User Reviews

A man approaches Cannon with an odd proposition in "Flight Plan"--he wants to disappear from the country with no trace. According to this client, he's on the run from assassins, as he's a political prisoner from some crummy nation. Now the story seems goofy and it's inexplicable that Frank Cannon would go for it--but he did. However, after he comes up with a great plan, his client then tries to murder him!! Soon, Cannon is in pursuit--and the trail leads to Mexico. Along the way, he also learns more about his sweet client--how he stole the funds from a Cuban dissident group and how he's more than willing to kill anyone who knows too much--and LOTS of people seem to know too much! This is a pretty good episode except for one part. Near the end, the very rotund detective chases down a moving bus and hops aboard to confront the guy. Seeing his outrunning the bus is ridiculous, that's for sure. Also ridiculous, but quite funny, is the hat that he wears at the end. Worth seeing in spite of everything.

FLIGHT PLAN was more of a showcase for Caesar Danova, once billed as the next Valentino! Danova's claim to fame was as one of Liz Taylor's lovers in CLEOPATRA, later a frequent guest star on television. Although Danova was Italian, here he plays a Spanish con-man who hires Cannon to get him out of the country, pretending to be a political prisoner hunted by assassins. Danova is such a fiend he also attempts to murder Cannon. Watch for it.

10 STARS.

Robert C. Dennis, long associated with THE WILD WILD WEST, wrote this as a neat character study of a scoundrel. Also catch the dialogue as it's very clever at times. Dennis had previously written for DAN AUGUST, HAWAII FIVE O and DRAGNET 1970. He was one of the best writers in town.

Two veteran actors appear here; Peter Mamacos (as Vicente) generally cast as a heavy, and James Dolan, in a bit as a desk sergeant, an actor you have seen for years but never knew his name. More than likely he worked with Bill Conrad at Warner Brothers tv. Also there's balding, squeeky-voice John Fielder, usually playing harrassed gentlemen and eccentric villains. One of his best roles was on ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS.

There's a wild bus ride.... but the real treat is Cannon wearing a GIANT sombrero and getting even with Barbara Luna, Danova's ex-girlfriend, literally left holding the bag! She deserved it, without giving too much away. This was a funny gag for the series, seen many times in clips.

Credit the adventure to veteran director Richard Donner, behind SUPERMAN and LETHAL WEAPON. Partly filmed, as usual at LAX, possibly because they had the large airport restaurant to feed the crew.

SEASON 1. The last episode of 1971, Dec 28th.

EPISODE 14 CBS/Paramount dvd box set No. 2 of 2.

Four disc set per box. 21 hours total. 2008.