User Reviews

speeding truck "Blood on the Vine" is a very good episode of "Cannon". Much of it, I think, is because of the fine acting by the guest stars--in particular, the very talented Theodore Bikel.

The show begins with a man (Bikel) and his secretary nearly getting killed when the brakes in their car stop functioning. He laughs it off but she doesn't--this is the third time that her boss was nearly killed recently. So, behind his back, she calls in Cannon. At first, the boss is not pleased about Cannon's involvement, but soon this problem is erased when he sees that Cannon is a HUGE (no pun intended) wine aficionado. Both have a great love of wines and their scenes together were quite nice. As to who is behind the murders, this is a very interesting case but I don't want to say more, as it would spoil the show.

Acting, nicely written dialog and a different sort of plot (after all, how many wineries are featured in detective shows or any show?)--all these work together to make this a memorable episode. The only negative, and it's a minor one, is that I think the show divulged a bit too much information about the son too quickly--holding off to tell would have heightened the suspense. Well worth seeing.

Stephen Kandel wrote this top episode, a frequent contributor to the series, also doing scripts for HARRY O and MANNIX. This is a very good adventure, opening with a wild ride down a mountain road. Note the old white Lincoln used.

When it's an old car, you know there's going to be a wreck.

Cannon is hired by the secretary to a winemaker (played by Theodore Bikel) who someone wants silenced ASAP. As Frank digs deeper it turns out his client's son has some explaining to do. A familiar plot, but Kendal did a good job with character development and throws in some great dialogue.

Top honor goes to Theodore Bikel, an actor's actor on stage, screen and tv, also an accomplished folk singer. The series was lucky to get him as Bikel was enormously popular. He worked with William Conrad at Columbia Pictures, who also directed episodes for NAKED CITY. Watching these two together is a treat. You can tell Bikel is having a time.

Actor Alert: Ward Wood appears as a cop named Grady. I guess he wasn't needed on MANNIX that day. Katherine Justice, in her first series appearance, plays Meg, Bikel's secretary and confidant, who almost got herself killed as well.

To note, series director George McGowan handles some campy, fun scenes, particularly Cannon versus a truck with a maniac driver. Where did this guy come from?

The story may have inspired a COLUMBO episode (Any Old Port in a Storm), also about a winemaker, though this time playing the killer. This looks to have been filmed outside Los Angeles, possibly at the Mirassou Winery at San Jose, which was also used in the COLUMBO episode.

Recommended with a drink of your choice. SEASON 1 EPISODE 17 remastered CBS/Paramount dvd box set No. 2 of 2.