Oustanding episode, you don't want to miss. This story is as poignant as it is thrilling, all about the kidnapping of a mute boy. It also has the feel of a MOD SQUAD episode, thanks to Robert L. Collins, a staple in 70s tv, who wrote for that series, also DAN AUGUST (Burt Reynolds). Collins had a long association (90 episodes) with POLICE WOMAN.
By the way... Is this a Warner Brothers tv reunion? Nearly half of the cast (even actors in bit roles) worked at WB tv in the 50s and 60s for their old director Bill Conrad. He made many friends. For starters, Jean Allison, who plays the psychiatrist assigned to the boy. Also Jason Evers (in the first of four appearances) and Whit Bissell, popular in cult films like I WAS A TEENAGE FRANKENSTEIN. Bissell co-starred with Tim O'Connor (the boy's father here) for years on PEYTON PLACE.
O'Connor's young son is played by Radames Pera who became famous as "Little Grasshopper" on KUNG FU, shortly after this episode. The only debit; he may have had to shave his head for that show. Pera later started his own company in Hollywood, installing movie theatres in homes of many stars. Good for him!
The acting here is terrific, and there are some powerful scenes. My vote go to the scenes with Cannon and the little boy. William Conrad had a son about his age at the time, and it would have been neat had he been on the show!
The climactic chase scenes, filmed at Dodger stadium, are extremely well directed, and it looks like it was filmed during a game. You can see who are the background actors and the real fans! Yes, the stadium, after all these years, looks about the same.
10 STARS. No less.
SEASON 1 CBS and Paramount remastered dvd box set (2008) which comes in two boxes, 4 dvds per box. The back cover of the first set has shots of the famous episode where Conrad actually jumped into a speeding boat and got it under control. Great for 70s tv buffs.