User Reviews

True, a familiar story, but featuring three very talented young actors. It's back to a mental hospital, where a young woman is released after three years --and the murders begin. Being trampled by a horse is not for the faint of heart, but probably the best way for a murderer to escape with few clues, and was often used by writers on the series. Not to forget CHARLIE CHAN and SHERLOCK HOLMES used the same techniques. Arthur Bernard Lewis wrote this episode, his only for the series, later senior producer for DALLAS.

One of the best, A. Martinez, plays Tomas, and in a very good role. Martinez is still acting today, recently on THE BAY. James Carroll Jordan (as Michael) co-stars, and a year earlier made several appearances on RICH MAN, POOR MAN, BOOK II in the part of Billy. Female guest star Cynthia Avila also has a prime role, later featured on KNOTS LANDING.

It's always a treat to see veteran Russell Thorsen, who was frequently cast on CANNON, this time playing the wise, old doctor. Joseph Manduke directed, who also worked on HAWAII FIVE O. Interestingly, he later became an instructor at USC. He passed in 2020.

Again, the acting takes front seat here, particularly A. Martinez, who was a staple on tv for decades, later becoming a producer and screen writer. No production notes as to where this was filmed, possibly at Lancaster, CA, with lots of countryside.

SEASON 6 EPISODE 13 remastered color. Christmas 1977 episode.

The story begins with a man being murdered and the perpetrator makes it look as if he was trampled by a horse. This occurs about the same time a young lady is released from a three year stay in a psychiatric facility....and whether this or her brother seeking revenge are the cause of this deaths and another is the subject of this "Barnaby Jones" episode.

This is an odd episode....difficult to follow at times. Plus, oddly, late in the show a woman casually talks about being gang raped and no one takes a lot of notice of this, other than worrying if this might have caused her brother to possibly kill some folks. What about the rape? And, where is the outrage or even concern?! It was like they tossed it into the show and then promptly forgot! Odd...that's for sure.

My biggest complaint with this one is the multiple stereotypical story cliches.

Apparently, everyone, in every small town is incredibly stupid, angry, envious and greedy, and they all lie like rugs. At least the Sheriff in this one seemed a little smarter and more sensible than most. Unfortunately, once again we have a whole lot of bad acting. A Martinez (as Tomás Aguilar), Taylor Lacher (as Sheriff Simmons), Ford Rainey (as Carmine Sandell) and Abel Franco (as Victor Cortez) did a pretty good job but everyone else was pretty bad. Either stiff and wooden or over-acting like crazy. The story itself wasn't bad (although it was glaringly obvious from the get-go who the murderer was), but it was kind of poorly executed.