Cannon (TV Series) Prisoners (1973) User Reviews

A rather familiar plot.

[planktonrules · 6/10 · 21 August 2013]

"Prisoners" is a decent episode of "Cannon". However, I have seen the same sort of plot on other TV shows, such as "Hawaii Five-O". Because of this, I cannot rate the show any higher.

The show begins with two estranged parents learning that their son somehow ended up in a Turkish prison. However, they have learned that PERHAPS the young man will be released if certain officials are bribed and so they bring in Frank Cannon to go to Turkey and arrange his release. However, through the course of the show, it becomes more and more obvious that the young man might not have been in prison at all and it's all an opportunity to shake down the guy's father! But, and here is where the theme is awfully familiar, the 'friend' who helped the young man hide out decides to REALLY hold him for ransom! So, the little scheme has backfired and Cannon must save the day.

As I said above, I have seen this sort of thing a few times in other shows. But, I am also a compulsive nut who watched too many DVDs of old police series!

HOW TO TRICK YOUR WEALTHY PARENTS?

[tcchelsey · 10/10 · 9 September 2022]

To note, LA's historical Echo Park was used for this episode, the original Hollywood, where endless silent films were first shot. The curious thing about Echo Park is that by the 1920s filming was nearly banned due to complaints that the studios were trampling the grounds and destroying all the flower beds?

"Prisoners" is a solid yarn with a clever twist that should raise a few red flags. Actually, the story is a popular con, used to this very day. John Carson (a familiar young actor in 70s tv) plays the son of wealthy businessman Harold Gould and his wife Geraldine Brooks. They are tricked into believing he's being held on drug charges in Turkey. Cannon enters the picture and discovers the young man is just hanging around (with devious friends) patiently waiting for the payoff so he can re-appear safe and sound. Sound familiar?

Robert Lewin wrote this story, later a co-producer for STAR TREK, THE NEXT GENERATION and writer/producer for DAN AUGUST, starring Burt Reynolds. The acting , as always, is above par, particularly Brooks, who won a Warner Brothers contract when she was 20 years old and was a lifelong friend of Joan Crawford. Crawford actually spoke at her funeral a few months before she, herself, died in 1977.

Harold Gould began his career as an acting teacher, then gave it all up to play both light roles and some of the meanest crime bosses in Hollywood, but always a dapper dresser. Best trivia note of all, John Carson orginally called himself Johnny, bringing on complaints from guess who? Reluctantly, he changed his acting name to John Carson.

The ending in Echo Park has Cannon earning is dough, though its a close call as he could have gotten killed in this one. There's some fancy footwork at play, Cannon also racing against the proverbial ticking clock. Excellent direction. SEASON 2 EPISODE 20 remastered CBS/Paramount dvd box set No. 2. 2010.