Writer Shiryl Hendrix (who had a cool name) passed at age 100 in 2023. He wrote for many cop shows, and some classic episodes. This is one of them. Producer Quinn Martin again used Anthony Zerbe as the proverbial bad guy, who seemed to be jumping back and forth between this series and MANNIX. The following season, co-starred on HARRY O as David Janssen's scowling former cop Boss. In later years, Zerbe taught acting and, you have to admit, it must have been fascinating to have been one of his students. There are interviews of him on YOUTUBE, in more recent years, talking about his distinguished career.
The mysterious "limping man" (called Max) is part of a counterfeit ring and the prime suspect who gets Cannon's old partner, Jim (played by Jason Evers) in really hot water. In fact, at the beginning of the story he claims it was the sun that blocked his vision from shooting Zerbe -- or was it?
Evers appeared four times on the series, an old friend of William Conrad as they worked together at Warner Brothers/ABC tv for years. Cannon does it the hard way, including having his car rigged with dynamite, thanks to another menacing guy, played by Vic Tayback. Always best as a villain.
The only debit --considering it is dynamite -- in actuality a large chunk of the street would have been a crater and the Lincoln would have been toast!
Another WB alum, Barbara Stewart also guest stars, who I recently saw on a 1964 episode of 77 SUNSET STRIP. Bill Conrad probably pulled some ideas from that final season (63-64) of the classic cop show for his own. He co-produced and directed it. Nice on location shots here, such as at San Pedro, a familar pit stop for many tv shows.
Master of dialects and popular character actor Ben Wright, sporting his famous moustache, plays a shoe salesman. Michael Caffey did a solid job of directing, though you can spot on-lookers watching Cannon in his car --it's so obvious in one scene. Caffey directed many episodes of BARNABY JONES and at the time was also directing the ROOKIES.
Terrific late night mystery. 10 Stars.
SEASON 3 EPISODE 11 remastered color CBS dvd box set (2012).
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