Synopsis
Includes:
Mission: Impossible: Trek (1967)
Mission: Impossible: The Money Machine (1967)
Mission: Impossible: The Survivors (1967)
Mission: Impossible: The Escape (1967)
Mission: Impossible: Sweet Charity (1967)
Mission: Impossible: The Photographer (1967)
Mission: Impossible: Operation (1967)
Mission: Impossible: Echo of Yesterday (1967)
Mission: Impossible: The Widow (1967)
Mission: Impossible: The Astrologer (1967)
Mission: Impossible: The Slave, Part Two (1967)
Mission: Impossible: The Council, Part Two (1967)
Mission: Impossible: The Seal (1967)
Mission: Impossible: The Slave, Part One (1967)
Mission: Impossible: The Council, Part One (1967)
Mission: Impossible: The Killing (1968)
Mission: Impossible: The Phoenix (1968)
Mission: Impossible: Trial by Fury (1968)
Mission: Impossible: Recovery (1968)
Mission: Impossible: The Spy (1968)
Mission: Impossible: A Game of Chess (1968)
Mission: Impossible: The Town (1968)
Mission: Impossible: The Counterfeiter (1968)
Mission: Impossible: The Condemned (1968)
Mission: Impossible: The Emerald (1968)
Mission: Impossible: The Condemned (1988)
Mission: Impossible: Trek
A priceless collection of Inca gold treasures has disappeared, threatening the financial stability of Santales, a tiny Latin American republic. The IMF is assigned to retrieve the treasures from master thief Jack Cole (Dan O'Herlihy), a task made doubly difficult by the treacherous terrain of Santales and the presence of a traitor in the nation's government. Mark Lenard, best known as Spock's Vulcan father on Star Trek, appears as Colonel Cardoza. First telecast September 17, 1967, "Trek" was written by Laurence Heath. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Mission: Impossible: The Money Machine
African stockbroker Walter DuBruis (Brock Peters) is poised to destroy the economy of Ghalea by flooding the nation with counterfeit money. His partner in crime is master forger Raf Tagoor (Michael Shilo), who has come into possession of a shipment of genuine currency paper. Assigned to dispose of DuBruis and Tagoor before they can carry out their scheme, the IMF agents concoct an elaborate scam involving a bogus counterfeiting computor. Originally broadcast October 29 1967, "The Money Machine" was written by Richard M. Sakal. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Mission: Impossible: The Survivors
Two of the three scientists working on a cobalt bomb have been kidnapped by enemy agent Eric Stavak (Albert Paulsen), who has hidden his captives somewhere in San Francisco. The IMF must protect remaining scientist Dr Robert Webster, who holds the equations for the deadly weapon. Posing as Webster, Phelps pretends to fall into a trap engineered by Stavak--while Barney prepares to simulate a devastating earthquake. Written by William Read Woodfield and Allan Balter, "The Survivors" first aired on September 24, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Mission: Impossible: The Escape
Promising to smuggle wealthy Eastern Europeans across the Iron Curtain, banker Alfred Belzig 9James Daly) lures the hapless escapees to their deaths, then deposits the victims' money in his own bank to finance a neo-Nazi party. The IMF hopes to put Belzig out of business permanently by stealing his $3 million nest egg from his safety deposit box. Assisting the agents this time out is Paul Lebarre (Pierre Jalbert, a convicted bank robber who may not be entirely trustworthy. Originally telecast October 1 1967, "The Bank" was written by Brad Radnitz. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Mission: Impossible: Sweet Charity
Guest stars Fritz Weaver and Hazel Court are cast as Erik and Catherine Hagar, who operate a fraudulent charity organization from their lavish European estate. The IMF agents attempt to destroy the Hagars' racket by ruining the couple's "perfect" marriage. Essential to the success of this plan is the retrieval of a fortune in platinum, hidden in the Hagars' billiard table. First broadcast November 12, 1967, "Sweet Charity" was written by Barney Slater. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Mission: Impossible: The Photographer
