Oh, no, another kidnap plot? Haven't we seen a million of 'em already? Yeah, but this one has a twist courtesy of imaginative author Stephen Kandel in the first of eleven episodes he would write for the series.
As another reviewer noted, the pre-title scene has a definite MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE vibe about it. I mean, was that Rollin or Paris behind the wheel? Adding to the aura of IMF is the fact Fritz Weaver guest starred in one of my favorite episodes, "Operation: Rogosh." Weaver and Geraldine Brooks are excellent as the recently divorced Mac and Katrina, though at times I wondered if I were watching a remake of WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? Actually, Weaver and Brooks enjoy such a strong chemistry they would have been outstanding as George and Martha. Their scenes have a snap and a bite to them, though one can admittedly hear Kandel's typewriter clacking away in such writerly lines as Katrina's claiming the unflappable Mac's "reaction to nuclear war would be to become the most controlled cinder on earth." Okay, I liked that line, though it's improbable a hysterical mother would ever utter it.
The story unfolds at a fast clip. The inventive and cliché-defying twist Kandel added was having the kidnappers demand Dr. McKenzie intentionally botch the heart surgery of one of his three patients that day. But which one, and why? Mannix conducts interviews with each before finally uncovering the real motive. I admit I was fooled, following the red herring of the poverty-stricken music teacher looking for a hefty memorial endowment. (Sadly, rumor has it Miss Paulson did close the music school, moved to Minneapolis, and married grumpy news producer Lou Grant.)
For TV buffs, there were a number of welcome faces among the uncredited cast: Memphis Mafioso Red West plays the red-headed kidnapper who sleeps face down in his breakfast. You wouldn't suspect it from this buffoonish appearance, but West is an accomplished actor, displaying his talents in the 2008 film GOODBYE SOLO. Lighting up the screen was Veronica Cartwright playing the young and beautiful wife of one of the patients (no wonder his heart gave out!). And in the first of several connections between the two series, a pre-BRADY BUNCH Eve Plumb has a memorable scene as a nine-year-old girl awaiting heart surgery.
But my favorite character was the spunky and outspoken Karen Shapiro, played with aplomb by Christine Matchett. Precocious kids are difficult to play charmingly, but Matchett pulled it off, providing clues and some spirited sass and banter with "private dick" Mannix. Matchett worked steadily from 1964 to 1974 and I'm going to keep an eye peeled for her many other appearances (including 17 on OWEN MARSHALL, a series long overdue for a DVD release).
Jim Boles has about thirty seconds of screen time as Emil the mask maker. Boles is perhaps best known for playing the creator of Hymie in the "Back to the Old Drawing Board" episode of GET SMART (which episode also guest starred Patrick O'Moore, who here plays the weepy dad of Eve "Real Jan" Plumb). Speaking of dads, Ford Rainey, who would go on to play the step-father of the Six Million Dollar Man, is the linchpin of the kidnapping plot--an aging and ailing mob "juice man" ready to rat on his erstwhile cohort in crime. Finally, the future Lulu Hogg, Peggy Rea, makes the most of her few seconds of screen time, memorably scolding hospital attendant Walter for being irreverently flip about the passing of Roscoe (Bell, not Coltrane).
This episode was on a trajectory to an 8-star rating for about 40 minutes, then it took a few devastating hits in its last ten that took it down a notch. For example, the inexplicable making of a life mask of the ailing Roscoe Bell for no other purpose than to startle Walter. Then came the nadir . . .
But first you have to know that before penning "Edge of the Knife" Kandel wrote five episodes of the Adam West BATMAN series, which may explain--but not excuse--the scene where Mannix takes a running leap through a glass window, lands on his feet, and immediately begins throwing fists at the stunned kidnappers. I was just as stunned--by the fact such a ridiculous scene slipped by the producers (the dynamic duo who went on to give us CHARLIE'S ANGELS, by the way, so maybe I shouldn't have been so surprised).
The ending descended into a mawkish medley of slow-motion running feet and outstretched arms engineered to evoke maximum emotional response. It verged on then veered into parody. There was a nice touch from Katrina, however, that implied this crisis would bring the family back together, which did close out the episode on an encouraging note.
PS: Kandel's plot was recycled by Ken Pettus for the third season opener of HAWAII FIVE-O, "And a Time to Die." The ante was upped in the remake, with Wo Fat being the kidnapper of a brain surgeon's daughter who makes a similar demand for a botched surgery on a wounded spy. Donald Moffatt played the Fritz Weaver role and did a fine job. It was a typically taut episode with sufficient differences to distinguish it from Kandel's original, though having recently seen both shows the similarities are striking.
