During the 1940s and 50s, Cecil Kellaway, Arthur O'Connell and John McIntire were three of the very best and most reliable supporting actors. When they were in a film or TV show, you know you were in for excellence...and the fact that all three are there is a major plus for "The Hijackers".
In many ways, "The Hijackers" is a comical sort of episode....and also a bit sad and wistful. It begins with a truck being hijacked by some old men. Of course this isn't typical...nor is their reason for stealing the truck and its contents. It seems that Smitty (O'Connell) was pensioned off too early...and he's stir-crazy. He desperately wants to return to his life as a truck driver. So he and his friends steal the truck...with the intention of Smitty finding it and being rewarded by getting his job back! Naive, beyond belief....especially since the boss is a total jerk! During this investigation, Inspector Erskine hopes to spend time with his elderly and very lonely uncle (Kellaway)....and things keep coming up which prevent this.
In addition to these character actors, Howard Caine (Major Hochstetter from "Hogan's Heroes") is in the cast and we's well cast as the angry jerk of a boss. Together with the oldsters, it makes for an oddly fun and somewhat sad installment in the series. It's hard to take this one seriously but it is entertaining and worth your time.
In many ways, "The Hijackers" is a comical sort of episode....and also a bit sad and wistful. It begins with a truck being hijacked by some old men. Of course this isn't typical...nor is their reason for stealing the truck and its contents. It seems that Smitty (O'Connell) was pensioned off too early...and he's stir-crazy. He desperately wants to return to his life as a truck driver. So he and his friends steal the truck...with the intention of Smitty finding it and being rewarded by getting his job back! Naive, beyond belief....especially since the boss is a total jerk! During this investigation, Inspector Erskine hopes to spend time with his elderly and very lonely uncle (Kellaway)....and things keep coming up which prevent this.
In addition to these character actors, Howard Caine (Major Hochstetter from "Hogan's Heroes") is in the cast and we's well cast as the angry jerk of a boss. Together with the oldsters, it makes for an oddly fun and somewhat sad installment in the series. It's hard to take this one seriously but it is entertaining and worth your time.