User Reviews

This show about a kidnapping is very unusual. It doesn't show the kidnapping take place (it's already a done deed when the show begins) but before the ransom can be paid, the kid manages to escape and returns home. Even more unusual is Frank Cannon's involvement--his fee for helping out are some bottles of rare wine and he strikes up a nice relationship with the kid. But here's the problem--the kid is mute because of the trauma and isn't a lot of help in helping the police know who the kidnappers were. To make things worse, there is an inside person who is working with the kidnappers--and they are determined to help the kidnappers get the kid and kill him before he can talk! This episode is also a bit unusual also because much of the show is set at Dodgers stadium ("Mr. Ed" and "The Munsters" also did shows there, by the way).

I liked this show, as it had an interesting plot and I liked seeing the kid and Cannon interact. It helped to humanize Cannon and make him more likable. I also LOVED how he questioned the injured kidnapper--it was enjoyably brutal. Overall, a very good episode and one well worth seeing.

Here a wealthy political candidate's son is kidnapped for ransom, and like and early Hawaii 5-0 episode, he manages to escape when an injured kidnapper passes out. In the meantime, Cannon is left waiting at a phone booth to make the ransom drop. They never did show who finally clued Cannon in that the boy had been found and returned home. LOL

The episode uses the contrivance of the boy being traumatized into not speaking, which keeps him from assisting in investigating the crime. Cannon finally figures out one of the kidnappers had been injured and gets a list of shady doctors who might have treated him. The trick he uses to determine which doctor was nicely written. :-)

The show also did a good job of making everyone in the household look suspicious as the presumed "inside man" on the job.

Well worth a watch.

Oustanding episode, you don't want to miss. This story is as poignant as it is thrilling, all about the kidnapping of a mute boy. It also has the feel of a MOD SQUAD episode, thanks to Robert L. Collins, a staple in 70s tv, who wrote for that series, also DAN AUGUST (Burt Reynolds). Collins had a long association (90 episodes) with POLICE WOMAN.

By the way... Is this a Warner Brothers tv reunion? Nearly half of the cast (even actors in bit roles) worked at WB tv in the 50s and 60s for their old director Bill Conrad. He made many friends. For starters, Jean Allison, who plays the psychiatrist assigned to the boy. Also Jason Evers (in the first of four appearances) and Whit Bissell, popular in cult films like I WAS A TEENAGE FRANKENSTEIN. Bissell co-starred with Tim O'Connor (the boy's father here) for years on PEYTON PLACE.

O'Connor's young son is played by Radames Pera who became famous as "Little Grasshopper" on KUNG FU, shortly after this episode. The only debit; he may have had to shave his head for that show. Pera later started his own company in Hollywood, installing movie theatres in homes of many stars. Good for him!

The acting here is terrific, and there are some powerful scenes. My vote go to the scenes with Cannon and the little boy. William Conrad had a son about his age at the time, and it would have been neat had he been on the show!

The climactic chase scenes, filmed at Dodger stadium, are extremely well directed, and it looks like it was filmed during a game. You can see who are the background actors and the real fans! Yes, the stadium, after all these years, looks about the same.

10 STARS. No less.

SEASON 1 CBS and Paramount remastered dvd box set (2008) which comes in two boxes, 4 dvds per box. The back cover of the first set has shots of the famous episode where Conrad actually jumped into a speeding boat and got it under control. Great for 70s tv buffs.