User Reviews

"Cain's Mark" is an episode of "Cannon" that guest stars Bradford Dillman and David Birney. The pair play brothers and it's nice to see that the producers got two actors who actually look like they could be brothers.

The show begins with a mother asking "Cannon" to help her locate her youngest son (Birney). It seems that he's a problem child and she is worried that now that he's disappeared, he won't show up for his probation meetings--and he'll be sent to prison. However, after Cannon finds the young man, he realizes that there is far more going on--that his older brother (Dillman) has evil intentions. So, while mom thinks she's doing a good thing, she's actually setting up her boy to be killed. So, it's up to Cannon to save the day and expose the 'good son' for what he is--a conniving scum-bag.

The plot to this one is pretty original and exciting. No complaints from me about this one--and I am usually pretty hard to please.

Bradford Dillman and Carmen Matthews appear in this episode as son and mother, and both make the most of their roles. Dillman (as Richard Alexander) plays the devious brother of David Birney, behind an illegal gun operation. Matthews plays their rather quirky mother who smells a rat, but is also a thorn in Cannon's side. BIG TIME.

Dillman, a distinguished film actor, later made a new career for himself on television and specialized in smooth, intelligant villains. Matthews, likewise, appeared in scores of tv shows, particularly known for ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS, playing nice, little old ladies with ulterior motives? She is perfect in this role. Watching these two veterans is lots of fun, especially for all the trouble they make for Cannon who wishes he never took the case in the first place!

Note, this is one of the few episodes where Frank is really set up. Excellent writing from George Bellak, who developed two off the wall characters. George was a regular writer for NYPD, the grand daddy of cop shows.

Also in the cast is Tom Drake (as Bill) fondly remembered MGM star of the 1940s, who also worked regularly in television and for William Conrad at Warner Brothers/ABC. Drake sold used cars near MGM in later years when acting gigs were scarce. Dana Elcar plays the trusty lieutenant (Levaca). I always confused him with NBC sportscaster Joe Garagiola, as they looked like brothers.

See if you can spot famous wrestler Ted Christy as a patron in a diner. Christy was a wrestler for years, but did television, especially in episodes as tough cowpokes in GUNSMOKE. One of the fight scenes was staged at the park at Coldwater Canyon Boulevard in North Hollywood, and the neighborhood hasn't changed after all these years, only a few miles from the BRADY BUNCH house.

Top direction by Don Taylor, who headed two series episodes, and lucky to get him. Don did episodes for BURKES LAW, not to forget his work for ALFRED HITCHCOCK. A class act.

SEASON 1 EPISODE 23 remastered CBS/Paramount dvd box set 2 of 2 (4 dvds each box), released 2008.