User Reviews

This show begins with a cop being set up for a murder. The audience sees it's a setup but the other cops don't know this. Oddly, the cop awaiting trial requests not just help from his fellow police but from Cannon. The trail leads to some hucksters who helped with the scam--and Cannon is eventually able to untangle the mess and save the day (huzzah!).

The plot to "Dead Pigeon" is actually really good--complex, interesting and it will keep you on the edge of your seats. It's actually one of the better episodes of season one. It helps that Barnard Hughes (a fine actor) guest stars in this one. It also helped with the ending--the confrontation between Cannon and the mastermind of the plot is great! The dialog here is the key--gritty and rather film noir-like. Well worth your time. The only negative? Even when people are shot at close range, there is zero blood! One guy was shot three times in succession...and not a single drop.

I agree with the last reviewer, DEAD PIGEON takes on a noir-ish type feel. This episode was well written by James Buchanan (not the president!), who went on to produce CHARLIE'S ANGELS. He also wrote the tv movie THE RETURN OF FRANK CANNON in 1980, where Cannon comes out of retirement for one last case.

Buchanan shows a different side of Frank Cannon, more of a low key, calculating detective and with a smirk --for the bad guys. Here, John McLiam plays a cop and friend of Cannon who is framed for a violent murder. The opening shooting tells it all. McLiam appeared regularly on THE FUGITIVE, where William Conrad served as narrator. In later years, he had multiple roles on IRONSIDE and MANNIX.

Martin E. Brooks makes a super villain, later in recurring roles on MCMILLAN AND WIFE and THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN. Of special note is Barnard Hughes, who became famous for his appearances as the Catholic priest on ALL IN THE FAMILY, the same year this episode was filmed. He plays the stoolie who is doomed. There are some nice shots of the Santa Monica pier here, between bullets?

Brooke Bundy (now all grown up) makes her first appearance on the show. She began her career as a model and was everywhere on tv, and probably knew Bill Conrad at Warner Brothers. They work well together and remind you of a father and daughter team. It would have been a terrific idea IF Cannon had a daughter like her, ya think?

Look for EJ Andre playing the old man who drowns in his bathtub. He appeared in a ton of movies and cop shows, also one of the Warner Brothers tv actors. Not too long after this episode he played the old con man in PAPILLON.

The ending is NOT to be missed. Don Taylor directed, who did many episodes of BURKE'S LAW. A super director, and the reason why Cannon is a bit more sassy in this one.

Recommended. SEASON 1 remastered CBS and Paramount dvd box set No. 1 of 2. 4 dvds. 2008 release.

I need to file an "au contraire" reaction to this episde -I was a "Cannon" fan back watching it in first-run, not the least of which because of the dependable performing of character actor William Conrad, but this hour was strictly dullsville.

Guet talent is boring as is the story, with a particularly annoying musical score that Mickey Mouse each suspense or actin scene in as distracting a fashion as possible. At one point the awful music blaring reminded me of the "Batman" series, but in this case it wasn't supposed to be funny.

I did not see this episode when it was aired in 1971, but waiting all these years only worked against it, that is unless you are inclined to shill for a show.