Every 60s cult TV show worth its salt has it's 'doppelganger' episode - The Avengers did it, Randall and Hopkirk did it and yes, The Baron did it. In a two parter, no less! Masquerade is the first of those episodes, and introduces us to 'Eddie' played, of course, by Steve Forrest. Eddie is part of a gang hoping to pull off the 'crime of the century' (another ITC cliché..) and has had his face polished off by yet another staple of this type of thriller-TV, the plastic surgeon. There's a neat twist to The Baron's otherwise unoriginal offering, however, when Eddie is actually disposed of fairly early on in the plot and we're left with Mannering impersonating Eddie, impersonating himself.
The guest cast is impressive, with Bernard Lee on form as the gang leader and John Carson giving a typically flawless performance as the plastic surgeon. In fact he steals the episode, coming across as really quite likable despite his murderous manner, and striking up a friendship with 'Eddie' in the early scenes (before becoming suspicious of him once Mannering takes his place). Steve Forrest also deserves mention for convincing as a different character when playing Eddie, but always keeping Mannering as recognisably The Baron.
A very good episode, one of the strongest in fact.
The guest cast is impressive, with Bernard Lee on form as the gang leader and John Carson giving a typically flawless performance as the plastic surgeon. In fact he steals the episode, coming across as really quite likable despite his murderous manner, and striking up a friendship with 'Eddie' in the early scenes (before becoming suspicious of him once Mannering takes his place). Steve Forrest also deserves mention for convincing as a different character when playing Eddie, but always keeping Mannering as recognisably The Baron.
A very good episode, one of the strongest in fact.