John Graham Evans: Parole Violator—Murder.
Original air date: 13 October 1968
Rerun 6 April 1969
A killer picks for his robbery victims, a happy family of four living on a farm.
This episode plays almost exactly like the 1967 movie In Cold Blood. But there are differences. J.D. Cannon plays the Richard Hickock role, a man who kills another ex-con. That ex-con has told him about a family of four who has a great deal of money in their house.
He then encounters runaway Jess Orkin (14-year-old Ron Howard), the Perry Smith character. Only difference is, Orkin thinks he might have killed someone, but isn’t sure.
Evans manipulates the boy, who then breaks into a farmhouse and steals food and medical supplies while Evans tries to recover from a gunshot wound. Erskine and Colby are on the trail of the runaways. They hope to get to Jess before Evans commits his next crime—which almost certainly will result in fatalities if he succeeds.
SPOILER: The Feds DO succeed in averting catastrophe. However, neither Inspector Erskine nor Mr. Colby are actually present when Evans is captured.
- This is the famous Ron Howard of The Andy Griffith Show and Happy Days, AND the director of such movies as Apollo 13. Mr. Howard stars in one of his first post-“Opie” roles in this episode. His brother Clint was starring on Gentle Ben on CBS at this time. Clint starred in episodes in 1965 and in 1970. This role was a FAR cry from Opie!
- The 1963 Ford Ambulance (blue with white top) is shown in the prologue. The Pennsylvania family also has a very sexy Ford Thunderbird!
- Bill Williams (1915-1992) was the husband of actress Barbara Hale (Perry Mason).
Credits:
Directed by: Robert Day
Written by: Arthur Heinemann
Performer | Role
- J.D. Cannon | John Graham Evans
- Ron Howard (as Ronny Howard) | Jess Orkin
- Bill Williams | David Warren
- Dabbs Greer | Orkin
- Charles Bateman | Dan Scott
- Selette Cole | Mrs. Schirmer
- Joe Di Reda | Post
- Morgan Jones | Alex Schirmer
- Jan Shepard | Mildred Scott