Mission: Impossible (TV Series) The Town (1968) User Reviews

Among the best of season two.

[planktonrules · 9/10 · 29 July 2014]

Aside from one logical error, this is among the very best episodes of season two of "Mission: Impossible". It's extremely good because it is so very different--and after a lot of familiar episodes, it's nice to see something so unfamiliar.

The episode does NOT begin with Phelps getting his assignment. Instead, he's on vacation and wanders into some small town. What he doesn't know is that this is an EVIL town--and everyone is involved in some sort of conspiracy. When he accidentally learns too much, the town deals with him in a novel manner--they drug him so that he cannot move or speak. Then, when Rollin comes looking for him, they explain that Jim had a stroke and was on death's door. Rollin is allowed to see him, as the town suspects nothing amiss--and using his eyes, Jim is able to communicate with Rollin about his predicament. However, it's the whole town--and Rollin cannot contact the police since they are in on it. So, he gets Cinnamon, Barney and Willy to come to the town to ostensibly tell him goodbye--though, of course, they're coming to rescue him.

As I mentioned there is a minor problem with the plot. In such a situation, you would ASSUME that Rollin would contact federal authorities (such as the FBI) and the town would be invaded. Their way of handling it was much more cool to watch--just not exactly realistic. Still, it's a dandy episode--and one that shows very clever writing and ingenuity. Well worth seeing.

One of the most unusual and best of the IMF series

[mnjanco · 10/10 · 17 June 2007]

A great departure from the usual opening, and you expect to see Jim going somewhere to pick up his new mission. Instead he stumbles upon an international assassination plot and becomes a prisoner of the ringleader and his band of merry followers. This one generates great tension all the way through and some nice surprises. The only quibble I have with it is the perfunctory way the IMF deals with the bad guys' plot. I think the producers could easily have turned this into a fantastic two-parter. Even so, this is probably the best episode of the second season, perhaps of the entire series. Grandpa Walton, Will Geer, as a villainous doctor really steals the show. A real must see for any action/adventure fan.

The Best IMF episode.

[gmoore44 · 10/10 · 21 July 2020]

This is the one episode you must watch. Gripping, tension filled, and the great way that the team can work together, right under the watchful eyes and ears of the bad guys, to rescue Jim and bring them to justice. A winner!!

If not for Phelp's eyes.....

[JSouth1 · 8/10 · 16 October 2007]

On vacation to meet Rollin, Phelps accidentally stumbles into a town where "all is not as it seems". Getting a drink at a café, Phelps sees a tear gas gun accidentally get set off, and helps clear the room--only to be taken prisoner by the attendant of a local car repair garage.

Phepls is led to a room where a briefing is being held on "an assassination plot" involving a defecting scientist to the US". Will Geer is a doctor, heading the group of enemy agents, and he sees that Phelps has seen and heard WAY too much. Knowing that Rollin is meeting Phelps, instead of killing him outright..the good doctor decides to cause Phelps to "have a stroke" and then "die". This is accomplished by injecting Phelps with a measured dose of Curare, in the right way as to paralyze him, but allow him to breathe and still live OK...for the time...the plan is to later kill him with a true dose, making it look like a fatal stroke.

When Rollin arrives, he is informed of the "stroke" Phelps had. In privacy, trying to console Phelps, Rollin sees something odd... Phelps is blinking his eyes in Morse code!!!! He is able to get enough information from Phelps code that he learns that Phelps has been drugged, that town is full of agents of the enemy, and of the assassination plot. Before he can learn more....he is interrupted by the "nurse", to "check on Phelps." But this is enough...and Rollin activates the team, with a coded phone call to Cinnamon, as he figures the phones are bugged. This is done is the guise of a call to Phelps "wife".

Cinnamon then gets the rest of the IMF team together, and they head to the town to save Phelps and stop the hit on the defector. Barney plays a "limo driver", Cinnamon as Phelps wife, and Willy is a "truck driver" who injures himself to gain access to the clinic where Phelps is being held.

By the time the rest of the team arrives, Rollin has gained enough information to figure out a plan. First, Rollin takes out the doctor, and with Cinnamons help, "replaces him". Awaiting the "go command" from the pair sent to LA to kill the scientist, Rollin relays a "hold" code to them, putting the killing on hold, long enough for police to capture the two assassins. Meanwhile, Willy "injures himself", to gain access to the inside of the clinic, and once there, helps Rollin control the situation. Cinnamon, strong woman she always is, takes out the "nurse".

So as not to allow the enemy agents to escape or revolt against them, Rollin then "kills" Phelps with the final stroke, and he is taken out in a coffin to waiting Barney. Barney, Cinnamon and Phelps all then "leave". The garage attendant, second in command, then lets the "doctor"(Rollin in disguise) know how "releived he is that all is over". Angry at "so many mistakes" the "Doctor" calls a meeting of all agents to the meeting room, as a huge number of police are secretly summoned by the IMF. Starting the meeting, the "doctor" then is told that the "nurse" is missing, by the garageman. The "Doctor" then orders all to stay there, and follows the garageman outside, knocks him out, and departs...as about a dozen cops storm the meeting room!! Though this is a mission lacking high-tech or exotic locales, it is nonetheless a GREAT mission, and a personal one, but at the same time one with international repercussions. HIGHLY recommended for MI fans!!

