Season 4 Episode 18
Review - The Big Rod 12-30-54
The story involves a woman struck down by a hit-and-run driver, later dying at a hospital, pregnant carrying a seven month fetus. Clues are scant but sufficient for Friday, Smith to nail the perpetrator. Friday closes the program with a lecture to the killer that makes the episode worth watch all on its own.
Four notable actors in this episode make the show worth watching, the suspect is identified, and caught, on to Q where he belonged. Manslaughter is a real crime, but the punishment is low for all the suffering caused.
In order of appearance, the doctor was played by Vic Perrin. It was refreshing to see Vic portraying a good-guy rather than a scumbag. Michael Ansara, played the grieving and vengeful husband of the victim of the hit-and-run driver. His six-three frame is pleasantly towing over Friday, Smith in the scenes in the hospital and squad room. Well played, Cochise, we miss the acting as well as your presence. Jimmy Ogg is the president of the hot rod association club, offering help to the police in capturing the suspect, because it is the right to do and take the blame away from his members. Nesdon Booth was recognizable portraying western characters, and had several credits before he died of a heart attack at forty-five; he is the bar-owner in this episode.
Friday, Smith have the zany witness identifying the suspect enough to give them a start, and adding an item of interest hanging on the beat-up car's bumper, an additional name plate with the word wheel on it. It turns out there is a Square Wheels Club in LA, as noted by the NHRA president, and this fact brings the officers closer to identifying the suspect. The accident scene investigators lab police identified the broken glass from a 1940 Ford. Pictures of the accident scene help the guys ascertain the bumper had likely been marked hitting the woman. Sure enough, when they found the car parked, the busted headlight and skin-laden bumper were enough for the crime lab to confirm the car hit the woman.
Friday, Smith track the crumb down by ripping into a reluctant bar-owner who served the killer the night he killed the pregnant lady. More times than not is a tavern-owner not cooperating until he is threatened. The suspect is brought into HQ, identified by the original witness, and given the lecture by Friday before being hauled to jail. He ended up at Q for his crime, but the manslaughter sentence is not nearly enough for this toad. Watch the entire episode for the actors playing characters so necessary to the story; no wasted scenes in this one.
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