Mannix (TV Series) Eight to Five, It's a Miracle (1968) User Reviews

I liked the solution to this one....highly original.

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 1 May 2013]

This is a very unusual episode for two reasons--the casting as well as solution to the mystery. As for the casting, it's interesting to see Bruce Gordon playing the role of a Bishop, as his big claim to fame previously was his recurring role as Frank Nitti on "The Untouchables"! Considering that Nitti was Al Capone's successor, this is as radical a departure having him now play a kindly bishop!! And, while William Smithers could play a gangster (as he did in this show), he would have been much more believable as the Bishop. Now this isn't to say the show was bad--just unusually cast. Now the solution was good because it was very unusual and original--and I love originality!

The assignment for Mannix is VERY unusual. A Catholic bishop (Gordon) has hired Intertech to investigate a supposed miracle to determine if it's real or a fraud. Now I know that the papacy has an organization that does this, but the writer hopes that the audience doesn't realize this! Regardless, Mannix gets the case and he cannot simply prove or disprove it quickly, so he assumes it's a fraud and tries to determine WHY--which is NOT easy, as there is a mobster involved who doesn't stand to gain anything if the miracle is true. What's next? See this very interesting show. As I said above, the solution to the problem is really interesting and makes a somewhat silly plot work well.

An unusual premise that doesn't hold up

[Guad42 · 7/10 · 20 April 2022]

This is a decent episode with Joe investigating whether a miracle happened. Beyond the fact that Intertect would not be the ones to determine that, I like the unusual McGuffin here. Joe, as he often does, complains about doing it. Lew, as he often does, tells Joe to get it done. Joe meets the bishop (Bruce Gordon) and then the local priest, Father Mancino (Lee Broker). The priest is well played. He just wants to get to the bottom of the situation and let the chips fall where they may. I liked the guy. The miracle is that a brick wall was being knocked down and the part left standing is shaped like a cross and a magic spring appears next to it and begins running. Joe is skeptical and assumes it is a hoax. The land is owned by the criminal family, the Piccis. Father Rico Sr (Jay Novello), eldest son Sal (William Smithers), sniveling younger son Rico Jr (Weston Gavin). Dad is terminally ill. The family is selling the land to a developer Norman Kiley (William Bryant). Joe checks it all out. The priest's parish is totally onboard with it and don't like Joe's skepticism. Joe meets a chemist who, in that classic detective fashion, is shot just before he spills the beans. Shortcutting to the end, the family set up the miracle so Dad can die thinking the miracle on his land was God's sign that the old guy would be forgiven. The developer is behind all the mischief as he wants the miracle to stay in place until the old guy dies and then the family will sell to him at a discount. I didn't buy all that but that's okay. The old guy dies. The developer has Joe dead to rights in the episode's climax, but Sal Pucci shoots him first while getting wounded in the process. The priest says watching Sal doing something for someone else is a miracle.

The cast is fine. They fooled me with the casting of Gordon. I thought he would be more involved than he is. Lee Broker reminds me of Superman's Christopher Reeve. William Smithers, still alive as of this writing, deserves mention here. He was in everything back then and always delivered. As in this episode, he often played a bad guy who does one good thing at the end. He plays it that way in his Star Trek appearance. If you want to see him in something different, I highly recommend the war movie Attack from the mid 50s. Look it up on IMDB and, once you see the cast and director, you will wonder why you never heard of it. An excellent movie.

This is a good outing but the ending was a bit weak. Joe gets to argue with Lew so he has that going for him.

8 to 5 It Was Filmed in City Terrace

[gverdin-1 · 5 September 2009]

This particular episode of "Mannix" is a childhood treasure for me and my schoolmates at City Terrace Elementary School in East Los Angeles. The "miracle spring" was filmed in an empty lot between the old Davison Brick Factory and the Sybil Brand Detention Facility for Women, across the freeway from Cal State L.A. One Monday morning, a rumor tore through the school: Mannix (Mike Connors) was filming up the street from the school. Almost as as impressive: the caterers had fed the kids the left-over meals.

By 3:00 pm, the school was in the grips of a frenzy, as celebrity sightings grew in number and frequency. City Terrace wasn't a bad school, but there wasn't much learning going on that day to the bewilderment of the faculty (our T.V. hero, our neighborhood, and our secret). At the sound of the last bell, 500 kids madly bolted from their desks and ran-up City Terrace Drive towards the unsuspecting film crew.

I had my doubts about the rumors, I mean, Mannix in East L.A., but those doubts were shattered when I reached the bluff overlooking the brick factory yard: there was Mannix, our television idol. In the middle of a scene we began to shout "MANNIX, MANNIX, MANNIX!" He stood with his hands on his hips laughing, standing next to a man who was not laughing. The non-laughing man, probably the director, was visibly upset about the sudden appearance of 500 kids screaming "MANNIX, MANNIX, MANNIX!" The director was given a bullhorn and he asked us to maintain silence during the filming, but it was of no use, we couldn't stop the expression of our collective glee. So we ignored the director and continued to scream "MANNIX!" The chant did not abate until Mannix himself took the bullhorn by the hand; he politely thanked us for our enthusiastic welcome but pleaded with us to be quiet during the shoot. He then promised to sign a few autographs if we cooperated and the chanting immediately stopped.

