Light and Shadow

Episode aired Dec 17, 1972
TV-PG
52m

IMDb RATING

7.8/10

105

YOUR RATING

Cesare Danova and Murray Matheson in Mannix (1967)

Action Crime Drama Mystery Thriller

The wife of a wealthy jet-setter is accused of murdering a philandering playboy on her husband's yacht, and the wealthy man hires Joe Mannix to investigate the crime, hoping he will turn up ... Read allThe wife of a wealthy jet-setter is accused of murdering a philandering playboy on her husband's yacht, and the wealthy man hires Joe Mannix to investigate the crime, hoping he will turn up evidence to exculpate his wife. Mannix finds that there is no shortage of suspects who mig... Read allThe wife of a wealthy jet-setter is accused of murdering a philandering playboy on her husband's yacht, and the wealthy man hires Joe Mannix to investigate the crime, hoping he will turn up evidence to exculpate his wife. Mannix finds that there is no shortage of suspects who might have wanted the murdered man dead -- including his own client and his client's daughter... Read all

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.8/10

105

YOUR RATING

5User reviews

See production info at IMDbPro

Photos

User reviews5

7.8105

Featured reviews

7planktonrules

Mannix hangs out with some obnoxious rich folks and gets bashed in the head...all in a days work.

When the show begins, there's a fancy-shmancy party going on aboard a HUGE yacht. Shots then ring out and the guests go running...and Ali Brumante is found with a gun in her hand and a body at her feet. Soon Mannix is brought in by the mega-wealthy Brumantes to look into the case. However, Mannix doesn't like being ordered around and is a bit hesitant to take the case. When he interviews Ali in jail, he's still not particularly eager to take the case because she isn't particularly nice and seems to feel that money talks...and that carries little weight with Mannix. Still, he does decide to investigate and finds the Brumante family less than cordial...yet they hired him! And, if it doesn't seem like it could get any worse, it does as baddies start bashing him over the head and taking shots at him. But as usual, our indestructible hero is apparently unfazed and un-brain damaged. Considering the dozens and dozens of times Joe Mannix is knocked out throughout the series, his brain should be tapioca! Can Joe sort it all out and figure out who did what in this episode?

This is a pretty normal episode despite Mannix working for the fourth richest man in America. It has the usual twists, turns, bonks on the head and the like. It's not a bad show in any way and the obnoxious rich folks angle made it a tad more interesting than usual...but not enough to make this a must-see. Just another typical "Mannix" outing in most every way and the indestructible detective once again saves the day and somehow survives.

10tcchelsey

THE PHILANDERING PLAYBOY ANGLE.

A very good whodunit, and it will keep you guessing for awhile. The cast also wins this one out with lots of attitude. Comparable to the previous episode with the arrogant doc and lawyer, played by Joe Campanella and Burgess Meredith.

Christina "Tina" Sinatra, in a rare tv role, plays a member of the ultra wealthy, snobbish Bramante Family, saddled with a murder. Christine Belford, who was co-starring on BANACEK at the time, plays Ali -- suspected of killing another snob --who probably deserved it anyway. Ali lands in jail and Joe is stuck with some miserable folks. Casare Danova is the perfect add for a story like this, playing Bruno. Could they have borrowed that interesting name from Hitchcock's STRANGERS ON A TRAIN?

So who do y'all think is guilty? Has the feel of a COLUMBO episode, especially the finale. Another case Joe should have passed for sanity sake.

Tina Sinatra did some acting in her time, and she was very good, encouraged to sing by her famous father, but left Hollywood to enter the business world, later to run her dad's recording empire and archives. Look for poker face John Hillerman (Larry), an actor we all loved, and a special appearance by Murray Matheson as "Snowy", another BANACEK alum.

The bit with Joe and Art sitting down, face to face, thinking over the case, tossing out ideas, is so much fun. A mini classic.

