User Reviews

I say 'owch' because once again, Mannix gets the snot beaten out of him. However, this kidney punch looks even worse! So how did he get slugged in the kidney? Well, it all begins with him going to New Mexico and being subpoenaed to testify in court. When he's done, he is about to get back on the plane and return to Los Angeles but changes his mind...when POW he gets hit! Obviously, if someone goes to all the trouble of beating him up, there is far more to this open and shut case than meets the eye.

The rest of the story consists of Mannix changing sides and now helping the defense. What this turns up and the real motive for the killing and the real murderer is what makes this pretty interesting. Overall, a pretty good episode once again of this series.

Every detective series has at least a few episodes of small towns with a certain degree of crookedness Mannix has a few in season two alone. Mannix seems to get a beating in every episode and has a remarkable healing process. Rockford may have gotten more beatings- it is too close to call. A least Mannix has a nice office, paying clients and a nice receptionist. And ,like Rockford, Mannix never locks his car.

Awesome classic Mannix. LA Joe flies to Manzana County, New Mexico, where he testifies badly as an expert witness, but makes up for it by enduring a couple of good beatings, wasting a perp in gravitational fashion, and mansplaining lovely lawyer Joanna Barnes and her "girl reporter" out of a tough bind.

In a switch, Mannix turns up in another small town minus welcomes mats, HOWEVER... his mission is to testify in a murder case. Now that's original. What comes with it are the usual gut and sucker punches, set against a New Mexico backdrop.

This was the only episode written by Samuel Newman, long associated with PERRY MASON, who wrote over 100 episodes, and some of the best. Surprisingly, Joe's testimony in this case does not amount to much, and the man he actually sent to prison is attracting some cut throats. Mannix naturally decides to stick around and play hardball, and that's when it all shifts into high gear. Don't y'all love it.

The cast is worth mentioning, particularly Joanna Barnes as Phyllis, a lawyer. Barnes was extremely popular in tv and worked at Warner Brothers on many top shows. All purpose character actor Dana Elcar plays the sheriff, a role very familiar for him. He always reminded me of long time NBC sportscaster Joe Garagiola, they looked so much alike.

Tall, dark and dead serious Richard Anderson plays the district attorney. Anderson seemed to be made for these types of roles as he rarely smiled. Tol Avery, a staple in many 60s sitcoms, thanks to his booming voice, is also well cast. Avery usually played professionals, though with a comedic slant.

There's a few goofs at play, in case you missed it, such as a California state flag in the New Mexico courtroom? This confirms the episode may have been filmed in the California desert, probably up near Lancaster. Miles and miles of wide open spaces.

Yes, the coffee mugs in Phyllis' office appear to be the same ones used by Joe and Peggy in their office. Coincidence? But there's more. Be on the look out for those famous 60s Corning white and blue coffee pots that Joe and everyone else seemed to have in their kitchen or wherever. It was the fashionable coffee pot of tv in the late 60s and 70s.

The climactic shootout with the mirror was "borrowed" from a Charlie Chan movie!

Put on the late night joe and don't lose the boxing gloves. Final episode of 1968.

SEASON 2 EPISODE 12 remastered CBS dvd box set.

I have been watching lots of Mannix episodes on Amazon and this is one of the very best. The guest stars Dána Elcar and Richard Anderson really make the episode work. What is also great is there is no "Damsel ( or Joe) in Distress." Also the lady lawyer plays as much of a role ( intentionally) as does Joe. Now obviously, there is a murder mystery involved and there are two obvious candidates Elcar ( The Sheriff) and Anderson ( the DA) because they are the primary guest stars, but which one is it? Of course, Joe figures out which one and the motive behind the crime. He also figures out the lawyer's father ( also an attorney), who died in an auto accident was actually murdered. So Joe was able to not only free an innocent man and punish the culprit but bring closure to the attorney. She was particularly happy with Joe saying her father would be proud of her. Easy 10/10 stars. Do not miss this episode.