Death of a Hunter

Yes, Edward Mulhare played a ghost but on The Ghost and Mrs. Muir. Nanny and the Professor had no ghosts that I recall. This episode was okay but nothing special. It didn't keep my interest and Cannon usually does.

Often police and detective shows do a good job of misdirecting the audience and get them to wonder who is responsible for the crimes in the show. However, oddly, the writers didn't bother doing this at all with "Death of a Hunter" and the only logical suspect IS the one who is behind everything...a weakness of the episode.

When the episode begins, a supposedly experienced vet is killed when the lion he anesthetized turns out to be wide awake and angry...and it mauls him. Cannon investigates and finds that the tranquilizer dart was filled partially with the anesthetic...and partially with a stimulant!! Regardless, this scene was handled very poorly, as the dead vet shot the lion and entered the cage 30 seconds later...something you cannot do with a properly functioning tranquilizer dart! This and other killings are all caused by the guy you suspect five minutes into the show and so it's not hard for Cannon to put all the pieces together and solve the case.

Beautifully filmed TOP 10 episode with Edward Mulhare. Through the years he was often compared to Rex Harrison, and made the rounds of tv cop shows. Following this episode he guested on STREETS OF SAN FRANCISCO. On the lighter side he was the "ghost" in the GHOST AND MRS MUIR tv show, later KNIGHT RIDER.

Meyer Dolinsky wrote this adventure, known for HAWAII FIVE O. The only debit, he made it too easy to spot the killer. It's obvious who taunted a lion into killing a vet, and it's a graphic scene, reminiscent of an earlier episode where victims were being killed by Dobermans.

Sly fox Mulhare has Cannon on his back, asking endless questions and he's getting desperate. He throws a snake in Cannon's car, stuff all of us kids loved back in the day. Personally, after all these years, I think it would have been a better idea had Cannon given Mulhare a ride with the snake under his seat. Could you see that?

Sharon Acker, who appeared in the very first episode, plays the victim's widow, who hires Frank. Sharon was a natural and quite popular on tv at the time. She and William Conrad make an excellent team. Sharon passed in March 2023.

This episode boasts some outstanding photography, especially at the start. The crew went out to Lion Country in Los Angeles, which was at its prime when this episode was filmed. It was designed to be like a mini safari, seeing all the wild animals in their home. Unfortunately, due to declining attendance, the sprawling attraction closed in 1984.

A fitting memorial to a legendary LA tourist spot. Lion Country now based in Florida.

Look for some familiar supporting actors (spot the face), notably Bill Erwin, playing a doctor.

SEASON 3 EPISODE 21 remastered color CBS/Paramount dvd box set, blue and red. 2012. 21 hrs total running time.