Produced by Fred Freiberger, Stanford Whitmore's 'The Night Of The Red-Eyed Madmen' is a more conventional offering from the 'Wild Wild West' series. 'Jack Talbot' ( Ted Markland ) breaks off his engagement to lovely 'Lola Bracer' ( Toian Matchinga ). He has joined a private army led by the fanatical 'General Grimm' ( Martin Landau ). Grimm is ahead of his time in having women - such as 'Sergeant Musk' ( Joan Huntington ) - in key military posts. Jack gets punished for writing to his ex-fiancée by being locked in the dreaded 'Hot Box'. Jim goes to the Military Academy in Mars, Nevada, to enlist. Grimm is impressed by his fighting skills. The Academy has its own graveyard, made up of failed soldiers. Artemus impersonates a German military expert called 'Colonel Cross'. Just as their positions look secure, Jim's cover is blown when one of the other men recognises him...
The 'Man Called Sloane' ( which also starred Conrad ) episode 'Tuned For Destruction' borrowed a few elements from this story, most notably the private army with its female troops. General Grimm intends blowing up a munitions dump at Goldtown as a prelude to overthrowing the U.S. Army in the Southwest. Landau was a few weeks away from appearing on U.S. television as master of disguise 'Rollin Hand' in 'Mission: Impossible'. As ever, Jim gets some great action scenes - a gladiatorial fight in an arena against men armed with tridents and spears, and a firing squad sequence that ends with him escaping with the help of explosive tobacco. Oh, and he gets to split a bullet in two by firing a gun at an axe held in front of Artemus's face! Terrific stuff.
The 'Man Called Sloane' ( which also starred Conrad ) episode 'Tuned For Destruction' borrowed a few elements from this story, most notably the private army with its female troops. General Grimm intends blowing up a munitions dump at Goldtown as a prelude to overthrowing the U.S. Army in the Southwest. Landau was a few weeks away from appearing on U.S. television as master of disguise 'Rollin Hand' in 'Mission: Impossible'. As ever, Jim gets some great action scenes - a gladiatorial fight in an arena against men armed with tridents and spears, and a firing squad sequence that ends with him escaping with the help of explosive tobacco. Oh, and he gets to split a bullet in two by firing a gun at an axe held in front of Artemus's face! Terrific stuff.
