Like too many episodes of "Mission: Impossible" (particularly the later ones), this one is illogical. The government KNOWS that Bert Gordon is a guy in charge of a murder for hire scheme and they want Phelps and his team to prove it. Like so many mobster episodes, you just wonder why they don't just assassinate the guy--it would have been much easier than creating and elaborate ruse to trap the guy. As for the ruse, it's mildly interesting as a wife (Cinnamon) wants Gordon to kill her drunk of a husband (Phelps). The problem is that the husband won't stay dead and his ghost haunts Gordon. Ho-hum.... Again, I would have shot shot Gordon in the face and have been done with it.
3 Reviews
Well done!
horton-raymond23 April 2024
Everything the other reviewers have said is true, good and bad! Fun to watch! I love watching these reruns! Great music, even if repetitive! Good-to-great acting, always! Needlessly complicated, but always surprises! What's the point of watching TV if it always goes the way you think it should? I loved the flashlight projection on the smoke!!! O, bother! I'm done, but I need more to be able to save this. Speaking of the music, Lalo Shifrin's theme is absolutely classic! I knew the movies would not be respectful of the source material when I heard the shared-off 4/4 of that classic 5/4 time! I'm done now, please let me save it and go! No? Ok, you asked for it:
Everything the other reviewers have said is true, good and bad! Fun to watch! I love watching these reruns! Great music, even if repetitive! Good-to-great acting, always! Needlessly complicated, but always surprises! What's the point of watching TV if it always goes the way you think it should? I loved the flashlight projection on the smoke!!! O, bother! I'm done, but I need more to be able to save this. Speaking of the music, Lalo Shifrin's theme is absolutely classic! I knew the movies would not be respectful of the source material when I heard the shared-off 4/4 of that classic 5/4 time! I'm done now, please let me save it and go! No? Ok, you asked for it:
THE MOBSTER AND THE GHOST!
tcchelsey7 April 2024
Every once in awhile the M. I. team would dabble with the supernatural, and this one is fun. Gerald S. O'Loughlin, best known for the ROOKIES, generally played cops or tough guys. He plays the latter here, a mobster named Gordon who runs an assassination bureau, and is good at what he does. The bodies just disappear and he gets away scott free.
To nail him, Cinnamon and Phelps play a couple with a bad marriage who need his services -- rather Cinnamon does -- who wants to "dispose" of her drunken husband ASAP. It turns out Gordon is a bit of the superstitious type, and watch what happens when Phelps returns from the dead???
Fairly clever scenario, written by series writer William Reed Woodfield, who obviously had fun with the story. Woodfield was also associated with VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA. Solid direction by Lee H. Katzin, one of the very best tv directors. In fact, everyone turns in a memorable performance here, and that includes the ghosts!
True. It would have made better sense to put a hit on Gordon and give him a taste of his own medicine, however the ghost angle is entertaining (for a change) and especially to see his face when he gets faked out big time. ALWAYS the best ending. Had the M. I. team resorted in just killing everybody, after awhile, it would have been too predictable. Let's face it, Mission Impossible was an exercise in orginality and creativity to the max.
Keep the lights on. From SEASON 3 EPISODE 22 remastered color CBS/Paramount dvd box set. 7 dvd set. 2007 release. The box cover has some nice color sketches of the team.
To nail him, Cinnamon and Phelps play a couple with a bad marriage who need his services -- rather Cinnamon does -- who wants to "dispose" of her drunken husband ASAP. It turns out Gordon is a bit of the superstitious type, and watch what happens when Phelps returns from the dead???
Fairly clever scenario, written by series writer William Reed Woodfield, who obviously had fun with the story. Woodfield was also associated with VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA. Solid direction by Lee H. Katzin, one of the very best tv directors. In fact, everyone turns in a memorable performance here, and that includes the ghosts!
True. It would have made better sense to put a hit on Gordon and give him a taste of his own medicine, however the ghost angle is entertaining (for a change) and especially to see his face when he gets faked out big time. ALWAYS the best ending. Had the M. I. team resorted in just killing everybody, after awhile, it would have been too predictable. Let's face it, Mission Impossible was an exercise in orginality and creativity to the max.
Keep the lights on. From SEASON 3 EPISODE 22 remastered color CBS/Paramount dvd box set. 7 dvd set. 2007 release. The box cover has some nice color sketches of the team.
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