I agree with the last reviewer, Robert Loggia plays it over the top, but still worth a look because he's from a class of memorable actors.
Michael Caffey directed, also with BARNABY JONES, who had his fair share of camp villains. Leonard Kantor wrote the story, who began his career with THE UNTOUCHABLES.
Loggia plays Johnny, a mob boss (with a short fuse) who hires Cannon to figure out who put a hit on his former wife --OR was it for him? Has the feel of a MANNIX episode because nobody wants to tell the truth.
More over, everyone in the "family" seems to have an attitude. Just what Cannon needs. Good role for guest star Madlyn Rhue, playing Phyllis, Loggia's ex wife. Rhue was also no stranger to cop shows, and worked with her old boss, William Conrad, at Warner Brothers/ABC. She was everywhere on tv.
The fun part is guessing the real shooter, even if Loggia is very, very unpopular. One thing to note, he wears some NICE threads.
David Opatoshu plays Lucius and Harry Rhodes represents the LAPD. Don Ross plays a hotel clerk, frequently playing cops on DRAGNET. This was bit actor Bob Harks last appearance on the show, and an easy gig, playing a dead guy. In a way, he was smart, working steady in Hollywood and not working hard. Bob was a hero to lots of struggling actors.
For all us sightseers, we get to see some nice shots of Pike Amusement Park in Long Beach. This was "the" place to have fun back in the day, replete with attractions and rides before it was razed and sold to land developers. One of the greatest parks in the country.
The finale with all the mazuma on the table is priceless, and catch Loggia's long face!
AAA episode, for fans of Madlyn Rhue. SEASON 5 EPISODE 22 remastered color CBS/Paramount dvd box set. 7 dvds. Collectors series box with a cool sketch of Cannon.
