When the show begins, a guy enters his office--only to hear someone in the other room rustling through things. Instead of confronting the person, he quickly addresses and envelope and drops something in the mail to Mannix. Only moments later, two more folks break in and kill the guy. You then learn that the dead man was a private eye--and Mannix is determined to figure out who did it. What follows is an interesting episode that has a lot of nice twists. And, for a change, no one beats up Mannix nor is he shot at--though a couple guys NEARLY brain him or shoot him. All in all, a bit better than average--even though the show features an odd twist--a doctor who not only makes housecalls but hypnotizes Peggy by giving her some sort of truth serum in order to find out what happened to the letter!
5 Reviews
Pretty good but with a few plot holes
pkfloydmh5 November 2021
This one is about a private detective friend of Joe's who is killed.
This is a pretty good episode with an interesting plot and some nice twists. It's also a rare episode without any clichés.
There are some plot holes, like how did the hoods know which Dr. Walker was Peggy's doctor and how did they know where the safe in Joe's office was hidden? And how did Joe know the contact lens belonged to someone who had been in prison?
Vincent Beck is not a convincing villain as he's not sinister or menacing and is too soft-spoken. He's actually difficult to hear sometimes because his voice is so soft. He doesn't scare anybody and is not an effective villain.
Woodrow Parfrey makes another appearance as Willy the stoolie and tries to make some easy loot by peddling information on the whereabouts of Mixus.
The total body count is three.
This is a rare episode where Joe doesn't get clobbered over the head or shot at. There's a good fight scene at the end though.
So overall, despite a few plot holes, this is still an entertaining episode.
This is a pretty good episode with an interesting plot and some nice twists. It's also a rare episode without any clichés.
There are some plot holes, like how did the hoods know which Dr. Walker was Peggy's doctor and how did they know where the safe in Joe's office was hidden? And how did Joe know the contact lens belonged to someone who had been in prison?
Vincent Beck is not a convincing villain as he's not sinister or menacing and is too soft-spoken. He's actually difficult to hear sometimes because his voice is so soft. He doesn't scare anybody and is not an effective villain.
Woodrow Parfrey makes another appearance as Willy the stoolie and tries to make some easy loot by peddling information on the whereabouts of Mixus.
The total body count is three.
This is a rare episode where Joe doesn't get clobbered over the head or shot at. There's a good fight scene at the end though.
So overall, despite a few plot holes, this is still an entertaining episode.
Stop me if you've heard this. Joe has PI friend killed and....
Guad4225 November 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Every season of Mannix there is an episode when Joe is hired by a kid, one where Joe goes to a bad small town, and one where Joe interacts with an ol' Korean War buddy. There is also at least one where Joe gets drawn into a case by the actions of some PI he knows. Usually, those actions work out badly for the PI friend and so it is here. The PI is killed in Fresno at the beginning of the show in a well-done action sequence. Before he dies, he mails Joe a letter. Joe goes to Fresno to follow up on the case. Joe visits the client in his corporate office. There he meets the corporation head Edwin Mansfield (Peter Donat) and head of security Miles Stark (Vic Tayback). While in the office, Joe gets a phone call from Peggy about getting the letter. Joe heads back to LA while Peggy goes home with a cold. She calls the doctor who makes a house call. However, it isn't a doctor but a hypnotist who gets the safe combo from Peggy. The bad guys move quick. The letter is taken from the safe. Next day Joe finds this out. To make it worse, Art Malcolm shows up with a Sgt Juan Rivas of the Fresno PD (Armando Silvestre). Rivas' role in all this is to be a pain in the butt and he starts immediately by accusing Peggy of incompetence. Joe and Peggy argue and Peggy walks out. She follows up on the doctor angle and learns a fake doctor came to see her. She visits the doctor's answering service and finds a dying operator who give a strange clue of "The Living End" before dying. The police and Joe show up and he and Peggy make up. Joe and Peggy head for home and see an advertisement on a taxi in front of them that shows The Living End is a bar. They go there and see a hypnotist act. Peggy slowly remembers the hypnotist is the fake doctor. She should have remembered it faster. As they chase the guy off stage, he is stabbed with a needle with poison and dies.
Several times during this episode, Joe runs into Frankie West (Vincent Beck) who is a hood worried that he will be fingered for the killing of the PI or that he is the bad guy in the case the PI was working on. He is just a red herring. Joe learns that Mansfield is an alias for a crook who infiltrated corporations and then embezzled from them from within. Joe goes to his office. Mansfield and Stark are there and Stark turns out to be in it too, He pulls a gun on Joe but Joe beats up Mansfield and Stark. The Fresno police, led by Sgt Rivas, arrive too late to help but they can arrest everyone. Good to know the Fresno police have the same impeccable sense of timing as the LA police.
