An episode you have to see for some very good acting on the part of Marlyn Mason.
Mason (who will always be remembered as one of Elvis Presley's leading ladies) plays Molly, a crusading reporter, who inadvertently uncovers a clever smuggling operation --with lots of CASH on hand. The more money, the more bodies.
There's also a poignant side story. Molly is an old gal pal of Cannon's and there's a lot of banter between the two, however the ending sums it up as to their long relationship. By the way, in the next and final episode of the season, Frank hooks up with Beverly Garland, yet another close friend from the old days?
Cannon gets into a MANNIX situation; beat up in his apartment, but hardly a scratch the next day? Don't we love it, and it was scenes like this that actually attracted more viewers. Campy stuff.
This is also a showcase for some very familiar faces. Stuart Margolin plays Roger, best known as Angel on the ROCKFORD FILES. Also a regular on LOVE, AMERICAN STYLE, a show that was perfect for his comic side.
Oscar Beregi (as Van Hagen) is at his sinister best; he sets up Cannon for a deadly plane ride. Watch for it. For western buffs, look for Lane Bradford as Morgan. Bradford had a long career in westerns, working with such cowboys as Lash LaRue in the 1940s. Hollywood headlines when it was announced he collapsed and died suddenly in Hawaii, not too long after this episode. He also made an appearance on HAWAII FIVE O.
Leo Penn (Sean Penn's famous dad) directed, who was working on MARCUS WELBY at this time. Leo gets some good performances from the cast, and Marlyn Mason and Bill Conrad do make a very nice couple. Perhaps that's the reason you didn't want to see Cannon with lots of bandages. There's the answer!
The plane locations look to have been filmed up in the High Desert, probably Lancaster, CA. Wide open spaces.
Classic Cannon, on its way to the Top 10. SEASON 2 EPISODE 23 remastered CBS/Paramount dvd box set No. 2. 6 dvd set in all.