Dale Fisher, Graham Newcomb: KIDNAPPING
Gwendolyn Rankin: VICTIM.
Original air date: 19 September 1971
The abduction a girl in Colorado leads the F.B.I. to an unsolved 1961 robbery. Because she doesn’t come from a wealthy family (she was adopted), money doesn’t seem to be a factor, or is it?!? It seems the girl’s biological father had stolen $400,000, and she had shut the memory out of her mind.
Ralph Meeker projects a real level of creepiness. In fact, as the episode unfolds, it becomes an exercise in two men coercing traumatic memories from a young lady, badgering her for the hiding place for the money.
Of course, it all ends for the best. Spoiler: The money has all deteriorated.
- Barbara Billingsley is best known for her portrayal of June Cleaver in the 1950s sitcom Leave it to Beaver. Here, she plays the victim’s adoptive mother.
- Tim McIntire looks suspiciously like Leonardo DiCaprio at the tail end of Once Upon A Time … In Hollywood (2019). We wonder if Quentin Tarantino saw this episode.
- Continuity issue: Belinda Montgomery’s face seems to have a lot of whiteheads, or acne at the beginning of the episode. By the end, her skin complexion seems to have cleared.
- We get to see some Ford Broncos. Also, a fine ending!
- This episode aired on the sixth anniversary of the series debut on 19 September 1965.
Credits:
Directed by: Virgil W. Vogel
Written by: Robert Lewin
Performer| Role
- Tim McIntire | Dale Fisher
- Ralph Meeker | Graham Newcomb
- Belinda Montgomery (as Belinda J. Montgomery) | Gwendolyn Rankin
- Barbara Billingsley | June Rankin
- Richard Derr | Ray Rankin
- Kenneth Tobey | Carl Barstow
- Nellie Burt | Mrs. Mae Copeland
- Phil Chambers | Amos Reed
- Frank Jamus | SAC Denver
- John Ward | Don Harper
- Dennis Rucker | Jeff Adams
- Randi Procter | Girl Rider