As another reviewer noted, the pre-title scene has a definite MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE vibe about it. I mean, was that Rollin or Paris behind the wheel? Adding to the aura of IMF is the fact Fritz Weaver guest starred in one of my favorite episodes, "Operation: Rogosh." Weaver and Geraldine Brooks are excellent as the recently divorced Mac and Katrina, though at times I wondered if I were watching a remake of WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? Actually, Weaver and Brooks enjoy such a strong chemistry they would have been outstanding as George and Martha. Their scenes have a snap and a bite to them, though one can admittedly hear Kandel's typewriter clacking away in such writerly lines as Katrina's claiming the unflappable Mac's "reaction to nuclear war would be to become the most controlled cinder on earth." Okay, I liked that line, though it's improbable a hysterical mother would ever utter it.
The story unfolds at a fast clip. The inventive and cliché-defying twist Kandel added was having the kidnappers demand Dr. McKenzie intentionally botch the heart surgery of one of his three patients that day. But which one, and why? Mannix conducts interviews with each before finally uncovering the real motive. I admit I was fooled, following the red herring of the poverty-stricken music teacher looking for a hefty memorial endowment. (Sadly, rumor has it Miss Paulson did close the music school, moved to Minneapolis, and married grumpy news producer Lou Grant.)
For TV buffs, there were a number of welcome faces among the uncredited cast: Memphis Mafioso Red West plays the red-headed kidnapper who sleeps face down in his breakfast. You wouldn't suspect it from this buffoonish appearance, but West is an accomplished actor, displaying his talents in the 2008 film GOODBYE SOLO. Lighting up the screen was Veronica Cartwright playing the young and beautiful wife of one of the patients (no wonder his heart gave out!). And in the first of several connections between the two series, a pre-BRADY BUNCH Eve Plumb has a memorable scene as a nine-year-old girl awaiting heart surgery.
But my favorite character was the spunky and outspoken Karen Shapiro, played with aplomb by Christine Matchett. Precocious kids are difficult to play charmingly, but Matchett pulled it off, providing clues and some spirited sass and banter with "private dick" Mannix. Matchett worked steadily from 1964 to 1974 and I'm going to keep an eye peeled for her many other appearances (including 17 on OWEN MARSHALL, a series long overdue for a DVD release).
Jim Boles has about thirty seconds of screen time as Emil the mask maker. Boles is perhaps best known for playing the creator of Hymie in the "Back to the Old Drawing Board" episode of GET SMART (which episode also guest starred Patrick O'Moore, who here plays the weepy dad of Eve "Real Jan" Plumb). Speaking of dads, Ford Rainey, who would go on to play the step-father of the Six Million Dollar Man, is the linchpin of the kidnapping plot--an aging and ailing mob "juice man" ready to rat on his erstwhile cohort in crime. Finally, the future Lulu Hogg, Peggy Rea, makes the most of her few seconds of screen time, memorably scolding hospital attendant Walter for being irreverently flip about the passing of Roscoe (Bell, not Coltrane).
This episode was on a trajectory to an 8-star rating for about 40 minutes, then it took a few devastating hits in its last ten that took it down a notch. For example, the inexplicable making of a life mask of the ailing Roscoe Bell for no other purpose than to startle Walter. Then came the nadir . . .
But first you have to know that before penning "Edge of the Knife" Kandel wrote five episodes of the Adam West BATMAN series, which may explain--but not excuse--the scene where Mannix takes a running leap through a glass window, lands on his feet, and immediately begins throwing fists at the stunned kidnappers. I was just as stunned--by the fact such a ridiculous scene slipped by the producers (the dynamic duo who went on to give us CHARLIE'S ANGELS, by the way, so maybe I shouldn't have been so surprised).
The ending descended into a mawkish medley of slow-motion running feet and outstretched arms engineered to evoke maximum emotional response. It verged on then veered into parody. There was a nice touch from Katrina, however, that implied this crisis would bring the family back together, which did close out the episode on an encouraging note.
PS: Kandel's plot was recycled by Ken Pettus for the third season opener of HAWAII FIVE-O, "And a Time to Die." The ante was upped in the remake, with Wo Fat being the kidnapper of a brain surgeon's daughter who makes a similar demand for a botched surgery on a wounded spy. Donald Moffatt played the Fritz Weaver role and did a fine job. It was a typically taut episode with sufficient differences to distinguish it from Kandel's original, though having recently seen both shows the similarities are striking.
