User reviews

I thought it was another episode like season 3 episode 21, Fly, Little One (1970).

The difference is the part of the little girl is much better written here, and the actress, Patti Cohoon, is up to the part. In fact, I think she did better than some of the adult actors.

Of course, this is largely due to some of the writing being a little too obscure. You get the overall idea of what the bad guys are trying to do, but some of the pieces are not as polished.

One part that did stand out as well done was the brilliant social engineering on the part of the bad guy trying to track down the little girl, first calling her school, and then the follow-on call to get her location.

Also well done is that they did not need to show the actual kidnapping, just let Mannix know it had happened.

The final good part was the drapes, Mannix did not even know he had been given away.

Unfortunately, the rest was more by-the-numbers than good, and was a bit of a let-down.

So, a bit uneven, but in the end, I was glad I watched this episode.

One additional comment - It was only two years from Mannix to M*A*S*H for Larry Linville, but the difference between Lt. George Kramer and Maj. Frank Burns is huge. Perhaps the difference between Lawrence Linville and Larry Linville? :-)

Edit - some additional comments after another viewing few years later: At the accident site, Joe uses a small camera to make copies of the two pieces of paper in the late bad guy's wallet. First and only time with the camera, I think. Yet at the motel he has to write down the info from the phone ledger?

Also at the motel, another appearance of the 1965 black Mustang, out in front when Mannix first stops in.

Dottie (Patti Cohoon-Friedman) is playing in an abandoned theater when she happens upon some men discussing some conspiracy. Although the 9 year-old isn't completely aware of everything they're talking about, she does understand that they plan on killing someone. But, because of her age, the police seem totally unimpressed and the mother takes the case to Mannix. At first, Mannix isn't exactly sure the kid is telling the truth--though when there is an attempt on the kid's life, he's a believer. So who are these men, who do they want to kill and can Mannix manage to stop them from killing this cute little girl?

Episodes of shows with kids often fail because they are too cutesy or they rely on child actors--who can be awful. However, the kid seems like a natural and the show strikes a nice balance. Well worth seeing.

The best part about growing up on this show were the folks knocking at the front door. Remember? In later years, it was kind of a fad as to WHO would surprise Joe and Peggy.

Enter a troubled little girl named Dottie, memorably played by Patti Cahoon Friedman, an enormously popular child actress. She reminded me of Susan Gordon, the daughter of producer Bert I Gordon, who appeared in many classic tv shows and movies. They looked like twins.

Dottie is brought in by her mom (Loretta Leversee), who claims her daughter heard a murder being planned in an abandoned building. Naturally, the cops don't believe her and the creeps are coming to snatch her off the street. Patti was a regular on APPLES WAY (tv show), playing Cathy. She was actually 11 years old in this episode and a real doll. You could tell Mike Connors admired her, who worked well with kids. It shows.

Warren Duff wrote this adventure, long associated with Warner Brothers, writing many classic movies. He produced what is considered the greatest film noir, OUT OF THE PAST (1947) starring Robert Mitchum. He retired shortly after due to ill health.

Murray Golden did a superb job of directing, especially Patti, also behind MISSION IMPOSSIBLE and the FBI. Watch the scene with Kelly Thordsen playing Mickey, the guy who puts the face sketches together, and Patti carefully watching. It's well done. Kelly was actually a retired LAPD officer. He more than likely was a consultant too.

This story marked the last appearance of Larry Linville (who moved on to MASH), on a rotating basis with Ward Wood and Robert Reed as the LAPD. Linda Leversee, playing Helen, Dottie's mom, was a popular actress at the time, who studied under Lee Strassberg.

I confess, I did take off one star, and I agree with the notes; you can see the new car that crashes -- suddenly becomes an old, junk car? Should have gotten better stock footage. May have been liften from BATMAN. Other episodes did, in fact, lift stock footage from tv's SUPERMAN.

A cool gag scene has Joe driving around with a wax dummy of Dottie --just in case the goons have ideas. Filmed partly in affluent Calabasas, California, about 13 miles north of Malibu. A beautiful area to film.

May have inspired the famous Season 5 episode of CANNON, only this time with a little boy. Known as the "hopscotch" episode.

Another gotsa' see adventure. Recommended late nighter. SEASON 4 EPISODE 11 remastered CBS/Paramount dvd box set. The Four Bullet box.