Another reviewer covered the lapses in logic and I would add a couple more. The fact Peggy saw the advertisement that explains the cryptic clue about "The Living End" is most fortuitous. Also, I can see why Joe wouldn't want the letter's contents exposed to Mansfield and Stark when he learns about it from Peggy but wouldn't it make sense for him to go back to his hotel room or to a pay phone, call Peggy back and have her read the letter to him over the phone. He gets the information immediately and the info might require him to do more work in Fresno or would solve the case for him. (As it happens, it would have solved the case.) It makes no sense for him to return to LA and then he might have to go right back to Fresno. This is kind of a variation on the stoolie who calls on the phone with vital information but won't say what it is over the phone. He wants a meeting but is always killed before the meeting takes place and the information is never passed along. Speaking of stoolies, I see no reason for Woody Parfrey to be in this episode. He has one scene of no consequence. Must have need to pad the episode time-wise. Why does Joe go into the bad guy's office alone? He has the vital information needed to arrest Mansfield. If they need more information, he should have worn a wire.
Peggy lives in a bigger apartment in this episode. Considering how many times Joe works for free, I'm glad Peggy got a raise or saved up some money.
The cast is fine. Peter Donat is a veteran performer and the nephew of Robert Donat, Oscar winner for Goodbye Mister Chips (1939), upset winner over Clark Gable in Gone With The Wind. Vic Tayback is pre-Alice. Vincent Beck is a bit of a cardboard character as the false lead. Look for Water Davis who had a long career as an extra and did about a thousand Combat episodes. There is also Frank Bonner as a hypnotized man before he became Herb on WKRP in Cincinnati.
Joe doesn't get paid again. He also doesn't get shot or beat up. Peggy gets drugged. Another PI friend avenged by Joe. A good episode that I recommend to you.
Several times during this episode, Joe runs into Frankie West (Vincent Beck) who is a hood worried that he will be fingered for the killing of the PI or that he is the bad guy in the case the PI was working on. He is just a red herring. Joe learns that Mansfield is an alias for a crook who infiltrated corporations and then embezzled from them from within. Joe goes to his office. Mansfield and Stark are there and Stark turns out to be in it too, He pulls a gun on Joe but Joe beats up Mansfield and Stark. The Fresno police, led by Sgt Rivas, arrive too late to help but they can arrest everyone. Good to know the Fresno police have the same impeccable sense of timing as the LA police.
Another reviewer covered the lapses in logic and I would add a couple more. The fact Peggy saw the advertisement that explains the cryptic clue about "The Living End" is most fortuitous. Also, I can see why Joe wouldn't want the letter's contents exposed to Mansfield and Stark when he learns about it from Peggy but wouldn't it make sense for him to go back to his hotel room or to a pay phone, call Peggy back and have her read the letter to him over the phone. He gets the information immediately and the info might require him to do more work in Fresno or would solve the case for him. (As it happens, it would have solved the case.) It makes no sense for him to return to LA and then he might have to go right back to Fresno. This is kind of a variation on the stoolie who calls on the phone with vital information but won't say what it is over the phone. He wants a meeting but is always killed before the meeting takes place and the information is never passed along. Speaking of stoolies, I see no reason for Woody Parfrey to be in this episode. He has one scene of no consequence. Must have need to pad the episode time-wise. Why does Joe go into the bad guy's office alone? He has the vital information needed to arrest Mansfield. If they need more information, he should have worn a wire.
Peggy lives in a bigger apartment in this episode. Considering how many times Joe works for free, I'm glad Peggy got a raise or saved up some money.
The cast is fine. Peter Donat is a veteran performer and the nephew of Robert Donat, Oscar winner for Goodbye Mister Chips (1939), upset winner over Clark Gable in Gone With The Wind. Vic Tayback is pre-Alice. Vincent Beck is a bit of a cardboard character as the false lead. Look for Water Davis who had a long career as an extra and did about a thousand Combat episodes. There is also Frank Bonner as a hypnotized man before he became Herb on WKRP in Cincinnati.
Joe doesn't get paid again. He also doesn't get shot or beat up. Peggy gets drugged. Another PI friend avenged by Joe. A good episode that I recommend to you.
THE ONE WHERE PEGGY IS HYPNOTIZED!
tcchelsey23 August 2022
I agree with the last reviewer; Watch this very carefully. Some unanswered questions at play here, though still a fairly effective adventure. Frank Telford wrote the script, behind HAWAII FIVE O and IRONSIDE. At times, yes, this does have the feel of FIVE O story. Lots of moving parts, as you will see.
Mannix's detective friend is killed, and he's up against a very clever individual. The catch here is the dead detective uncovered TOO much about a blackmailer, now all dumped in Joe's lap. In a fascinating bit, poor Peggy (who incidentally has new digs) is hypnotized into giving the combination of Mannix's office safe, containing the super secret material. HOWEVER, its a mystery as to how the goons knew where the safe was. Actually, hidden behind a secret panel, but how did they know? They would have had to rip his office apart.
