Change Your Image
paulabranham
Reviews
The Sixth Sense: Whisper of Evil (1972)
What Could Have Been...
How much better could this series have been had they included Percy Rodrigues' character from the very beginning? In this episode, Rodrigues plays a steet-wise cop with a mastery of the five conventional senses. Partnered with Gary Collins' Dr. Rhodes, the pair make quite a formidable mystery/crime solving duo. And the two actors show great chemistry working together.
Looking ahead, it appears that Rodrigues will be in a couple more episodes, so I will be looking forward to those. But again, I do wonder if this series could have been more successful had Rodrigues' character been a staple of the show from the very beginning.
Public Defender: The Hijacked Truck (1954)
A Very Racket Squad-like Episode of Public Defender
Before his 2 seasons starring in Public Defender, Reed Hadley starred in Racket Squad for 3 seasons. The two Hal Roach-produced shows are structurally very similar. However, in general I find Public Defender to be a bit dry compared to Racket Squad. But this episode is an exception. It is practically indistinguishable and every bit as engaging as a Racket Squad episode.
Racket Squad: Heartbreak for Sale (1952)
Solid Episode of a Solid Early Television Series
Agree with previous review that top summary does not describe this episode at all. The other summary further down the page is correct.
We are introduced to a couple who are grieving over the incarceration of their son and desperately hoping for a parole.
One day a man visits their home claiming to have been their son's cellmate in prison. He knows enough about their family to convince the couple that he truly was their son's cellmate.
He also claims to have connections to the parole board, and these connections can yield a quick parole for their son -- for a price.
The father is skeptical and wants to stick with their attorney's strategy. However, the mother is desperate and secretly funnels cash to the con artist without telling her husband. The loss of cash eventually becomes to great to hide from the husband.
Ripcord: Hurricane Charlie (1962)
Bottle Episode
This bottle episode centers on Charley Kern's bunyan. There are no guest stars.
Like most bottle episodes, it is weaker than average.
Ripcord: Jungle Survival (1961)
Possible Early Pilot???
Although it is #26 on the DVD set, this episode has the look and feel of an early pilot. Ted addresses the viewers as if they have never seen the show before.. There are NO guest stars and lots of stock footage. Most jarring of all is how Ted and Jim bicker and snap at each other -- which is totally out of character for them.
Secret File, U.S.A.: Mission Rhino (1955)
Pilot Episode
In this pilot episode, things are a little different. Morgan is fighting WWII-era Nazis rather than Cold War-era Soviet bloc agents. And Morgan himself is a Colonel rather than a Major.
Ripcord: Escape (1962)
Same plot hole in 2nd consecutive episode
Once again Ted and/or Jim drop - UNARMED - into a drop zone containing an ARMED bad guy who is KNOWN to be armed.
I want to like this show but they're making really difficult with craziness like this.
Robert Montgomery Presents: The Tall Dark Man (1955)
Child Actress Robin Morgan at the End of Her Acting Career
14-year old Robin Morgan carries this thrilling episode of Robert Montgomery Presents. In it, she plays high-schooler Sarah Gross, who is a well-known liar. So naturally, when she witnesses a murder, no one believes her. The spine-tingling tension builds as Sarah is stalked by the murderer.
Astonishingly, young Robin Morgan would give up her acting career the next year in 1956 and dedicate the rest of her life to radical feminist causes.
NB: as of November 2019 this episode is available on Amazon Prime. However, the version of this episode which is currently posted on YouTube is in much better condition than the Amazon Prime version.