. This will remind you of what it's like to go grocery shopping at 3 am.
The turnabouts in this episode will remind you of a slapstick comedy. Everyone except for Peggy whips out a gun, and yet no one gets shot. Of course, this wouldn't be a proper Mannix episode without Joe getting pistol-whipped or otherwise knocked around a bit, so you can expect plenty of that. Also, Joe's taste in pajamas--and his decision to pack them at all--is a bit suspect. However, this is '60s television, so there are standards to maintain.
This is a rather lonely episode. I miss the earlier episodes--especially of Joe's Intertect days--when there were lots of supporting cast members milling about and adding life to the scenes. This will remind you of what it's like to go grocery shopping at 3 am.
The Mannix episode that never seemed to end
glitterrose20 May 2022
Yeah, imo this is one of those VERY slow episodes that have you looking at the clock and saying to yourself 'this hasn't even been on 30 minutes?!' The one positive thing I can say is at least Roger and Claudia never show up in another episode.
I found myself noticing clothes more than anything. I loved the Gail Fisher's clothes in these early seasons. As strange as it sounds, some of these clothes she's wearing I could easily picture on a little Barbie doll. I wasn't born when Mannix was first on the air so I'm not really sure if the series went all the way when it concerns having dolls, lunch boxes and other collectible merchandise.
Joe had on some of the ugliest pajamas I've ever in my life seen. And Mike Connors is too young for that ascot. I'm not sure if they have him wearing them because this is the fashion flair they're trying to create for the character or if Mike Connors was insecure about aging and he specifically wanted something to hide his neck. He didn't need it and I don't think he's the type of character to wear one.
I found myself noticing clothes more than anything. I loved the Gail Fisher's clothes in these early seasons. As strange as it sounds, some of these clothes she's wearing I could easily picture on a little Barbie doll. I wasn't born when Mannix was first on the air so I'm not really sure if the series went all the way when it concerns having dolls, lunch boxes and other collectible merchandise.
Joe had on some of the ugliest pajamas I've ever in my life seen. And Mike Connors is too young for that ascot. I'm not sure if they have him wearing them because this is the fashion flair they're trying to create for the character or if Mike Connors was insecure about aging and he specifically wanted something to hide his neck. He didn't need it and I don't think he's the type of character to wear one.
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