The Alexander Tape: Carl Michael Jordan Et Al—Espionage.
Original air date: 1 October 1967
Rerun 24 December 1967 and 11 May 1969
Swiss resident Carl Michael Jordan attempts to smuggle in a tape in his camera, and ends up being shot. This results in a massive FBI manhunt for a prominent Communist spy named “Alexander.”
Because Jordan was shot, Efrem Zimbalist Jr. gives the viewer a sneak peek at his future appearance in real life by donning a fake moustache and glasses, in order to impersonate Jordan and to infiltrate this spy ring. Erskine, posing as Jordan, is assigned to kill a man.
Paul Dorn (played by Kevin McCarthy) is the “Alexander” in the case. He not only has to contend with Maoists who seem intent on purges, but also the FBI. Ironically, China’s Cultural Revolution had started the year before this episode aired, and would continue until Mao Zedong’s death in 1976.
A real-life political tie-in: Kevin McCarthy plays the kingpin spy here. He is a man of wealth who sympathizes with the Communists. In real life, Mr. McCarthy would have his own political tie in: His cousin, Sen. Eugene McCarthy (D-Wisconsin), ran for President in 1968!
- Curt Lowens makes the second of three appearances here, as Carl Michael Jordan. Inspector Lewis Erskine impersonates him.
- William Smithers makes the second of four appearances.
Credits:
Directed by: William Hale
Written by: Gerald Sanford
Performer | Role
- Curt Lowens | Carl Michael Jordan
- Booth Colman | Albert Vogel
- Mark Johnson | SAC Johnson
- Kevin McCarthy | Paul Dorn
- William Smithers | Clay Keller
- Jessica Walter | Ellen Rainey
- Skip Ward | Burt Reese
- Michele Montau | French Woman
- John Ward | Officer
- Jason Wingreen | Customs Inspector