"A Coffin for a Clown" is a strong outing. The plot starts out rather simple (most do), and then come the plot twists. As the story unfolds, it's a child custody case, more or less, but soon there's multiple dangers about.
It's a bit confusing at times, but our man Mannix gets it all straightened out in the end.
On the way we meet an interesting cast: "Bowery Boys" plus "Hazel" plus "The Brady Bunch". Also the great Norman Fell, same year he appeared in "The Graduate", and a decade before "Three's Company".
Joe speaks Armenian for the first time and we get another reference to Mannix the former mercenary.
There's also a humorous scene when Wickersham thinks Joe is shacked up with a dame on company time.
Two fights.
Mannix smokes two cigarettes and kills two men.
Yet another amazing pistol shot.
Wickersham: "Any idea who killed him?"
Mannix: "Yeah. I did."
Body count of three. The third is the result of a suicide. Might be the first time a suicide was shown on network television.
An uncredited Carey Loftin portrays a henchman. Loftin was one of the greatest stunt drivers and stunt coordinators in the history of film. Check out his IMDb credits.
One dune buggy really gets around with three different drivers.
Harvey Parry (Ed Regan), another legendary stuntman, has a small role in the episode. Check out his IMDb credits, among them doubling for Harold Lloyd in "Safety Last!"
And finally, a possible homage to a classic film, "Arsenic and Old Lace". Mortimer Brewster convinced his aunts to commit themselves to Happy Dale Sanitarium. Mannix pays a visit to the Happydayle Convalescent Home.
When all is said and done, there's one loose end. The best part is, Mannix knows it, and assures Wickersham he will take care of it.