The Case of M.J.H.

...with a double twist of plot at the end.

Ignore the somewhat far-fetched plot. Excellent acting keeps your interest.

Ending pleasingly not predictable. Slesar at his best.

Once again, the outstanding teaming of director Alan Crosland, Jr and writer Henry Slesar, behind nearly 3000 episodes of the EDGE OF NIGHT.

Definitely NOT a soap opera, although you have some very interesting characters who cross paths. I agree with the last reviewer, the acting seals the deal. Robert Loggia plays Jimmy, a work of art. He's the biggest con of them all, focusing on Maude ( played by Barbara Baxley), the quiet secretary of a psychiatrist.

Maude interests Jimmy, but it's not what you think. His interest is strictly financial, because she could get him the doctor's secret patient files -- so he could blackmail a whole lot of folks. What a fiend. He meets his match with a patient called M. J. H. (veteran actor Richard Gaines).

Watching this all play out is very entertaining, in a dark sort of way, but that's Hitch. Loggia is spot on here, as is Barbara Baxley, who could play a wide range of characters and have so much fun with them. If Gaines looks familiar, that's because he played the judge on several episodes of PERRY MASON.

For cop show fans, this story was re-done many times, probably best on MANNIX, but stretched with more violence.

Do not miss this. SEASON 7 EPISODE 16 remastered dvd box set. Thanks to METV for running this unforgettable show for years, and late nights.

Blackmail is such an ugly crime. Not only is someone being extorted, but it victimizes others. It also is never ending because the payments continue or the cause is always there. I loved this one because of the miscalculations. Because the criminal who thinks he knows it all is in for a surprise. Good plot with a nice ending.

Jimmy French (Robert Loggia) is a real sleazebag. First, he cozies up to a lonely secretary and gets her to fall for him. Second, he convinces her to bring him her boss' files so that he can get material to blackmail the psychiatrist's patients! The first one he approaches is a guy whose initials are M. J. H....and much of the episode centers on Jimmy trying to extort $10,000 from the poor guy. What's next? See the show for the unexpected plot twist.

Fortunately, while Jimmy is a thoroughly disgusting individual, he does get his and the ending offers a nice twist. Well worth your time....as Loggia is great playing an absolutely awful man!