Victoria Page is a famous actress making a comeback after a year in a sanitarium. Someone is trying to scare her back into the mental ward. Joe thinks the answers might be related to an unfi... Read allVictoria Page is a famous actress making a comeback after a year in a sanitarium. Someone is trying to scare her back into the mental ward. Joe thinks the answers might be related to an unfinished movie she was in called, "The Deadly Madonna."Victoria Page is a famous actress making a comeback after a year in a sanitarium. Someone is trying to scare her back into the mental ward. Joe thinks the answers might be related to an unfinished movie she was in called, "The Deadly Madonna."
Photos
- Projectionist
- (as William Benedict)
- Lisa Adams
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe party scene at the beginning was filmed at The Brady Bunch (1969) house.
- GoofsAfter the fire at Nemo's, Joe is standing on the sidewalk talking to Art Malcolm. Clearly visible behind him is a storefront for "Kelly's Liquors." Joe says he has to go to "Los Angeles Street" to check out a lead. When he gets out of the car, he is about three doors down from that same Kelly's Liquors he was at with Art Malcolm.
- Quotes
Hal Seagrave: Well, Mr. Mannix, I take it you're what we used to call a gumshoe.
Joe Mannix: Bogey would be proud of me.
Hal Seagrave: Mm. If you're here for the lowdown on the Labor Day party in Malibu, it'll all be in next week's issue. Should be good for a couple of divorces, which I guess, means some quick money for you chaps.
Joe Mannix: I don't handle divorce cases, Mr. Seagrave.
Hal Seagrave: Aw. You quite obviously haven't got a healthy interest in dirt.
Joe Mannix: I find it tough enough living with smog.
Hal Seagrave: I assume that, uh, you're here on someone's behalf.
Joe Mannix: Mm, someone who's interested in the golden days of Hollywood.
Hal Seagrave: Mm... Nostalgia time. Mm! Gable and Tracy fighting over Myrna Loy. Lombard and Harlow... Ty Power and Flynn. All the beautiful, magical people.
Joe Mannix: Including, of course, Victoria Page.
Hal Seagrave: That name somehow falls short of stimulating me. Is she your client?
Joe Mannix: Yes.
Hal Seagrave: Why come to me? Surely not for help. The last time I saw Miss Page was in court, 15 years ago, when she sued me for libel. Fat chance.
Joe Mannix: Meaning, uh, she lost the case.
Hal Seagrave: She lost.
Joe Mannix: But the melody lingers on.
[Seagrave nods]
Joe Mannix: Obviously, you still hold a grudge.
Hal Seagrave: One that I shall cherish to the end of my days.
Joe Mannix: Why?
Hal Seagrave: Mark Baxter used to be top of the heap. He was number one director in Hollywood. Then he found this mousy, undernourished fugitive from a repertory company in, of all places, Long Beach. He taught her how to... how to talk, how to wear clothes. He gave her a presence, a posture, an incandescent glow. Then he put together a movie package to launch her as a ready-made star. And how did our lady thank him? Halfway through, she walked out on him and the picture. That, uh... that finished Mark Baxter in Hollywood.
Joe Mannix: That's what you hold against her?
Hal Seagrave: I couldn't care less about their love life. But I ponied up $50,000 of my own money to get The Deadly Madonna rolling. And then when it ground to a halt, thanks to dear Vicki, I was out every nickel.
Joe Mannix: You once let it be known that you had a work print on The Deadly Madonna.
Hal Seagrave: Yeah. I kept it in a closet, gathering dust, to remind me that show business is for fools.
[sighs]
Hal Seagrave: Then, a few years ago, I got a tip that...
[sighs]
Hal Seagrave: ... that Mark Baxter was holed up in some mission for drunks downtown. So I, uh, I sent it to him. I figured he needed it more than I did to cheer up his declining years.
Joe Mannix: Do you, uh, remember where you sent it?
Hal Seagrave: Some dump on Los Angeles Street.
Joe Mannix: Well... thanks for your help, Mr. Seagrave.
Hal Seagrave: Mr. Mannix... I'm sorry I couldn't be more specific, but, uh, Skid Row is not exactly my beat.
Joe Mannix: Some drunks have all the luck.
Anne, who had recently appeared in the Top 10 season opener of CANNON, seemed a natural for MANNIX. Here, she tweeks it a bit and plays a paranoid veteran actress who believes someone is trying to drive her nuts --again? This kind of material is reminiscent of Hitchcock, from the "why are you doing this to me" playbook, and even Joe has his doubts, believing she may be the one with the problem.
That said, how do you explain a couple of dead people who have Joe's card in their pockets?
Mann Ruben wrote this high drama, a pioneer in DC comics and mysteries, also writing for Alfred Hitchcock magazine. Sound familiar? At the time he was writing for IRONSIDE.
Many other fine actors here, such as Barbara Babcock as Janet. That year she appeared in BANG THE DRUM SLOWLY, later associated with HILL STREET BLUES.
Spot the veteran actors; namely Billy Benedict (one of the BOWERY BOYS) playing a movie projectionist, always turning up on cop shows. Also Ned Glass as Max, a film historian, and Stanley Adams, all purpose master of characters.
You have to admit, the monster (masks) are something to see, a bit scary at times, which was unusual for the series. Also listen to the noir-ish music, which you have to love.
Sit back and figure this one out. What made Sunday nights so much fun back in the day.
SEASON 7 EPISODE 11 remastered color CBS/Paramount dvd box set. Only Mike Connors appears on the cover. Where's Peggy? 6 dvd set. Released 2012. Same box style as CANNON.
- tcchelsey
- Oct 26, 2022