User Reviews

I could be wrong but I think that Richard Dawson's character is based on Rex Harrison who was enormously unpopular with this colleagues on the stage and screen. If so I'll bet Rex was enormously unhappy with this story.

The marshal from Taos, New Mexico is assigned to security detail for Dawson who is an actor/producer and someone people are lining up for to kill. Something's not quite right here though as Dennis Weaver's investigative instincts are aroused.

Dawson's girlfriend, Park Avenue socialite Tina Sinatra does get killed though and Dawson thinks he's set himself up with a perfect alibi. But he doesn't reckon with forensics and Marshal Sam McCloud.

Master of the stage yes, but no master criminal as it turns out. Maybe Dawson should have read more Agatha Christie.

An obnoxious, egotistical stage producer is receiving death threats, which Chief Clifford is inclined to dismiss as just some kind of publicity stunt. When asked to reccomend someone for bodyguard duty, Joe Broadhurst says he's short-handed... until Sam walks in. Next thing, Sam has the unpleasant job of having to watch the man whose safety he's responsible for be rude, insulting and offensive to everyone who crosses his path, including his girlfriend. "Why do I put up with him?" she asks, and McCloud, always so insightful of human behavior, replies, "Because you still love him." But anyone watching from the outside would think it's more a question of who WOULDN'T want this guy dead.

I have to wonder how this story ever got past Glen Larson. It's more "Charlie Chan" than action comedy, in fact there's not a single action scene anywhere in the episode. McCloud uses his detective skills to look around and figure out what's really going on, making the scene where the producer sarcastically calls him "Sherlock Holmes" more appropriate than one would expect.

This was Norman Hudis' only script for the series, and I can see why. Much later, he wrote a 2nd-season BUCK ROGERS episode (another Larson series), but earlier, he'd done 6 MAN FROM UNCLEs, 4 SAINTs, and 6 CARRY ON films! You'd never make that connection, as there's almost nothing funny in this story.

Russ Mayberry does his 1st of 7 episodes as director. I've seen loads of his work, including 2 episodes of THE MONKEES, 10 of THAT GIRL, 9 KOJAKs, 2 MIKE HAMMERs, 12 MAGNUM P. I.s, 5 JAKE AND THE FATMANs, and 18 IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHTs.

Richard Dawson is "Ted Callender", one of the most unlikable characters I've ever seen on TV. You wind up hoping he gets murdered by the end, but that's not how it pans out. Apparently, he was still appearing on HOGAN'S HEROES at the time he did this. In later years, he'd become known for FAMILY FEUD and THE RUNNING MAN.

Tina Sinatra is "Jennifer Houghton", Callendar's long-suffering girlfriend. She's a very attractive lady who somehow had a very short Hollywood resume.

Albert Popwell is "Gus Milner", a member of Callendar's staff. This was his 2nd McCLOUD episode, but he's no doubt better-known for 4 different DIRTY HARRY films as well as COOGAN'S BLUFF.

Murray Matheson is "Grantley", a diamond merchant who is reluctant to answer McCloud's questions. One of the more amusing moments is after he does, when Sam tell him he knows he can count on Grantley keeping their talk "confidential", throwing the man's own attitude back in his face. I'll always remember him as "Felix" on BANACEK.

Teri Garr makes her debut on the show as an un-named payroll clerk, who tries to explain to Sam where so much of his paycheck is disappearing to. It's clear she finds Sam attractive, but he fears he wouldn't be able to afford to take her out with all the payroll deductions. I think it's safe to say that the 3 different characters she played on this series should really be counted as all the same woman!

J. D. Cannon as "Chief Clifford" is given almost nothing to do in this episode, as is Terry Carter as "Joe Broadhurst", and there's virtually no hint this time around that Sam & Joe are such good friends. Years later, Glen Larson once said in an interview that season 2 had lost its way, but I'd say that started right here. It feels more "NBC MYSTERY MOVIE" than "FOUR-IN-ONE". Still, this is nowhere near as bad as the pilot movie was!

The print located for the 2021 VEI box set, as with the others from season 1, is a bit faded and has some damage in spots, but it's still infinitely better than the re-edited BUTCHER-job "Manhattan Manhunt". I'm sure I'll be watching these 6 episodes a lot in years to come, if only to make up for them being missing in action for 50 YEARS.