User Reviews

Besides being known for Jack Lord's hard-hitting-take-no-prisoners-approach as "Steve McGarrett, its lush Hawaiian locations, and Morton Stevens' theme and scores, "Hawaii 5-0" also presented performers that rarely graced the small screen. "Trouble in Mind" features legendary jazz singer Nancy Wilson a chance to stretch her acting muscles as singer desperately in need of a fix. Of course, the script permits the singer to display her well-respected vocal skills in three selections, one a song from which the title comes.

Equally impressive is Harry Guardino as Wilson's pianist, lover, and confidant. Milton Selzer, another well-known face of film and television, assays another of his many roles as a seedy "pusher." All the actors marvelously execute their roles and it is surprising that Wilson didn't receive more offers to act since this aired in 1970.

One of the most disturbing of the scenes involves a young pusher showing Guardino's character that his stash is some of the best in the island. The elementary-aged "entepreneur" is not even afraid to "shoot up" to prove his point.

Today's drug of choice may be crystal meth, but the horror of the boy's act is no less attention-grabbing.

"Hawaii 5-0" was never afraid to "tell it like it is."

Jazz singer Nancy Wilson did a good job in this episode as a singer in need of a fix. This aired on Sept. 23rd, 1970 and (Spoiler) Janis Joplin died of a heroin overdose on Oct. 4th. I wonder if she watched it.

And the dealer is well played by Milton Selzer. (Spoiler) One thing I'd say is a goof is the McGarrett licks the heroin he suspects of being contaminated with arsenic. Gotta love these late '60s TV shows, are I didn't bother to watch the remake of this great original series.

It's interesting how Wilson's piano player goes looking for a fix, knocks out Fong and gets away with it, then tries to stop a kid from popping, and pretends to be a junkie to protect Wilson. Overall good, one of many great Hawaii Five-Os. What other series has the title become part of the lexicon: we all know what "5-0" means.

Okay, the above summary is certainly facetious, as traditionally musicians have used a wide variety for many, many decades. Heck, some of the most famous jazz musicians of the 1930s and 40s are "outed" for their drug uses in Alex Haley's biography/autobiography of Malcolm X--and it's pretty much common knowledge that this has long been a problem. Yet, aside from "Hawaii Five-O", I can't think of a single show that talked about this.

The show begins with Kono going into a bar and rousting a known drug user. Later, after a pianist and singer (Harry Guardino and Nancy Wilson respectively) leave the lounge, Kono follows and pulls them over after the pianist (who was driving) does a stupid move. As he's looking into the car, Kono is bashed over the head by Guardino and the two make a get away--otherwise, the heroin Kono just found in the car would have resulted in their arrest. The next day, BOTH Guardino and Wilson claim Kono was at fault and the decried their innocence.

So why was Kono being so intent on searching everyone in the bar? Well, it seems the place is known as a drug hangout AND a batch of arsenic-laced heroin has been killing unsuspecting users. McGarrett is determined to find it and shows that he's less a conservative cop and more a guy who is concerned at these senseless deaths.

Since it's obvious that the two had heroin in the car AND Guardino had a record of heroin possession, McGarrett naturally assumes they might lead him to the source of the tainted drug. But, Guardino isn't talking and his pretty lady friend is just as belligerent and close-mouthed. So it's up to Five-O to keep up the pressure until there is a break in the case.

While not a great episode, it is very good for several reasons. As I said above, it talked about drugs in the industry but it also gets points for misdirection--McGarrett was actually wrong during much of the show. And, I also appreciated the little drug dealer--it was pretty shocking to see an 11 year-old who both sold AND used this horrible drug. Well worth seeing. But, and these are major problems with the episode, McGarrett really blows it . First, to try to sound cool and with-it, he spouts a lot of hip drug lingo that is pretty laughable. However, the worst thing he does is TASTE a bag of what might be heroin to find out if it's tainted with arsenic. What part of TAINTED WITH ARSENIC didn't he seem to understand?! And, for that matter, who knows what arsenic tastes like (I assume those who do are all dead)? And, how many cops could taste and detect if something is unadulterated heroin?!?! Goofy stuff in an otherwise decent episode. A bit of editing sure would have helped.

Nancy Wilson gets a spot in this episode which I judged to be just okay.

McGarret has trouble on his hands as he needs to stop a deadly strain of heroin on the island. Wilson's character, along with her piano player played by Harry Guardino, dominate the scenes as they attempt to evade McGarret and his crew while trying to find a "fix".

Pretty shallow plot involving very little action, however, we get to see the typical tough Steve McGarret trying to set things straight and bring some semblance of order to the scene. He does so in great fashion (as usual) and even gains some unusual camaraderie with Guardino's character while trying to serve a greater good.