This one moves and grooves with a 70s party scene at the start, and Joe gets clobbered as usual. Credit Harold Melford for writing an essay on human nature at its worst. He wrote the famous airplane disaster movie, FATE IS THE HUNTER (1964).

Applause for Sutton Roley, who directed 16 episodes for the show, also MISSION IMPOSSIBLE and STARSKY AND HUTCH.

SEASON 6 EPISODE 14 remastered color CBS/Paramount dvd set. The Six Bullet Box guaranteed.

2glitterrose

Dull story with very unsympathetic/ dull characters

Needless to say this cast didn't have the luck Robert Conrad had. Robert's episode was a good one and his character was such a jerk you wish somebody had killed his character off. But his character was at least strong enough you did have some thoughts about him. The people in this episode were so dull they might as well have been saying 'blah blah blah' through the entire storyline. I didn't like the wife's attitude toward Mannix when he came to talk to her in the slammer. This man's taking time out of his day to come talk to you, try not to show your butt. If the man wants to see your face and eyes, keep the sunglasses off your face. And I'm not even being snarky with that bit. I'd also want to see a person's eyes and face so I could possibly see some flicker of guilt. And the way that woman wore her sunglasses was so stupid. I can see wearing them on top of your head if you have them on but don't want them on your eyes. It's like she wanted to position them on her forehead?

So yeah, this was a dud. Only highlight for me was Snowy dancing and just being relieved Mannix didn't touch the face and hair of any woman on this episode. Thankfully he's got better taste than that.

Trivia
Christine Belford, who plays the stepmother, is about six months younger than Tina Sinatra, who plays the stepdaughter.

Goofs
When the two henchmen toss the unconscious police officer off the boat, the "body" floats on top of the splash of water resulting from the impact, revealing that it was actually a dummy.

Quotes
Joe Mannix: You said that George Oliver, Mr. Bramante's attorney, directed you to me.
Bill Moseley: Yes, and then Snowy Bartlett told me he knew you personally.
Joe Mannix: [referring to a newspaper article about a party boat the previous day] I take it that, uh, this was Snowy's party yesterday.
Bill Moseley: Yes. I, uh, haven't had a chance to read that yet... but I can guess that it couldn't look worse for her.
Joe Mannix: I would say that's a good guess.
Bill Moseley: In any case, Mr. Mannix, I've been authorized to give you this as a retainer.
Joe Mannix: [after Moseley hands him a check] I would say this is a bit premature.
Bill Moseley: Mr. Bramante is anxious that you start immediately to establish, uh, that the evidence against his wife is insufficient... or in some way faulty.
Joe Mannix: Or even, let's say, pointing in another direction altogether.
Bill Moseley: What is foremost in Mr. Bramante's mind is that his wife be exonerated. If, of course, out of that some other suspect emerges...
Joe Mannix: Then all to the good.
Bill Moseley: Of course. I think you'll find that, uh, Nikky Lorenzo won't be universally missed.
Joe Mannix: Yes, I got that from Larry Lawton's column, along with his crowing about being the only newspaperman at the party yesterday. Ah, here it is. "Sparkling Louise Bramante being stubbornly pursued by the inveterate romancer, Nikky Lorenzo."
Bill Moseley: Meanwhile, if I can be of some further help to you, Mr. Mannix...
Joe Mannix: Yes, you can start by expressing my thanks to Mr. Bramante for this amount of confidence in me, but I can't accept it.
Bill Moseley: You mean you won't take the case?
Joe Mannix: Not until I at least meet my client.
Bill Moseley: Mrs. Bramante?
Joe Mannix: Hmm.
Bill Moseley: I could arrange that immediately.
Joe Mannix: Good. Then we'll see. Oh, Mr. Moseley, you didn't mention it, but, uh, do you think it's possible that she didn't do it?
Bill Moseley: I'll say this... if, uh, she did, I'm certain that her reasons would be acceptable to any jury in the country. Good day, Mr. Mannix.