User Reviews

A Forest Ranger sees a small plane making what appears to be an emergency landing in a remote area and notifies the Highway Patrol. Upon investigating, Mathews and a deputy find that the Forest Ranger has been murdered. Mathews sets out and comes upon the two passengers and pilot of the plane. The two passengers are a gangster and his wife; the gangster is, as to be expected, cold and arrogant but the wife is clearly distraught. Mathews ascertains that the three are out in the middle of nowhere because the daughter of the passengers has been kidnapped. Mathews does a keen bit of detecting and resolves the mystery. Another good episode set in rough California terrain.

**SPOILERS** I'm giving this one a 10 because of the cool machinery, and an actress billed as Tara Summers, that seems to be unknown to IMDb. First, the cars driven in these first episodes are Buicks with standard transmissions, and V-8 engines, or equally cool 1954-5 Mercurys with the same set ups. The early episodes with these cars mostly feature 2-door sedans. I'll bet any hot-rodder (or, god help us, low rider) sees these models and just drools, I know I did.

The actress is a black or very dark-tressed beauty who had a contributing speaking role, and seems to be unknown. I wonder if IMDb would look up her credits for us old guys who should remember someone so pretty?? This was a pretty tight story, and under Federal Law at the time, all three participants were headed for the death chamber in the nearest Federal Prison. Both the murder of the Ranger, and the kidnapping carry the death sentence. Makes ya wonder why they didn't try to fight it out, don't it?