The survivors of a plane crash are dying one by one. Even Joe's suspects are not safe.The survivors of a plane crash are dying one by one. Even Joe's suspects are not safe.The survivors of a plane crash are dying one by one. Even Joe's suspects are not safe.
Photos
- Lylah
- (as Gail Bryant Cameron)
- Bartender
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaA suspected assassin carrying what is believed to be a rifle wrapped up in brown paper turns out to only be carrying Curtain Rods. Curtain Rods are what Lee Harvey Oswald allegedly told people he was carrying into the School Book Depository on the day he supposedly killed President John Kennedy in 1963.
- GoofsAbout 20 mins in, Mannix goes see a blonde woman who is crying. The close-ups reveal that Mike Connors is wearing very obvious coral lipstick and matching blush, heavily applied. When the camera cuts to the woman, she is wearing pale lipstick with a touch of the same coral lipstick, applied in the center of her bottom lip, only. This makes it appear as if they had kissed and Mannix's lipstick had smeared her lips. Then, a flashback cuts to the plane crash scene, and the same woman is wearing the exact same coral stain, still in the center of her bottom lip. Coral was a very popular color of lipstick back in the '70s, when not many shades were yet available.
- Quotes
Little Ned: [Joe enters his tent] Can I help you, brother?
Joe Mannix: Yes, I called you. I'm investigating the death of two of the survivors of that airplane crash.
Little Ned: Oh, Mr. Mannix. Have a seat. Would like some tea?
Joe Mannix: No thank you.
Little Ned: Human nature is frail. On the mountain, my brothers and sisters made a bargain with the Lord. He kept his part of the deal. Did they?
Joe Mannix: You tell me.
Little Ned: They did not! When he was saved, the judge tried to resume his life of carnality.
Joe Mannix: How do you know that?
Little Ned: The Lord, in his infinite wisdom, shows his children the truth. And the pilot, John Clive, he resumed his drunkenness.
Joe Mannix: You have been busy.
Little Ned: I do his work.
Joe Mannix: He said, "Thou shalt not kill."
Little Ned: Whoever killed them was an instrument of the Lord.
Joe Mannix: Did you keep your part of the bargain?
Little Ned: I have, brother. On the mountain, the Lord helped me through the agony of withdrawal. I will never touch drugs again.
Joe Mannix: What about your nurse?
Little Ned: Sister Lylah? She, too, has regressed to the ways of sin. She accepted employment with another invalid. A lady. A very old, very rich lady. She was plucked from the jaws of death. Now she feels she can live without the help of the Lord. They all do. And that is the most horrendous sin.
Joe Mannix: Where can I find sister Lylah?
Little Ned: At the Clarendon in Culver City.
Joe Mannix: Well, uh, thank you.
[gets up from his seat to leave]
Little Ned: Brother Mannix?
[Joe stops and looks at Little Ned]
Little Ned: Tell her it's not too late. Tell them all... it's not too late.
[Joe nods and exits Little Ned's tent]
Leslie H. Martinson, who was also directing MISSION IMPOSSIBLE at this time (and the BRADY BUNCH, too) handled this unforgettable episode. One of Hollywood's old pros, Karl Tunberg wrote it, who began his long career writing for Shirley Temple.
An extremely well thought out whodunit, quite original. Bits and pieces may have been lifted from PHONE CALL FROM A STRANGER (1952) starring Bette Davis, all about passengers involved in a fatal plane crash. Karl Tunberg turned it up a notch, with a hearty dose of homicide. Really, really desperate Julie Gregg hires Mannix to find the shadow man who is trying to kill her, and she's not alone. The strange tale evolves from a plane crash -- and those who survived are now marked for death. Interestingly, there's a preacher in the mix, best played by Anthony Zerbe.
Who knows too much?
Zerbe is quite good in this offbeat role. Is there any other kind? Julie Gregg, the year before, appeared in THE GODFATHER as a member of the Carleone family. She's perfectly cast here.
In true whodunit fashion, the killer is not revealed until the end, making this episode all the more fun.
I agree with the last reviewer, Ward Wood (Malcolm) is put to good use here, and Woodrow Parfrey returns as wily Willy, the stool pigeon. Woodrow was a memorable character actor, and all us kids loved watching this guy.
Look for some other familiar faces, and Leslie Martinson brought out the best in each actor. Recommended for us late night mystery buffs. This is IT. SEASON 7 EPISODE 13. Dec 1973. Remastered color CBS dvd box set.
- tcchelsey
- Nov 1, 2022