We patiently watched the long process of shooting a scene energized with the anticipation of meeting Mannix. As the shooting ended, Mannix walked towards the bluff and began to sign autographs. We began to surge towards Mannix who was protected from the crowd by just a thin rope which soon gave way. We surged again and surrounded our idol, the toughest guy on television, who suddenly looked scared (not an uncommon reaction by outsiders stranded in the streets of East L.A.). He started to look around for either help or an escape route, but Mannix was alone and beyond help. Out of desperation, he opted for a smooth, backward retreat while still signing autographs. Mannix then coolly turned and began to take long strides towards his trailer, parked one long block away. We followed. Mannix quickened and lengthened his stride. We started to run. Mannix turned his head back and saw the frightening sight of 500 Mexican-American kids running and screaming after him; that's when he panicked. He pushed us back with his arms to gain some space and then bolted for the trailer. What a sight! Mannix in full stride running down the middle of City Terrace Drive with 500 kids at his heels. From my vantage point, at the very head of the mob, watching Mannix flee, I thought "hey, this is just like the T.V. show-he's always running!" Except that Mannix was laughing, enjoying the absurdity of the moment.

Mannix reached the trailer, he struggled with the door handle, and finally managed to wedge himself in the frame of the door. We immediately surrounded the trailer and unintentionally rocked it a bit. Mannix, partly amused and partly scared, yelled out that everyone would get an autograph if we lined up in an orderly fashion because he didn't want anyone to get hurt, especially him. He must have been tired from a long day's shoot, but he stood at the doorway and as promised signed 500 autographs. And he seemed to enjoy signing each and every one.

Mike Connors, in the eyes of the kids of City Terrace, the odds were not 8-5 for a miracle; there were no doubt that divine intervention had brought you to City Terrace that day. And I had the miraculous proof in my hands--a piece of paper with a scrawl of a signature. Thank you Mannix; an entire community of will never forget your kindness.

THE MIRACLE OF THE MOB AND REAL ESTATE?

[tcchelsey · 10/10 · 14 January 2023]

You have to admit it, it's a first. The story about the church and the mob. Bottom line, a brick wall is torn down that somehow re-materializes into a giant cross that contains holy water... Smoke and mirrors? Perhaps... and maybe not, although an old LA crime family is connected to the priceless property. Now what?

Enter Joe Mannix to sort things out... and it's not easy going with the folks he mixes with.

It's quite refreshing that two women did the teleplay for a change; Maureen Daly, who wrote many episodes for POLICE SURGEON and Dorothy Herold, who also wrote for the SNOOP SISTERS.

10 STARS for the outstanding cast of veteran actors. Long time tv heavy Bruce Gordon plays a church bishop! Can you believe that? He is best known as scowling, trigger happy Frank Nitti on THE UNTOUCHABLES, whose catch line was "You're Dead!" Remember him? He later made many gag appearances on such sitcoms as the LUCY SHOW and DORIS DAY. He was a fun guy to watch and probably to work with.

Pretty Brenda Scott turns in a good performance as Sandy. Brenda was a very popular actress for years, and at the time appeared on IRONSIDE and MOD SQUAD. Her claim to fame also is that she is the niece of legendary Mae Busch. Mae is fondly remembered for playing Oliver Hardy's angry, complaining wife in so many classic Laurel and Hardy films. Talent DOES run in the family. Mae was later quoted as saying she spent a good part of her fortune on clothing! The story of Hollywood then and now!

Playing one of the villains is veteran Jay Novello as Rico Picco, the mob father. Novello was best in comedy roles, usually as a quiet guy in some kind of big trouble. Also William Smithers is on board, always the bad apple, playing Salvatore. All of this sort of reminds you of a pre-GODFATHER type story. Of course, at the time was the blockbuster mafia movie, THE BROTHERHOOD, starring Kirk Douglas, which may have played a part. Watch for that film.

Old pro Harry Harvey, Jr. Directed and gets some fine performances here. Harry was an authority on MANNIX, having supervised 138 scripts for the show. BEST of the story is that his famous father, Harry, Senior appears as a geologist, and did other small roles through the years. Harry's dad was a familiar face on LASSIE and GUNSMOKE, and so many other tv shows and movies. Like father, like son.

Location fans (and I am one) will immediately spot the famous Pasadena mansion (located on South San Rafael Avenue) that doubled as Bruce Wayne's mansion on BATMAN. That is a must.

Recommended and with a lot of memores. From SEASON 1, nearing the end, remastered CBS dvd box set.