The Empty Tower

Looks like Joe shoulda let his friend Tony borrow some of his own lures for their fishing trip rather than dropping by the Warren Building to pick some up...that way he wouldn't have been "lured" into this web of deceit!

An EXCELLENT Mannix...one of the best! Lots of great actions sequences and camera work...highly recommended.

Yippe kay yay, baby!

After all these years, I remember this striking episode, credit Robert Hamner. He was no stranger to action, having created SWAT in the 70s, and its newer version today. Hamner's only story for the series, a missed opportunity. He also wrote for CANNON, IRONSIDE and MOD SQUAD in the 70s.

Bill Bixby, who also directed, does one solid acting job here. Bill will always be remembered for playing the goofy reporter on MY FAVORITE MARTIAN, however, he drops the comedy routine and turns in a haunting performance. No other way to spell it.

Here, Mannix and his old bud, Tony (Bixby) are about to go fishing when they take a detour (naturally) and wind up in an office building that is being robbed. Robert Hamner was quite inventive, conveniently locking them into a huge vault, which also happens to have been designed by Tony?

Yes, shades of DIE HARD, produced many years later for the wide screen, where the building is also under siege. In fact, this episode may have inspired the Bruce Willis film, at least as an outline. The writers obviously took it in several other directions.

One thing about this show, comparable to HAWAII FIVE O, there were some extremely clever villains, thanks to some extremely clever writing. Additionally, shades of MISSION IMPOSSIBLE; Joe works on the intricate lock system from the inside, which is as fascinating as it is do-able. In fact, Hamner sheds light on an unexplored theory concerning vault locks. He did his homework.

The "hunt" inside the building is exceptionally directed, guaranteed to hold your attention. All I could tell you is the ending packs a whallop. Never thought it would pan out this way. The camera work will take your breath away. Bill Bixby should have earned an Emmy nod, rivaling director Reza Badiyi, who pulled similar stunts on the show for years. Reza had solid competition.

Brings back lots of memories for all of us kids who first saw it telecast in the 70s. Watch the interaction between Mannix and Art at the close. Superb acting. You can see Mike Connors was genuinely struck by this sobering scene. The cast is to be congratulated. Pat Renella, who later guested on GENERAL HOSPITAL, plays Kirby. Elvis Presley's famous bodybuard, Red West (the actor with the red hair) plays Johnny Feigen. Red was fired by Elvis' father in the 70s for being too tough on the job, writing a tell all book, published soon after his death.

Notes are correct, Joe drives three different Camaros here, no doubt stunt doubles, and in a clever way to advertise Chevrolet. Producer Quinn Martin did it with Ford on all his shows, particularly the FBI, which critics claimed was an extended car commericial. One thing, Hollywood loved cars.

SEASON 8. CBS/Paramount remastered color dvd box set. The classic final season collectors edition. Well worth buying.

Yes, you read that right. Here in 1975, some 13 years before Die Hard became a big hit Mike Connors and the Mannix crew did it first. Does this sound famiiar? Criminals attempt to break into a huge vault in a high rise building. It's a holiday weekend and the building is empty except for the hero and the bad guys, including a security guard who's in on the crime. The crooks become aware that the heros sneaking around trying to thwart their plans and systemically try to hunt him down floor by floor while keeping in communication on 2-way radios. For sure the writers and producers on this show deserve their names in the Die Hard credits.

All that being said this is a wonderful episode that is chock full of action and suspense. Every bit as good at keeping you on the edge of your seat as the aforementioned blockbuster Hollywood movie. Bill Bixby pulls double duty both acting and directing this one (He directed several episodes this season). His direction and camera angles and shots is fantastic. The heightened drama as Joe moves through the office building is all thanks to the director. There are some flat out great action scenes here, my favorite being when Joe is being pursued through the gym.

There's a couple of groan inducing moments. One is when Joe and Bixby are locked inside a vault and miraculously Joe knows all there is to know about this particular model of safe and can from memory pick the lock from the inside. Guess he'd been studying the instruction manuals on the side. Also at the end when there's bodies falling off the top of the building they're quite obviously mannequins from the local JC Penneys and are not a very convincing effect.

Go watch this episode. Whether you enjoyed DIe Hard or not you will love it. It's the best of the best of classic TV>

This episode! Yes! You heard me right is my FAVORITE MANNIX EPISODE of all time!

This episode is just perfect! Right up my level! Action is spot on! The music score is perfect and just.... Everything is perfect!!!!!

So, let's begin! The episode begins with a man, bent on revenge breaks into Mannix's place with a gun, ready to end him, but Mannix, who's a professional just ain't going to let that happen!

Anyways, after all that, Mannix goes to the bar where he bumps into friend and a wheeler dealer, Tony Elliott, and the two plan themselves a fishing trip for the following day and when that day arrives, the two head out and while, en route, Tony claims he forgot his fishing flies, so the two head to Tony's place of business and unknowingly, they walk in on a heist that is beginning to unfold and yeah!

You'll have to see this for yourself!!!! I'm telling you! You won't regret it!!!!! Your in for a treat, this one will keep you on the edge of your seat!!!!!

I have noticed on "Mannix" as well as "Quincy" that every time they go fishing, something god-awful is going to happen. For example, in an earlier episode, Mannix goes fishing and a maniac killer arrives and tries to kill him. So when his friend, Tony (Bix Bixby), suggests they go fishing, Mannix SHOULD have told him to go jump in a lake! But, he didn't...and naturally their time off to relax and catch a few fish nearly kills them!

So what happens with Mannix and Tony? Well, Tony forgets his fishing flies at his office and they drop by to pick them up. It's the weekend and hardly anyone is in the building...aside from some burglars who are ransacking the place. When they spot the two guys, Tony gets belted and the two get tossed into a safe without enough air to last until Monday. Mannix realizes they must escape...and Tony isn't much help. Will the pair escape? Of course....you know at least Mannix will make it as he's still got a few episodes left in the season!!

I thought it was rather funny that Mannix seems ready to slug Tony a few times....as he found his friend exasperating. Having him angry at him was all the funnier because Bixby himself directed the episode! As far as the episode itself goes, one of the reviewers was right in calling it "Joe Mannix in Die Hard"....as the episode does play a lot like "Die Hard"! It's also tense, exciting and quite original (after all, "Die Hard" came a lot later). So why did I only give it a 6? Well, because of the twist at the end. It really makes no sense whatsoever when you think about it....but it WAS exciting.