Impromptu mission

[VetteRanger · 10/10 · 22 July 2017]

Forgiving a couple of practical issues, this is a great episode.

Jim Phelps stops in a small town for a drink and witnesses an accident that the townspeople suspect might give a clue to their real status -- a Russian cell cluster with the goal to assassinate selected targets.

Luckily for the USA, it's an IMF mission leader who stumbles upon this, and not just some random traveler! ;-)

When Roland goes searching for the missing Phelps and is told he has had a stroke, he discovers the truth and calls in the cavalry. Somehow, they are all able to get set up and get there in a matter of a few short hours, comfortably in time to save Jim and foil the plot.

The unsuspecting spies are no contest for the slick IMF group.

So while the coincidence and time scale may be unbelievable, this is a very fine, tense episode. Just sit back and enjoy it for what it is, and don't think up too many questions! LOL

Killer Episode, Killer Doctor, I Live Here, that guy is my Doctor

[mrscott-32473 · 10/10 · 10 August 2020]

I've known this episode since 1968, what I didn't know until I moved here, this is supposedly filmed in Needles California. It's like a ghost town, we have one Doctor, Dr. Anderson and one tiny Hospital which you should avoid. Look for our famous town sign in the Episode, it's made out of Logs and says Welcome to Needles!

Best in Series, Must See

[samwa-27311 · 10/10 · 15 September 2019]

Excellent.

The basics are covered by the other reviews, but special because of the need to immediately improvise; the spy skills of Rollin, and more.

According to another reviewer, Rollin could have just called the FBI.

Absolutely not.

He was at the gas station when he heard that Jim was very sick, so he had no idea then, as to the situation, and if he called, it would have been listened in on.

His first responsibility was the safety of his Friend, Jim.

Then, when he learned of the actual situation, where could he go to call?

They did not have car phones, he certainly could not call from the doctor's, obviously, and even if he did call the FBI, that could cause Doc to panic, if he knew, and kill Jim and Rollin, and even if the FBI did come there, it almost certainly would have forever blown Phelps' cover as a top spy, possibly alerting the town people to this, or by having to check the ID of Phelps, etc, so Rollin did everything correctly.

My favorite part, is seeing communist Will Geer, get scammed and arrested.

This was a great ep, but plot holes

[MiketheWhistle · 10/10 · 7 December 2020]

I have to agree that indeed this was a very good ep that had some great acting including that of Willie Geer. My only pause on the ep is who was the group that they were battling. Since not knowing doesn't subtract from the ep because we know what they want to do.

Guess it does show that some small towns are bad.

10/10 Assassination Story in February 1968.

[kchiefs1 · 10/10 · 3 April 2024]

The timing of this episode was perfect because if it had been scheduled later in the year, it would never have been shown. The assassination's of Martin Luther King and Robert Fitzgerald Kennedy would happen later in 1968. No way this episode would have aired after their assassination's.

This episode is considered one of the best Mission Impossible episodes. I think it is THE BEST. 10/10 from me. I grew up watching this show and remember this one because of Jim Phelps in danger. I was a 13 year old who was enthralled with this series. It was everything a kid my age would love. Rewatching it on MeTV in 2024 reminded me of how great it was. This is a much watched episode.

10/10.

ON A VACATION WITH PHELPS?

[tcchelsey · 10/10 · 31 March 2024]

One of the best tv writers, Sy Salkowitz, wrote this very clever story. Bascially, the M. I. team --or Phelps himself --is faked out. What a neat switch.

Phelps is on a rare vacation, passing through a small town that is a front for a league of assassins. Phelps, right off the bat, knows something is wrong -- and the town's kindly, homicidal doc (well played by Will Geer) drugs him to shut him up, making it look to Rollin and the rest of the team like he suffered a paralyzing stroke. Amazing.

Catch the terrific scene where Phelps has to actually blink his eyes to communicate with Rollin. It's a gem.

This may also be one of the best pre-WALTON roles for Will Geer, the guy you love to hate. Again, applause to the makeup department for creating those amazing rubber masks. The peel-off scenes are always a hoot.

Sy Salkowitz, without too much surprise, was series writer for IRONSIDE, also contributor to POLICE STORY and PERRY MASON.

Something different for all us M. I. fans. A must, filmed in the remote desert town of Needles, CA, about 260 miles east of LA, right on the Arizona border. This is actually the most common route to California from Arizona, lots of desert and heat.

SEASON 2 EPISODE 21 remastered CBS/Paramount color dvd box set. 7 dvd set. 2007.