The Photographer

"The Photographer" is probably one of the 10 best episodes of "Mission: Impossible" and has a classic plot you shouldn't miss.

David Redding (Anthony Zerbe) is a professional photographer...and leader of a spy ring in America. He and his mentor, Alex (John Randolph), are working on something big and the US government know what it is--to release plague in the United States. The problem is that David's code that shows who and where his agents are is practically unbreakable and they need to crack it before the holocaust is unleashed. So, the IM team needs to trick him into divulging his key--thus allowing the US government to stop this dastardly deed.

While the general plot is okay, what really makes this one stand out is how the mission is completed. I won't explain all the intricacies, but suffice to say that they convince this creep that there has been a nuclear attack--and they rig up the bomb shelter in a manner that makes it all look very convincing! Such rigs often are used in the best of the shows--such as the one where one guy thinks he's on a submarine and another where folks are taken on an ersatz train ride. Clever and very well executed.

I am so surprised at reviews all over, as to this being one of the best.

It isn't . I've seen most episodes four times each.

I like Zerbe, of course, but this one does not have much going for it.

The way they trick him, Is similar to others, and there is no real dialog from him, at the end.

Speaking as a photographer myself, I have a slight quibble with this episode. Don't worry this does not require a spoiler alert. We all know that supposedly Cinnamon Carter is a world famous fashion model when not she's not playing secret agent/fem fatale for the Impossible Missuon Force. David Redding is supposedly an equally world famous fashion photographer when he's not playing a traitor, spy and all round bad guy. Is the audience really supposed to accept, let alone believe, that Redding hadn't known or worked with Cinnamon or at the very least recognize her from her many magazine covers?

This was a sobering episode back in the day, and credit the great direction by Lee H. Katzin, who was behind many classic films and tv movies who all us kids grew up on in the 70s.

Anthony Zerbe is at his fiendish best, playing a madman called Redding --with Communist ties --who wants to destroy the United States in multiple ways. The difficult part for the M. I. team is they must crack an intricate code that Redding uses to communicate with his allies. Not EZ. Then again, nothing ever is for the team.

The most outstanding scene is when Redding is holed up in a sealed underground room and is able to see the results of a nuclear blast, via telescope. You can't miss this one, especially fun with fake model sets, making it look like the world has come to an end. Special thanks to the production crew for putting this together.

Applause for veteran actor John Randolph, playing Alex, one of Redding's colleagues. No matter what role Randolph played, he was a natural. Best remembered for his appearance in the cult film, SECONDS, starring Rock Hudson.

Yes, I agree with the last reviewer. There's a curious situation. Redding is supposed to be a photographer, working with Cinnamon. However, Cinnamon is a famous model, gracing the pages of many magazines. Wouldn't he immediately recognize her as they are both in the same biz?

Interesting.

Written by William Read Woodfield who wrote 24 episodes for the series. This certainly is a classic, and a bit on the scary side.

SEASON 2 EPISODE 15 remastered Paramount dvd box set. 7 dvds total. 2007 release.