The Fur Job

Episode aired Mar 16, 1967
TV-14
30m

IMDb RATING

7.7/10

191

YOUR RATING

Crime Drama Mystery

Emile Hartman reports the theft of $100,000 worth of quality furs and his delivery van. Friday and Gannon aren't having much luck until an insurance agent reports a call from a man selling f... Read allEmile Hartman reports the theft of $100,000 worth of quality furs and his delivery van. Friday and Gannon aren't having much luck until an insurance agent reports a call from a man selling fur coats. When he calls back a meeting is set up. The furrier must then give Gannon a cras... Read allEmile Hartman reports the theft of $100,000 worth of quality furs and his delivery van. Friday and Gannon aren't having much luck until an insurance agent reports a call from a man selling fur coats. When he calls back a meeting is set up. The furrier must then give Gannon a crash course in furs so the detectives can pose as buyers to make the arrest.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.7/10

191

YOUR RATING

4User reviews

See production info at IMDbPro

Photos13

+ 8

User reviews4

7.7191

Featured reviews

8planktonrules

Mostly average, but the great dialog makes this one a standout

Gannon and Friday investigate the theft of $100,000 worth of furs. Oddly, the people who burglarized the place knew their furs very well--stealing only the most expensive merchandise in the store--as well as a delivery van. Later, when someone approaches an insurance agent about buying some furs, the agent calls the police and gives them this lead. The detectives ask the agent to tell the guy selling furs that he was interested--and Gannon poses as a fur buyer to catch the crooks. The scene where the furrier teaches him about furs is pretty funny--and one of the highlights of the show. It's also pretty exciting watching Gannon and Friday with the crooks trying to arrange a buy--the dialog is very snappy and reminiscent of Film Noir.

In most ways this is a very ordinary and somewhat average episode. However, because the dialog was handled so well (with a few laughs), it is a standout and worth seeing.

As CC pointed out in another review, it's interesting how times have changed. Nowadays because of PETA's campaign, owning furs has lost a lot of its luster, so the episode seems a bit dated.

8ccthemovieman-1

Who Are The Finks Who Stole The Minks?

Animal Rights groups have made furs, I assume, almost a thing of the past, but for anyone still interested in how they make mink stoles and how you can tell a cheap one from a good one, this is your episode. It's actually pretty interesting.

"Bill Gannon" has to learn the business in a hurry after some thieves rob "Emile Carden" (Henry Corden) of a big load of them. Corden plays the stereotypical Jewish merchant from New York City with the thick accent and speech mannerisms. He teaches Bill what he knows in one day so the latter can go undercover as a buyer for the stolen merchandise.

It's a decent episode, with a little bit of humor thrown in and some suspense when Bill and "Joe Friday" (Jack Webb) set up and execute the "sting."

Trivia
Jody Gilbert and Joanne Medley, the mother and daughter mink customers, both died in 1979.

Goofs
Jack Webb's opening narration indicates the officers are assigned to the LAPD's Burglary Division. Because the thieves tied up the security guard and threatened physical harm, the case should have been assigned to Robbery Division, not Burglary. The closing narration confirms that the suspects were convicted of first degree robbery, not burglary.

Quotes
[Friday is meeting one of the fur thieves in the hotel bar; his signal is that he's carrying a copy of the Sunday comics from the Los Angeles Times]
Floyd Sinclair: You always carry the comics section around with you?
Sgt. Joe Friday: Only when I need 'em.
Floyd Sinclair: You're early.
Sgt. Joe Friday: So are you.
Floyd Sinclair: You the buyer?
Sgt. Joe Friday: Man's up in the room.
Floyd Sinclair: You got the cash?
Sgt. Joe Friday: You got the merchandise?
Floyd Sinclair: Brought a sample.
Sgt. Joe Friday: We don't deal in samples.
Floyd Sinclair: I don't deal in hotel rooms.
Sgt. Joe Friday: You've got the fur that's burning a hole in your closet, not me, fella.
Floyd Sinclair: How do I know what I'll find in your room?
Sgt. Joe Friday: Not who, what.
Floyd Sinclair: Huh?
Sgt. Joe Friday: We can go a hundred thousand big ones.
Floyd Sinclair: How far did you bring the money?
Sgt. Joe Friday: K.C.
Floyd Sinclair: Know a guy named Andy Logan back there?
Sgt. Joe Friday: No, and you don't either. Now let's can that two-bit check-out routine and talk fur, or else you can take that box of rabbits you got there and amble on.
Floyd Sinclair: Take it easy.
Sgt. Joe Friday: You're the one that wants to unload. I didn't come here to listen to some punk who ate a big breakfast.
Floyd Sinclair: Just trying to play it close, that's all.
Sgt. Joe Friday: You play it any closer, it's gonna be behind you.
Floyd Sinclair: One more thing before we go to the room.
Sgt. Joe Friday: Yeah, what's that?
Floyd Sinclair: How do I know you and the man got that much money?
Sgt. Joe Friday: The same way we know you've got that much fur.