Mannix (TV Series) To Cage a Seagull (1970) User Reviews

The disappearing helicopter crash... again!

[movies-109 · 6/10 · 14 October 2020]

This was used in the very first episode and I got a kick out of it - helicopter crashes but vanishes behind a hill first then a big explosion. Guess it cost too much money to actually crash a helicopter even with stock footage.

And another friend of Mannix buys it, it doesn't seem like it is a good idea to be a friend of Joe Mannix. They either die, or turn bad and get killed by Mannix himself.

Anyway not that much to say other than the helicopter. Also look out for a light blue Porsche... it's going over a cliff. More stock footage, and at least once some other car like a Dodge Coronet goes over and magically changes into a Porsche as it tumbles down the cliffside.

Can't be too critical of 60s TV. Everything was done on a tight schedule and a limited budget, re-use of crash footage and re-use of character actors is the norm. I always look for Star Trek actors to turn up in Mannix, especially the early episodes when both shows used the Desilu pool of character actors. The character actors often give memorable performances, and it's worth watching all of the episodes. It's re-living my childhood where I saw all these episodes in black and white on an 18" TV that you had to constantly twiddle the vertical hold to keep the picture from flipping. Everything looks great in sharp color on my 39" modest TV.

A FRIEND WHO KNEW TOO MUCH!

[tcchelsey · 9/10 · 13 April 2023]

I do agree, this may have been an outline for a MISSION IMPOSSIBLE episode, but nevertheless an adventure. And that's what MANNIX is all about.

Ed Waters wrote this story, connected with many cop shows, such as the FBI and credited for having wrote most of the episodes for Jack Palance's show, BRONK. True, there are some questions left unanswered... but this story will draw you in.

9 Stars.

The opening is original, and a must see. One of Joe's golf buddies is a helicopter traffic pilot who see's something he's not supposed to. He's murdered and Mannix picks up the case, getting himself kidnapped by Nazi anarchists. DOES sound like MISSION IMPOSSIBLE material.

It also buys Joe lots of time to sweat it out (and think of a neat solution!) which the MI Team was so good at. Watch what happens. In a way, it's kind of interesting to see Joe up against a "new type" of enemy. To this episode's credit, the supporting cast is excellent, lead by Norman Alden (as Travers), a staple in many cop shows. Also look for veteran cowboy actor Ben Cooper (as Frank) and popular veteran actor and comedian Chick Chandler as Antrim. Chandler was a very funny, fast-talking actor, cast in many classic films of the 30s and 40s.

Yet another star of this episode is the on location work in the remote town of Piru, California, about 50 miles north of LA, 30 miles east from Ventura, CA.

The Piru Mansion is a standout, also called the Newhall Mansion. In the early 80s, nearly 100 years old, it burned down to the ground while being renovated, but was painstakingly re-built to its original classic design. Today it's one outstanding place for weddings and parties.

Check this story out. Worth an extra cup of late night coffee. SEASON 4 EPISODE 10 remastered CBS dvd box set.

Pilot killed by staler

[dannyboy-69253 · 10/10 · 18 August 2023]

I can't believe the actor and pilot Jim Hivklin was stalked and killed by a stalker. It was on April 2,1973 that the stalker shot Jim in front of his friends and wife in a restaurant or a go away party at a restaurant. The killer was sentenced to life in prison without parole but later died in prison. That is crazy how Jim was stalked by this guy and google didn't tell any reason why he was. He was the youngest person to become s pilot at age 14 and was a talented actor on other shows like. Mod Squad. I just wanted to know why he was stalked and by who and how long did that person do in prison?

Ditto to Planktonrules and more dumb moves

[steelblue55 · 2/10 · 29 August 2017]

Have to agree with the review by Planktonrules about a lot of dumb things in this show. When Joe escapes and then sneaks back in the house he goes in the command room. There are weapons all over the walls and he could easily get a gun or rifle, but he doesn't. Minutes later he is almost shot and killed by Brix since he has to run for it. We know from nearly every other episode that Joe has no issue shooting people, yet he looks around and never does the most obvious thing to defend himself. That seemed to be the dumbest move of all. The fact that Brix also left a notebook with the name of every agent in his organization laying around seems pretty unlikely. And finally, if you want to go the nonviolent route, why didn't Joe just grab a phone and call the police from Brix's house, even if he skipped every opportunity to do it earlier? He could call and just hide out till the police arrive - a good plan since there is a sizable group of armed men out to get him.

And then the final line about Pinelli being the one that did it really made no sense, he just stumbled upon it and got killed for being in the wrong place.... but even there.... at that distance why did Brix even think he would recognize him? Writers had a bad day on this one....

