To Save a Dead Man

Episode aired Dec 15, 1971
TV-PG
52m

IMDb RATING

8.1/10

100

YOUR RATING

Action Crime Drama Mystery Thriller

Mannix tries to help a nun who took a dying man's confession that he let an innocent man go to prison for murder, but finds the inmate insisting he is guilty.Mannix tries to help a nun who took a dying man's confession that he let an innocent man go to prison for murder, but finds the inmate insisting he is guilty.Mannix tries to help a nun who took a dying man's confession that he let an innocent man go to prison for murder, but finds the inmate insisting he is guilty.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

8.1/10

100

YOUR RATING

5User reviews

See production info at IMDbPro

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
The same car chase footage resulting in Mannix being run off the road and down an embankment was previously used in The Glass Trap (1971).

Goofs
When Mr. Mannix breaks down a door, the wall moves visibly - rather like a temporary set wall instead of a solidly built wall holding a heavy door.

Quotes
Sister Meg Costello: [she and Father Vale are sitting in Joe's office, talking to him about the man who visited her before he died] I told Father Fain that I had to do something. That poor dying man haunts me. He was trying to erase his sin against this other man- an innocent man that he had put in prison. With his last dying breath, he was trying to tell me the man's name.
Father Vale: What do you think, Joe?
Joe Mannix: I don't know. It's not going to to be easy to find the man. I mean, I've never talked to a convict who wasn't innocent.
Sister Meg Costello: Mr. Mannix, Al Murphy was a dying man. He was pleading his guilt before God. He was saying that he had sinned, that he had borne false witness.
Joe Mannix: I understand, Sister. I was only trying to warn you. The odds against finding that particular innocent man are a little frightening.
Sister Meg Costello: But you will try?
Joe Mannix: Uh, please don't expect a miracle.
Father Vale: Joe, we're always expecting miracles. That's our bag.
Joe Mannix: Yeah. You proved that on a golf course.

Connections
Edited from Mannix: The Glass Trap (1971)

User reviews5

Featured review

10/10

JOE AND A NUN ON THE RUN?

Brooke Bundy (who we all watched grow up on tv) plays Sister Costello who has the tough luck of listening to a dying man who claims he helped convict the wrong person in a murder case. There are shades here of the famous Hitchcock thriller I CONFESS, only this time with a nun. The guy in prison, by the way, is sitting on some explosive stuff, which even surprises Joe.

Brooke got her start in westerns, like GUNSMOKE, and was a tv favorite for years, usually playing a young woman in a mess. She's in quite a dilemma here and needs help ASAP.

Dan Mullally wrote the story, who got his start with the classic detective show, MR AND MRS NORTH also RICHARD DIAMOND. At this time he was also writing for IRONSIDE. True, there's some fastballs tossed in, however, it all comes together and that's the fun.

There's another car chase and the Dodge goes off a cliff with Mannix --but both are back in service? You have to be a TRUE fan of the show to accept this, reminiscent of Steve McQueen in BULLIT.

Robert Mandan plays Ed and veteran Arthur Franz plays a man of the cloth, Father Vale. Usually Franz played businessmen or baddies. Question: Was that comedian Eddie Quillan as the dying man in the opening? It sure looked like him. Eddie (after decades in films) began a new career on tv, and although many of the young casting directors did not know him, he was cast frequently and proved quite popular in smaller roles. Perhaps as a dead guy?

Caution: the WEIRD ending may stick with you awhile. Beware, without giving further details.

SEASON 5 EPISODE 14. Remastered CBS/Paramount dvd box set. 21 hrs total. Nice box cover sketch of Joe.