Mannix (TV Series) A Copy of Murder (1968) User Reviews

Good episode...dumb sheriff!

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 11 May 2013]

Mannix has an unusual case. He's been paid by a publisher to locate the missing final chapter of a novel. It seems that the author died in an accident--though the viewers saw that the death was anything but accidental! And, soon after Mannix's arrival, the Sheriff (Clifton James---who ALWAYS seemed to play sheriffs!) and some other locals make it very obvious that there is far more to the case than just retrieving the final chapter. After all, if the death was accidental, then why are they being so darned unfriendly towards poor old Mannix?!

This is yet another good episode of "Mannix" and it sure reminds me of several "Quincy" episodes as well as the old film "Bad Day at Black Rock". In each case, the hero walks into town and is suddenly the entire town seems to be out to get them! Can Mannix solve the mystery and save his hide? And, will he get beaten up yet again?! Well written and interesting--this one is worth your time.

IF I PAY YOU OFF, YOU'LL GO AWAY, RIGHT???

[tcchelsey · 9/10 · 27 January 2023]

True, and I agree with many of the last reviewers, Mannix turns up in some small, unfriendly towns. But how do you get a southern accent if you're in California??? I have to subtract one star!

Case in point, Clifton James, playing sheriff Ford, who gained fame as the rascally southern lawman in two JAMES BOND films, among many other films. The story is clever though, all about an elusive manuscript tied to a murder, and there's a missing chapter which spills the proverbial beans...

Brian McKay wrote this story, a man of action, associated with such shows as CHARLIES ANGELS and WONDER WOMAN. And there's action here.

Barbara Rush, plays Ceilia, the wealthy widow of the victim, adding some class to the remote setting. Also look for Harlan Warde, playing the coroner. Warde was one of those popular actors who you knew, but forgot his name. He was a favorite on PERRY MASON and many westerns, like BONANZA and the BIG VALLEY.

Yes, that's the sound of Herb Alpert and his Tijuana Brass in the background. They were also heard in the previous episode, more than likely due to their popularity as background music on the DATING GAME. Remember?

The small town setting is probably in the High Desert, but definitely in southern California. The desert town of Lancaster was always a favorite spot, replete with some beautiful scenery and lots of roads to nowhere.

Also someone in question tries to pay Joe off, and you know where that's going --but its interesting to watch the mechanics of these desperate characters who seem to have pockets full of cash. That always amazed me.

At the time, Barbara Rush was appearing on PEYTON PLACE (a total of 75 episodes), but for all of us cult fans, she is fondly remembered for playing Nora Clavicle on BATMAN, who had "exploding robot mice" aimed at blowing up Gotham City hall! That's what probably got her this role! Casting people wanted to meet her.

By the way, a rare episode without Peggy, and she is missed. It would have been cool if she just went along for the ride, and maybe dug up some stuff on her own.

Worth watching, for all of us devout Mannix fans. SEASON 2 EPISODE 6 remastered CBS dvd box set.

Bad Small town!...Bad, Bad Small Town!!

[Guad42 · 7/10 · 30 April 2022]

Joe should stay out of small towns. They are always up to no good and this one is no exceptions. In the beginning we see an author blown up on his boat as the sheriff and two of his henchmen look on. The inquest says accidental death, but we know better. The author is writing a book covering the murders of a rich man and his secretary that happened a year prior and the publisher sends Joe to find the missing final chapter that contains the answer to the crime. Joe is at the inquest and then has a run in with the good ol' boy sheriff, Barney Ford (Clifton James). Why are small town bad lawmen always portrayed as Southerners? I liked the transistor radios angle. A nice touch. Joe sees the local newsman, Fred Archer (Kevin Hagen) to get the official version of what happened. Supposedly, two transients did it. Then Joe sees the rich man's widow Celia Bell (Barbara Rush) who is a semi drunk. Joe hits it off with her and they have some nice dialogue together. Later Joe gets in a fight and is knocked out. The sheriff tells him to get out of town. We know that will never happen. The dead rich guy's partner, George Bigelow (Michael Evans) tries to buy Joe off and we know that also will never happen. Joe sneaks in to see Celia and she confesses she did the two murders in a drunken rage but can't recall details. She gives him the last chapter to the book. Joe reads it and thinks it is a phony. He does some nice detective work and sees the last chapter was different than the others. He goes to Fred Archer in his office and the two men compare the typing and Joe announces that Fred typed the last chapter. The real story comes out. The author had told Fred he had solved the crime. Fred told the partner and the sheriff who then had to kill the writer. Fred gives Joe the last chapter which was in his safe. The rich guy was stealing from the company and was going to run off with his secretary. The partner and sheriff (then just a beat cop) show up and end up killing the guy and his secretary. While telling this tale, Fred secretly tipped the silent alarm, and the sheriff shows up with his gun on Joe. Joe and the sheriff fight, the gun goes off, the sheriff dies. Case solved.

As always in a Mannix episode, there are loose ends. How did the author get the correct solution to the original crime? Why do the bad guys hassle Joe from the beginning? They make it obvious there is a cover job going on. Since several people (sheriff, newspaper man, deck hand) have improved their lots in life, it is clear who is involved. Just let Joe nose around and do nothing until you have to. Why would the widow let the author use her backroom studio when she thought she was guilty of the crime he is trying to solve? Did she secretly want to be caught?

The cast is good. Clifton James did the southern sheriff a million times including two James Bond films. A bit of a cliche but Southerners are used to that. Kevin Hagen could do his part in his sleep. Barbara Rush always brings class and fine acting to any role she takes. She is the star here and very lovely.

Joe gets knocked out, but he does get paid. Peggy is not in this episode, so she got some well-deserved time off. An average outing worth seeing to watch Barbara Rush. Joe should go back and visit her often but we know he won't.

Feels Like an Intertect Episode

[miketypeeach · 10/10 · 7 January 2024]

Peggy is nowhere to be found because Joe is out of town. He never calls Peggy for assistance, either. This episode has all the look and feel of a leftover Intertect script, and that's good. It's true that evil people run when no one is chasing them; all the villains needed to do was play dumb, but no, they had to overreact to Joe's inquiries and, in so doing, practically begged him to snoop around where they didn't want him.

Mannix always gets the girl-even if for only a little while. This time, she wanted him, and for keeps. His free spirit wouldn't allow it, though. Poor Joe; he could've had it made with a beautiful woman, and all the money, too.

Tired old formula plot

[nbrice18 · 1/10 · 18 August 2018]

I love Mannix and I really like the first few seasons, however I didn't even make it through the first 15 minutes of this one. It seems every TV show, despite some being set in CALIFORNIA, depict small towns as hotbeds of hostility, and all police, especially sheriffs and chiefs, as crooked and southern! Since I felt like I'd seen this same old plot many times before, on Mannix, Sunset Strip, Rockford Files and on and on I deleted this episode before I finished.

Hollywood, buy a clue!