Mannix (TV Series) The Judas Touch (1971) User Reviews

Enjoyable, though a bit weak when you think about the plot.

[planktonrules · 6/10 · 2 September 2014]

When this show begins, you see a cop running off with some stolen money- -or at least that's what it appears to be. Throughout this episode, however, Mannix insists that the guy who is now wanted by the rest of the police force DIDN'T steal the money and kill the man who'd stolen the money. And, although ALL the evidence pretty much proves the man is guilty, Mannix has a hunch--and everyone in TV land KNOWS that this means Mannix will be right. To me, this is a weak plot because the whole 'my gut instinct is more reliable than evidence' angle is tired and difficult to believe. Still, however, if you can ignore the improbability of all this, the show is entertaining. Additionally, it's nice to see Ruth Roman and Robert Lansing (a very underrated actor of the 60s) guest starring in this one.

By the way, through season one and two, Mannix was routinely bashed over the head and knocked out. In real life, such a person would have tremendous brain damage or would be dead. The folks who made the show seem to have noticed this and in season three and much of season four, Mannix's cranium is relatively unscathed. However, in a return to old form, episodes 4.15, 4.16 and 4.17 have Mannix getting bashed in the skull once again!!

I'll see all your evidence and raise you one Mannix gut feeling

[Guad42 · 7/10 · 28 January 2021]

As happens in this series from time to time, Joe has a hunch. Despite all the evidence, Joe sticks to it and eventually prevails. A former crook, now a cop, looks like the obvious suspect in a killing and robbery. Joe drives up from LA to take a look at the request of the chief of police played by Robert Lansing in his second of two outings on this series. Joe tracks his friend through the wife and mother. Despite threatening calls, a whack on the head, and a supposed suicide attempt, he proves the man is innocent and finds the real crook. Some observations: For a small to midsize town, they have a large airport. Joe needs to trade in the convertible. Too easy for people to sneak up on him. We've seen that a couple of times now. When setting the trap for the bad guy, why is Joe the only one there? Wouldn't you have a couple of cops in the closet or something? Once you accept that Joe is right, there is only one man who can be the bad guy so not a lot of guessing in this episode. The guest cast does well. I like Robert Lansing but he is an intense actor better at playing take-charge authority types than the semi-victim he played in his first Mannix appearance. The tragic Brenda Benet is good as the loyal wife befuddled by it all. Ruth Roman steals her scenes as the Mom looking for love in all the wrong places. The two bad guys are suitable bad although one folds like a cheap card table when the police grab him. Peggy is in one scene so Joe can hang up on her. Joe gets knocked out and, sure enough, he doesn't get paid yet again.

Watch this episode for Ruth Roman

[george_cherucheril · 7/10 · 5 April 2024]

My main purpose in reviewing this episode is the appearance of Ruth Roman as Victoria Parish, the selfish and immoral mother of the under fire police officer Paul Parish played by Robert Ritchie. I was watching this episode and cleaning the kitchen. When Roman appears on the screen I did not recognize her and wondered who is this crazy looking middle aged woman with the obvious wig on her head?

After watching the show and looking it up on IMDB I realized Ruth Roman played this part. Victoria Parish is a middle aged woman who will shack up with any man she meets. She sits at home all day drinking and smoking. Her son Paul sends her money each month so she can pay her bills. She seems more interested in using her son for the money than being a loving mother.

I went back and reviewed Ruth Roman's performance again. She was only 49 years old at the time. She definitely looked her age if not older. Ruth's performance is the best part of this episode.

Ruth's deep voice and mannerisms remind me of the late Martin Balsam. They would have made a perfect middle aged Jewish couple. I searched to see if they were in any movie together and sure enough they both appeared in the 1970 movie, The Old Man who Cried Wolf. Unfortunately, they did not star as husband and wife but the movie was released a year this Mannix episode. Although It features Edward G. Robinson as the top billed star.

Brenda Benet has no impact as Helen Parish and could have been played by another actress. Other reviewers have correctly pointed out the plot holes. Going back to 1970 when this was likely filmed and getting to enjoy the solid acting makes it bearable to watch despite the plot holes. So despite the weak plot, I give this episode a 7.

Mannix gets bashed in the head again and of course suffers no effects. For all the times he has been bashed in the head up until this episode, he would either be dead or severely mentally impaired. He would have diminished eye sight and wear thick glasses. Peggy would have to drive him around. Mannix would no longer speak in complete sentences. He would utter his words like the Incredible Hulk. A Mannix in this state, I jokingly refer to as "Frannix." The name just came to me from the image conjured up in my mind of Connors appearance in this type of state of mind.

JOE HAS A HUNCH... AND GETS PUNCHED!

[tcchelsey · 9/10 · 21 April 2023]

Typical MANNIX adventure, but the story is really not that bad. Credit much to writer Merwyn Gerrard, an enormously popular tv author, who produced and wrote the legendary macabre tv series ONE STEP BEYOND and the latter NEXT STEP BEYOND.

Here, Robert Lansing (a memorable dramatic actor in his second series appearance) plays police chief Yaring who calls Joe to his small town to trail a fellow cop turned thief --at least it sure looks that way. The catch is that Mannix is the lone hold out, believing the suspect innocent. He has a hunch. That spells lots of bruises. Brenda Benet (married to Bill Bixby, who would direct the final series episodes), plays Helen and Ruth Roman plays her mom, the consummate dramatic actress.

One thing is the geography in this story is off, and that caught me by surprise! Merwyn Gerrard did make a technical mistake here. The small town where Joe visits Robert Lansing is supposedly 100 miles north of Los Angeles. That would put it near Santa Barbara, though this was shot in rugged Griffith Park --no way a beach community! Also the Paramount Ranch was in this vacinity and may have been used. Always a go to place for the series with some beautiful backgrounds.

In the show me the money departement; the alleged killer stole $150,000 dollars, which in today's money market would equal about $1,172,000 dollars. Tempting stuff!

Worth a look for Robert Lansing and Ruth Roman , never to disappoint. SEASON 4 EPISODE 16 remastered color CBS/Paramount dvd box set.

A big pile of nonsense

[pkfloydmh · 3/10 · 7 August 2021]

This one is about a guy getting killed by a police officer, who then steals some money the guy had in a briefcase.

This one has so many plot holes, loose ends and ridiculous assumptions that it's not even worth the time to go through all of them because it would take forever. The police chief summed it up best when he told Joe his theories are a "big pile of nonsense" and he could have easily been referring to this entire episode because that's what it is.

There's some sloppiness too. In the scene where Joe is sitting in his car outside Parish's house and talking on his phone, you can clearly see the boom mic reflected on the car for the entire scene.

For the second straight episode, Joe gets hit by a car and flung into the air and nearly gets run over on another occasion. He also gets clobbered over the head and knocked out and that obviously affected his thinking because he comes up with some wild and ludicrous assumptions, as the police chief noted.

No Malcolm again in this one. He's probably been suspended and is doing some soul searching after allowing Jerry Douglas to represent the department on the show.

There's a good fight scene in the hospital so I'll give it some credit for that but that's the only reason to see this one.