With the capture and hanging of Nazi commander Adolf Eichman a few years earlier, there was a resurgence of energy into capturing more war criminals around the world and/or stopping their plans for a new empire. Such is the case in this episode, excellently written by Mann Ruben, about the emergence of a modern Hitler, played to the max by noneother than Eric Braeden as Colonel Von Frank. Braeden turns on his villainous charm, perhaps one of his very best roles.
The plan for starting a contempoary Nazi party is being bankrolled by a shrewd international businessman called Kellmann (played by veteran Wilfred Hyde White). He only has one weakness; memories of his late wife. Enter Cinnamon, portraying a photographer who strangely reminds him of her, and also appears to be a woman on the run.
Kellman takes the bait, giving her shelter and a job as his personal photographer, and thus begins the team's clever blueprint to bring him down. Phelps plays a distinguished military man, an American Nazi, who becomes acquainted with Kellmann and
Von Frank.
The only debit here is that it's a million to one shot Cinnamon actually looked like Kellman's late wife in the first place! What are the odds, but that's poetic license 101.
Best of this is Rollin, Barney and Willy doing a
TWILIGHT ZONE-ish fake-out, drugging Kellman, and Rollin playing Hitler. Martin Landau is outrageous in this over the top role.
Excellent direction by Leonard J Horn, as usual, who also directed several episodes for MANNIX, many other top shows, notably VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA. Mann Ruben also wrote for MANNIX and BARNABY JONES.
Prior to this episode, Wilfred Hyde White was in the cult film, CHAMBER OF HORRORS. A must for Eric Braeden fans, before soap opera fame.
SEASON 2 EPISODE 14 remastered CBS/Paramount dvd box set. 7 dvds total. 2007 release.