Leftover Hogan's Heroes story; best viewed with popcorn

[Guad42 · 4/10 · 19 January 2021]

As other reviewers stated, several plot holes and just plain ol' dumb decisions, many by Joe, means this episode gets a below average mark. An old habit of Joe's is never to call the police when he should. We have seen it many times before and it is on display here throughout the last part of this outing. Really dumb, especially considering the police have been players in this from the start and have kept Joe informed of developments. The show really loses steam with the neo-Nazi angle. Their plan to take over America is ridiculous. Much like Batman and Robin and James Bond, the bad guys never just shoot the hero and be done with it. Nope, they have to lock Joe up until morning so he has time to escape. As they search for him, Joe just wanders back into their lair and ends their dastardly scheme. These Nazis should be guarding Stalag 13. They would fit right in. Much credit to Peggy for her contributions in saving Joe. Also, Art Malcolm leaps into action without the usual "can't do anything without more proof" excuse. The ending is rather abrupt. Not all the Nazis would have died in the explosion. Some other logic points not stated by others. The crash investigation board concluded the helo crashed due to mechanical problems. Regardless of the state of the wreckage, the bullets holes would have been evident. How did someone know to call Joe at the professor's office? Why return Joe's car to his office? Just leave it in a parking lot somewhere. I did like the popcorn angle. Inventive. As always with this series, there are good guest stars that should have had more to do. Ben Cooper is always welcomed. Norman Alden was in about a million shows back then. Michael Vandever is in one of my favorite Twilight Zones. The best turn in this episode is Chick Chandler as the turkey farmer. Joe doesn't get shot or beaten up but he also doesn't get paid AGAIN!

Awfully dumb.

[planktonrules · 3/10 · 28 July 2014]

I didn't particularly care for "To Cage a Seagull". It simply had too many dumb plot problems. Plus, episodes about Neo-Nazis and the like are pretty hard to take very seriously.

The show begins with a traffic copter in Los Angeles making its morning rounds. However, after signing off, he pilot notices something odd--a plane on a dirt road. He goes low to see what's happening--and a guy on the ground opens up on the helicopter with a machine gun and it crashes. Not surprisingly, the no dead pilot was a friend of Mannix and they were supposed to play golf together. Much of the next 10-15 minutes consists of legwork to find leads as to who killed his friend. I enjoyed this. However, when the Neo-Nazis came along, things got pretty dumb and the plot holes started appearing. First, Joe learns that the killing might be related to the supposed death of a Neo-Nazi leader who is a wanted man. You'd think he would IMMEDIATELY call the police about this-- especially when they're working on the case together. Second, when a lady soon arrives and asks Joe to accompany her to catch the folks responsible for the murder, Joe does NOT phone the cops to ask them to follow. Considering he's expecting to find a group of heavily armed Neo-Nazis, you sure think he'd get backup!!! But when he is naturally captured, the Neos also turn out to be dumb--they tell him their plans (duh) and instead of killing him immediately, they put him in a room where he might just be able to escape--and they plan on killing him in the morning!! Super-duh!! All in all, a ridiculous episode--and uncharacteristically bad when it comes to the writing.

Mannix: Impossible

[cpotato1010 · 5/10 · 16 October 2021]

Maybe someone got the scripts of the two series mixed up?

OK, not much to improve on from the other reviews, but some observations.

Would anyone really be able to climb a stone wall like that in patent leather shoes?

Peggy really deserves a raise. She is able to deduce what happened to Joe just from seeing the card in the Rolodex. And calls Lt. Malcolm.

In the end, Mannix, Lt. Malcolm and the pilot fly away in a helicopter with the word "Sherriff" on the tail. Lt. Malcolm is supposed to be LAPD. So why are they relying on a LASD helicopter?

Btw, even in 1970 I don't recall any areas of vacant land in Woodland Hills large enough to land a small plane. Maybe Calabasas or Agoura to the south, or Chatsworth to the north.

Unbelievably absurd - a James Bond movie disguised as a Mannix episode

[pkfloydmh · 2/10 · 28 July 2021]

This one has all of the elements of a James Bond movie - Joe being lured by a beautiful woman to the villain's hideout and being held prisoner there, the villains being Nazis, the villains revealing their entire plan to Joe while he's being held prisoner, Joe miraculously escaping from the dungeon and then blowing up the Nazis' house. The problem is, all of it is absurd and certainly doesn't belong in a Mannix episode.

There's so much stupidity here it's staggering, and a lot of it is by Joe himself, such as when he's hiding behind the concrete pillar to protect himself from the Nazi leader's gunfire and then RUNS AWAY FROM IT AND DIRECTLY INTO THE NAZI'S LINE OF FIRE, and as if that wasn't bad enough, the Nazi HAS A CLEAR SHOT AT JOE BUT JUST STANDS THERE AND DOES NOTHING and waits until Joe runs behind a tree and then takes a shot at him and of course misses. This is just laughable. And since when does Joe have the right to just blow up someone's house without facing any consequences? Malcolm certainly didn't arrest him. In fact, he and Joe were joking about it at the end. Absolutely disgusting. This episode is an unmitigated disaster on all fronts.

Then Joe gets a phone call from someone when he's in the professor's office. How did anyone know he was there??? This happens A TON on this show, where Joe will be in some obscure location and someone will call him there, when nobody could have known he was there. It also occasionally happens with other characters as well.

Adding to the misery is the turkey rancher, who is SO INCREDIBLY ANNOYING, with all of his yelling and condescension and overacting. I wish he had been in the Nazis' hideout when Joe blew it up. Now THAT would have been awesome. Oh, how I would have been jumping for joy if I had seen that and I would have easily given this one another star or two just for that. It would have at least provided a reason to see this one, but as it stands, this one is dreadful and there's NO reason to see it.