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Reviews
Mannix: The Survivor Who Wasn't (1974)
Highlight of the Season
The writing is unusually good and the story surprisingly engaging. The writers leave you wondering what, exactly, could be the solution. This is not a boilerplate Mannix episode with 3 possible suspects from whom to choose but a genuine puzzle that wasn't resolved until the very end despite a clue earlier on in the show.
The music, the action scenes and especially the lavish use of location filming made this episode simply stand out. A lump in the throat at the end of it all - not your typical Mannix episode. This may well have been written for another series or for its own TV movie and condensed and used here - it is that good.
CHiPs: Crash Course (1981)
Authentic Action - the sleeper hit of the season - great muscle cars!
A nice break from the usual freeway crashes featuring old beater cars, Crash Course sports numerous high-powered 1970s muscle cars in good condition being chased and crashing.Beautiful Charger, Mustang and Camero all featured in action, among others. The crash scenes in particular are incredibly realistic from the first with the first crash happening at relatively high speed. Don Stroud turns in an entirely believable performance as a lifelong criminal getaway driver who has almost unsurpassed skill at evading police while avoiding other vehicles. The underlying plot is obvious and perhaps simplistic but coupled with the great cinematography and amazing cars keeps the viewer interested throughout. Great guest appearance by Gino Conforti - the chef in later episodes Three's Company.
This episode is heavily influenced by The Driver - a 1978 movie starring Ryan O'Neal as a hotshot driver who assists in a bank robbery. A scene in the bus terminal after the first robbery is a nod to that - as are the presence of the souped-up 1970s Camero and Mustang, among others. A nice tribute.
Totally recommend this episode.
CHiPs: Bomb Run (1981)
A mystifying plot, lots of filler and an unsatisfying ending
The actors are great in this episode but it is simply too thick to follow. The criminals are plotting a heist to occur during an airshow and I personally could not make head nor tails of their plans - I had to wait to see them unfold before it started to make sense. A key to the caper was a car that ended up being towed away - but not by a truck, but a helicopter. A most unlikely scenario. This episode is set during an air show and will please those who are into vintage planes and trick flying maneuvers. But it is apparent that the amount of time given over to the planes and pilots who are not germane to the plot that they are being used as filler. This episode does not have enough heft to hold its own. Finally, the ending is simply unsatisfying. Despite it being thrilling, it did not address numerous questions such as a love interest for one of the CHiPs officers, the results of a criminal plot and finally the individual fates of the criminals who were carrying out that plot. I was very
CHiPs: Anything But the Truth (1981)
Surprisingly deep, with acting and scenes that have meaning
This episode is not like the others. Noticeably absent is Ponch. Putting that aside, the premise is made somewhat more credible by a villain who operates part time and strike when opportunity knocks, rather than one of the family-based crime groups that seem to be popular in the fifth season.
What makes this episode stand out is Tara Buckman's performance. She simply shines as the pathological liar who dates Jon. A scene in the interrogation room could be material for the big screen - the timing, the pauses between the actors speaking, the reactions of each to what the other says, the sequence of how she tells the story and then starts telling it a second time, the absence of music - all combine to create the ring of authenticity. Her character's development is perhaps the surprise of the season. The audience is perpetually left to guess about the meaning of her later revelations. But more importantly, we get to see a person address who she is and confront her very identity. As a result, this episode stands markedly apart from most others in this series, without being saccharine or maudlin. Despite the writers' various attempts to the contrary in the earlier parts of the episode, something meaningful emerges by the end.
The President's Plane Is Missing (1973)
Excellent cast, good filming, unfortunate oversights in plot
The film turns on whether or not the President of the United States is, in fact, dead or simply missing. A number of excellent performances including by Arthur Kennedy and Peter Graves. Some filming was done in DC and shows well - other filming was done in LA and this unfortunately is quite apparent. This is a serious film and merits the attention of a more attentive audience as it involves clues and procedures. That makes it all the more disappointing that the procedure by which the Vice President becomes Acting President afforded by the 25th Amendment is not mentioned. Instead, there is no reference to any Constitutional mechanism and even talk of the Chief Justice being summoned should the the Vice President elect to swear himself in to office (!). This amateurish, inexcusable oversight ruins what is otherwise a solid plot carefully and faithfully executed in the filming and performances. It is particularly hard to accept given that filming occurred in 1970-1971, just 3 years after the 25th Amendment dealing with exactly this topic was ratified. That Amendment itself came into force at the time it did in large part due to the assassination of President Kennedy and the swearing into office at Love Field of President Johnson in 1963 - a historic and tragic event that ought to have been on the minds of the script writers. Because the film asks us to take it very seriously and doesn't, in return, provide a Constitutionally-accurate plot with at least a mention of the then-new 25th Amendment, it does not fully succeed in its aspirations as a thriller. Fortunately, (mostly) good acting helps keep the suspense alive. Other quibbles are the fake, semi-British Hollywood accents affected by Rip Torn (whose performance is otherwise bang-on) and Louise Sorel (who unfortunately plays a damsel in semi-distress with a case of the nerves rather than the competent lone female reporter in a man's world that would have been much more credible for the setting). Mercedes McCambridge is denied a larger role which is unfortunate given the strength of her very limited appearances.
Interestingly, the Wikipedia entry cites a source as listing this film as having been released a 'period piece' ( meaning that it was released 2 years after having been filmed, and thus was dated ) - it is amazing how, in 2019, we would not consider, from a technological point of view, at least, something from 2017 to be so dated as to be considered a period piece, such was the pace of change in fashion, music and automotive styles at the time. Interestingly, the plot does mimic Nixon's subsequent-to-filming trip to China in 1972 in which the U.S. played China and Russia off of each other.
A worthwhile film for anyone interested in the era, whether the politics, the contemporary technology/automotive advancement of the day or just the great cast assembled.