User Reviews

When "Stone, Cold Dead" begins, a man (Dack Rambo) is trying to sexually assault a woman aboard his boat. However, he accidentally kills her in the process and proceeds to toss her and her bicycle overboard to hide the evidence. However, just before this, a credible witness saw this same woman arguing with her fiancé and it is assumed he killed her when her body washes ashore. Cannon investigates the case for some time, but comes up with nothing. His only possible clue is the missing bicycle. So, he dons scuba gear and begins looking...

The plot of this episode is pretty good. But what appealed to me were the scuba sequences. You should note that the diver was way too skinny to be Frank Cannon, however! And, since I am a diver myself, I marveled at how badly the one stuntman dove--flailing his arms about (when you dive, you actually barely use your arms as well). As to all the underwater footage, it was quite good and was like merging "Cannon" with "The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau"! Also, in case you were wondering, YES, spear guns are THAT inaccurate and the guy missing Cannon (despite the big target had it really been him) wasn't surprising at that distance. Overall, interesting and worth seeing--even if you might find it hard to believe William Conrad in scuba gear!

Frank Cannon would have also made a good lawyer, ya think?... especially in this adventure, as he comes to the defense of an innocent man, accused in the drowning death of a girl. True, these early episodes had Cannon a bit more stylishly dressed, like an attorney or a businessman, before his "casual" clothes line of 70s orange shirts and a blue windbreaker.

STONE, COLD DEAD is a familiar story, all about a fabulously wealthy family protecting a guilty son. Exceptionally acted and entertaining. Dack Rambo is quite crafty as an affluent speed boat racer, actually responsible for the crime. His father (well played by Richard Anderson), knows all too well the real story.

Look for Lou Antonio as Arnie. Antonio, who was a well established actor, gained cult status for appearing in the "Battlefield" episode of STAR TREK, reported to be the most famous episode of the entire series. He played an alien in half black/ half white face. Catch it if you can.

Paul Playdon wrote this high drama, associated with MISSION IMPOSSIBLE and CHIPS. He also wrote the popular tv movie BEG, BORROW OR STEAL (1973) starring Mike Connors, who played a blind man attempting to pull off a heist with his other disabled buddies. Watch for that film.

There are a lot of boat scenes here, filmed at Oxnard, California (next door to Ventura) and I agree with the last reviewer that Bill Conrad did not do any of the underwater scenes. HOWEVER... the ending boat chase is a classic and, yes, HE IS hanging onto and steering the boat. I am sure some of these ideas came from HAWAIIN EYE or 77 SUNSET STRIP, which he directed back in the day. METV is rerunning lots of these episodes.

Look for veteran Frank Ferguson (ABBOTT & COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN and others) as an old geezer fisherman. Directed by Seymour Robbie, long in movies and tv; MURDER SHE WROTE and REMINGTON STEELE, lots of others.

The best, especially for the cool race boats. Beautifully filmed.

SEASON 1 EPISODE 11 CBS/Paramount dvd box set # 1 (last episode) of 2 boxes. Box set #2 begins with DEATH IS A DOUBLE CROSS.