Mortal Sin

Episode aired Oct 3, 1974
52m

IMDb RATING

7.5/10

YOUR RATING

Action Crime Drama

Harry's friend is a Catholic priest who asks for Orwell's help in finding a man who confessed to a murder. Unable to break his vow of secrecy, he can't go to the police. Soon, other bodies b... Read allHarry's friend is a Catholic priest who asks for Orwell's help in finding a man who confessed to a murder. Unable to break his vow of secrecy, he can't go to the police. Soon, other bodies begin turning up dead.Harry's friend is a Catholic priest who asks for Orwell's help in finding a man who confessed to a murder. Unable to break his vow of secrecy, he can't go to the police. Soon, other bodies begin turning up dead.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.5/10

YOUR RATING

1User review

See production info at IMDbPro

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WHO IS IT?

If you're thinking MANNIX when you see this episode, you are correct. Stephen Kandel (who passed in 2023) may have been inspired by an episode called "Cry Silence" from Season 6, a few years earlier. Anthony Zerbe played a priest who "hears" a killer confess to a murder, but can't do anything because of his sacred vows.

Changing actors here, Laurence Luckinbill (married to Lucie Arnaz) plays Father Vecchio, quite in the same predicament. The frustrating part is the church code of silence, reminiscent of Hitchcock's I CONFESS. Where Harry enters the case, and thanks to Stephen Kandel, it's a unique mystery. Unlike in MANNIX, Father Vecchio is able to give Harry one valuable clue, a verse from a Shakespeare poem, mentioning death and a connection to a killer of multiple victims.

Terrific cast. John Doucette plays the bishop, and looking the part. Comedian J. Edward McKinley (Kramer) guest stars, often seen on BEWITCHED. Charles Drake plays Marty, a staple in many classic films (THE SWIMMER), also WAGON TRAIN. Featuring two excellent actresses; Mary Murphy (known for THE WILD ONE) and Carol Rossen (Marian).

Walter McGinn plays Eric Press, his career cut short a few years later when he was killed in an accident.

You definitely have to see Harry piece this whodunit together. Directed by Paul Wendkos, known for I SPY and THE INVADERS.

SEASON 1 EPISODE 4 remastered Warner Brothers dvd box set. 6 dvds. Released 2012. Seasons 1 and 2 box sets, with terrific covers.

Trivia
The line of verse Harry quotes, "Golden lads and girls all must, as chimney-sweepers, come to dust," is from Shakespeare's Cymbeline, Act IV, Scene II.

Goofs
The priest tells Harry about a murderer's confession, breaking the Catholic seal of confession, yet continues to insist he can't break this seal - which he already has. Under Catholic Canon law, priests are forbidden from revealing any confession details.

Quotes
Paul Vecchio: This man's very, very disturbed. Maybe that's why he seemed to be warning me, seemed to be begging me to try and stop him. Maybe that's why without realizing it he gave me a clue. It was some kind of a verse or poem. "Cherry-lipped lads and girls besides, like adulterous cooks, come to the tides."
Harry Orwell: That's wrong. "Golden lads and girls all must, as chimney-sweepers, come to dust." Shakespeare. I used to go with a very poetic girl. She was intelligent, but a light sleeper.