"Cannon" Photo Finish (TV Episode 1974) Poster

(TV Series)

(1974)

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7/10
Good story line, ending is a bit hard to believe
FloridaFred2 January 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I wish I could give this more stars. But a snub nose revolver against a high-powered rifle, wielded by an expert marksman? Not likely.

Granted, detectives and police were using revolvers into the 1980's. That pretty much came to a halt after the tragic real life shootout in 1986 in Miami that resulted in 2 FBI agents dying, and 5 others wounded, because they were outgunned by men with more powerful weapons.

But the idea that Cannon could take out a rifle- carrying guy who is one of the best shots in the world, by shooting him with a snub nosed pistol, is absurd.

The writers could have done better on this one. Dinged it 3 stars; I rate it only 7.
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10/10
Great episode if you are a Jack Cassidy fan*** Great Story and scenery of old California
aurellian8620 February 2012
Great episode! A "10" for the Cannon series - Excellent plot and story a great display of acting from a host of familiar characters from my youth. It brings back memories of California when I lived right there. (Shows great parts of California when there wasn't millions of houses covering every inch), I can't figure out if it's in the San Beradino Mtns., Calabasas or even the undeveloped parts of Bel Aire in some of the canyons along Mulholland Drive (lots of trees still left around there at that time)

Of course if you are a jack Cassidy fan like me, how can you go wrong? He always ads a certain touch of old fashioned class to any roll he portrays. He was great as an evil murderer or master criminal. He could also be very funny he did many guest appearances on every TV show of his day. My favorite one that comes to mind is an episode of GET SMART, where he played a decorator named "Mr. BOB", it's an absolute classic roll. I am prejudice though because I think that GET SMART was the best satire Comedy ever put together. Every actor was an intricate part, when they made the first movie it didn't have the Chief (he had died) and it really didn't have anywhere near the same zing.
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10/10
RING FOR JACK CASSIDY, THE MASTER VILLAIN.
tcchelsey19 April 2022
10 Stars. Must See TV.

John Hawkins, who worked with William Conrad at Warner Brothers/ABC tv wrote this special episode, and I am sure with Jack Cassidy in mind. Hawkins majored mostly in tv westerns; BONANZA, the VIRGINIAN and wrote for Conrad's show TEMPLE HOUSTON.

It was a honor to get Jack Cassidy on the series, who was making the rounds of all the cop shows, especially COLUMBO, where he was incredible. Jack was very distinguished and played gentleman villains like nobody else, although there's probably a tie between he and Anthony Zerbe in the thrill department.

Casting directors loved this guy. Conrad also worked with him at Warners, so he was in good company.

Cassidy plays a distinguished general with an axe to grind. He hires Cannon to find out who killed his brother --although his brother had a dark past. Does not matter to him. Frank does the homework and discovers the guy who killed this bad apple was HIM. Fairly original stuff.

Cannon now has only so much time before the general will eliminate him, kind of like an old west duel. A dynamic cat and mouse game, and listen to the dialogue.

I DO agree with the last two reviewers; Cannon taking on an ace military hunter and sharpshooter is a tough call, but also the way he nails the guy in the end ain't that bad... without giving too much away.... I only wish the confrontation would have lasted a bit longer.

When I saw this back in the day, it was campy writing and still is. You have to remember, years of other cop shows to follow this series moved the bar much higher. Still its worth a look for some outstanding acting. And Cannon, you have to admit, met his match with this fiend.

Look for Lenore Kasdorf, popular on soap operas; SANTA BARBARA, GUIDING LIGHT, and appeared several times on Bill Conrad's next show, JAKE AND THE FAT MAN. Of course, the Fat Man was an offbeat salute to CANNON.

Lots of good scenery here, what looks like parts of Griffith Park, also used by MANNIX many times over. The general's luxurious mansion is located on Airole Way in Bel Air, reportedly the most expensive residence in the country, priced at over 140 million dollars.

Thanks to METV for including the famous 70s red and purple station break, "Cannon will be right back..." Fondly remembered --especially if you had color tv back in the day -- to alert the audience this was the longest break. The colors were cool. The idea borrowed from MOD SQUAD and had a following.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! First episode of 1974. SEASON 3 EPISODE 17 remastered color CBS dvd box set. 6 blue and red dvds, 21 hours total. 2012. Back cover photos are from the classic Martin Sheen episode, MEMO FROM A DEAD MAN.
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3/10
A terrible episode....
planktonrules13 April 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Well, I noticed that the other review for this episode gave the show a 10...because they are apparently a big Jack Cassidy fan. As for me, I just couldn't look past the fact that the story was badly written...Cassidy or not.

The General (Cassidy) is a mercenary who has made himself the dictator of some crappy third world nation. He's visiting the US and hires Cannon to find the guy who murdered the General's brother. Cannon only agrees to this IF the General agrees not to kill the guy but turn the man over to the police. However, what follows makes no sense at all...as Cannon discovers that HE had shot the brother years ago when he was breaking the law and Cannon was a cop! What follows is a silly cat & mouse game where the General stalks Cannon and, ultimately, one of the greatest shots in the world is chasing Cannon with an AR- 15/M-16 style rifle--not the best for snipers. But what makes it REALLY ridiculous is that Cannon uses his old snub-nosed .38 revolver and he takes out the General who has the rifle. Now you'd THINK the General would have picked a more appropriate weapon...but no snub-nosed revolver would be accurate at the range that Cannon's is and he didn't stand a prayer! While this might seem believable to someone knowing nothing about guns, to anyone who understands them, it's laughable...to the point of stupidity. Obviously the writer knew nothing about guns and never bothered to do their homework...or they just assumed the audience was too stupid to accept all this.
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