Case file: #52-499362-M
Mike Murtaugh: Theft of Government Property.
Original broadcast date: 28 November 1965
Burt Reynolds plays the bad guy here. James Farentino plays FBI informant Frank Metro, who provides Inspector Lewis Erskine with the dope. Mr. Reynolds repays the favor by terrorizing Mr. Farentino’s pregnant wife, played by Pilar Seurat (1938-2001).
UPDATE, 2019: This episode was referenced in the 2019 Quentin Tarantino movie Once Upon A Time … In Hollywood. Leonardo DiCaprio’s character of Rick Dalton plays the role of Mike Murtaugh, which was played by Burt Reynolds in this episode. Mr. Reynolds was scheduled to play in that same movie, as George Spahn, but died during movie production. THAT role was filled by FBI guest performer Bruce Dern. In the movie, the truncated opening for Season 4 is used, since the time period is early 1969. When the lead actors are announced, we hear William Reynolds’ name mentioned, since the timetable for the episode airing is 9 February 1969, when the episode “The Maze” actually ran.
- Mr. Reynolds is not related to William Reynolds (who played S.A.C. Tom Colby). William Reynolds’ original surname was Regnolds; born of Norwegian descent, he hails from Los Angeles. Burt Reynolds was born a little over four years later in Florida.
- FBI agents operate a bulldozer in the best tradition of The Sands of Iwo Jima. Not only are these guys accountants and attorneys, but also heavy equipment operators! Amazing! The agent running the bulldozer was properly attired in his suit, white shirt and hat. J. Edgar Hoover’s dress code and FBI agents have stated that the dress code always dictated a white shirt with the suit, not even a blue shirt.
- Burt Reynolds was in his final season as Quint on Gunsmoke. He and Norman Fell would star together in another Quinn Martin series, Dan August (1970-71). Mr. Reynolds, of course, went on to be an A-list actor in the 1970s. Burt Reynolds died of a heart attack on 6 September 2018 in Jupiter, Florida.
Credits:
Directed by: William A. Graham
Written by: Mark Rodgers
Performer | Role
- Burt Reynolds | Mike Murtaugh
- James Farentino | Frank Metro
- Norman Fell | Ted Cullinan
- Pilar Seurat | Carolyn Metro
- Joe Maross | Jess Murtaugh
- Don Eitner | Special Agent Bill Converse
- Wesley Addy | US Attorney Cline
- Jack Betts | Defense Attorney Barker
- Robert Hogan | Lt. Richardson
- Frank Maxwell | Captain Coleman
- Garrison True | Corporal Eaton
- Rex Holman | Tiger
- Nancy Jeris | Nurse
- Nelson Leigh | Judge Harold Leverette