Also one of those episodes where Joe has a fight with Peggy (over the safe) and she's out the door, albeit briefly. Not a happy time for our heroes.
Super cast, featuring Peter Donat (the nephew of Oscar winner Robert Donat) playing Edwin. He took after his legendary uncle, best remembered for FLAMINGO ROAD. Popular Spanish actor ( born in San Siego) Armando Silvestre plays Sgt. Rivas. Look for Woodrow Parfrey as Willie, who played lots of slippery characters in his career. Prior to this episode he was in DIRTY HARRY (as Mr. Jaffe).
Vic Tayback (before co-starring on ALICE) guest stars, this time playing a building security tech. Keep your eye on him. He had long played heavies in movies and cop shows, notably BULLIT (1968). Ward Wood returns as Malcolm, and you'll notice his appearances were more frequent. It could be that Robert Reed (as Tobias) was more occupied with his BRADY BUNCH family, or maybe he got tired of working two jobs?
Can you figure out this complex cat and mouse story, without having to see it twice! And check out the moody, noirish music. It hits the spot.
SEASON 5 EPISODE 13 remastered CBS/Paramount dvd box set.
Mannix's detective friend is killed, and he's up against a very clever individual. The catch here is the dead detective uncovered TOO much about a blackmailer, now all dumped in Joe's lap. In a fascinating bit, poor Peggy (who incidentally has new digs) is hypnotized into giving the combination of Mannix's office safe, containing the super secret material. HOWEVER, its a mystery as to how the goons knew where the safe was. Actually, hidden behind a secret panel, but how did they know? They would have had to rip his office apart.
Also one of those episodes where Joe has a fight with Peggy (over the safe) and she's out the door, albeit briefly. Not a happy time for our heroes.
Super cast, featuring Peter Donat (the nephew of Oscar winner Robert Donat) playing Edwin. He took after his legendary uncle, best remembered for FLAMINGO ROAD. Popular Spanish actor ( born in San Siego) Armando Silvestre plays Sgt. Rivas. Look for Woodrow Parfrey as Willie, who played lots of slippery characters in his career. Prior to this episode he was in DIRTY HARRY (as Mr. Jaffe).
Vic Tayback (before co-starring on ALICE) guest stars, this time playing a building security tech. Keep your eye on him. He had long played heavies in movies and cop shows, notably BULLIT (1968). Ward Wood returns as Malcolm, and you'll notice his appearances were more frequent. It could be that Robert Reed (as Tobias) was more occupied with his BRADY BUNCH family, or maybe he got tired of working two jobs?
Can you figure out this complex cat and mouse story, without having to see it twice! And check out the moody, noirish music. It hits the spot.
SEASON 5 EPISODE 13 remastered CBS/Paramount dvd box set.
People who write goofs should make sure they are watching un-edited shows
cpotato101029 August 2019
One of the goofs for continuity is flat-out wrong.
When Peggy opens the safe, and sees that the letter is missing, she and Joe empty the safe and put the contents on her desk.
Later, after Peggy is accused of giving out the safe combination, and then leaves, is when Joe finds the contact lens. At that point the safe is still empty.
I do like that Peggy gets to play junior detective, trying to find out how she gave up the safe combination, and it leads to the man who hypnotized her.
btw, what is it with these private detectives, that they are always taking back roads? Driving from Los Angeles to Fresno without using the freeways would be a big waste of time.
Also, interesting that Joe flies back to L.A, rather than drive back. I am not sure what this would save him, he would have to rent a car or take a taxi when he got back to Los Angeles.
Note, it is then not explained how Joe ended up back in Fresno again.
The ending did seem a bit rushed, it was not entirely clear how Joe discovered who the ultimate Big Bad was, other than he did "a little digging".
Maybe that part was edited out?
Something I did note, the actor playing Tip hesitated after writing the "i" in "Confidential", before continuing to write the "a" and "l", as if he forgot how to spell the word.
When Peggy opens the safe, and sees that the letter is missing, she and Joe empty the safe and put the contents on her desk.
Later, after Peggy is accused of giving out the safe combination, and then leaves, is when Joe finds the contact lens. At that point the safe is still empty.
I do like that Peggy gets to play junior detective, trying to find out how she gave up the safe combination, and it leads to the man who hypnotized her.
btw, what is it with these private detectives, that they are always taking back roads? Driving from Los Angeles to Fresno without using the freeways would be a big waste of time.
Also, interesting that Joe flies back to L.A, rather than drive back. I am not sure what this would save him, he would have to rent a car or take a taxi when he got back to Los Angeles.
Note, it is then not explained how Joe ended up back in Fresno again.
The ending did seem a bit rushed, it was not entirely clear how Joe discovered who the ultimate Big Bad was, other than he did "a little digging".
Maybe that part was edited out?
Something I did note, the actor playing Tip hesitated after writing the "i" in "Confidential", before continuing to write the "a" and "l", as if he forgot how to spell the word.
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