Anthony Zerbe guest-stars as David Redding, a high-profile fashion photographer--and treacherous double agent. In league with 150 fellow spies, Redding intends to destroy the U.S. with a deadly bubonic plague epidemic. With only 72 hours at their disposal, the IMF agents must stop Redding and his confederates in their tracks. The episode's highlights include the eye-popping still photography of Bob Willoughby and a disturbingly realistic nuclear holocaust. First broadcast December 17, 1967, "The Photographer" was written by William Read Woodfield and Allan Balter. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Mission: Impossible: Operation
Communist agent Stephan Gomalk (Michael Strong) intends to take control of the small European democracy ruled by his "friend", President Beyron Rurich (Pernell Roberts). Caught in the middle is archaeologist William Bennett (Aaron Fletcher), who stumbled onto Gomalk's scheme, suffered a heart attack, and has been placed under maximum security by the villain's henchmen. The IMF agents have only 24 hours to rescue Bennett and squelch Gomalk's plans--and this will require a convincingly staged assassination attempt. Written by John O'Dea and Arthur Rowe, "Operation 'Heart'" first aired October 22, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Mission: Impossible: Echo of Yesterday
Powerful but gullible German industrialist Otto Kelmann (Wilfred Hyde-White) is on the verge of handing over his munitions empire to a "new Hitler" named Colonel Marcus Von Frank (Hans Gudegast), aka Eric Braeden). It is up to the IMF to smash Marcus' movement by forcing Kelmann to realign his thinking. This is the episode in which IMF agent Rollin Hand convincingly poses as the real Adolf Hitler. Written by Mann Rubin, the man responsible for the thematically similar first-season Mission: Impossible episode "The Legend", "Echo of Yesterday" first aired on December 10, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Mission: Impossible: The Widow
Jim Phelps (Peter Graves) takes over as head of the Impossible Missions Force in "The Widow." This time, the target is Alex Cresnic (William Cresnic), the world's largest heroin dealer. The IMF's mission is to persuade Cresnic's buyers that he has double-crossed them. First step: to convince Cresnic that Cinnamon is the widow of his partner Mark Walters (Joe Maross)--who is still very much alive. (Written by Barney Slater, "The Widow" first aired September 10, 1967, as the opening episode of Mission: Impossible's second season. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Mission: Impossible: The Astrologer
Baltic freedom fighter Nikolai Kurzon (Bob Tiedemann) has been kidnapped by Colonel Alex Stahl (Steve Ihnat), leader of the secret police in Kurzon's homeland. To rescue both Kurzon and his thousands of followers, the IMF must make it appear that Stahl has sold out his government. To accomplish this, Cinnamon poses as an astrologer with a remarkable record of accurate predictions. Much of the action takes place on an airplane that, to all appearances, is doomed to crash with Stahl aboard. Originally telecast December 3, 1967, "The Astrologer" was written by James F. Griffith. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Mission: Impossible: The Slave, Part Two
In the second half of the two-part Mission: Impossible adventure "The Slave", the IMF force has kidnapped Amara (Antoinette Bower), the niece of corrupt Elkabaran King Ibn Borca (Joseph Ruskin), Fasar (David Mauro), and sold her into slavery. It is all part of a plan to end the slave trade in Elkabar, and to topple Borca from power. Crucial to the scheme is Cinnamon's masquerade as a potential slave and Phelp's pose as a trader. Originally telecast October 15, 1967, Part Two of "The Slave" was written by William Read Woodfield and Allan Balter. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Mission: Impossible: The Council, Part Two
In the second half of the two-part Mission: Impossible adventure "The Council", the IMF's plan to topple a gangland syndicate is threatened when one of the mobsters apparently sees through Rollin's impersonation of crooked businessman Frank Wayne (Paul Stevens). Meanwhile, the real Stevens lies unconscious on the operating table of a master plastic surgeon. And in a startling development, Phelps is the victim of a mob "hit"--or is he? Written by William Read Woodfield and Allan Balter, Part Two of "The Council" originally aired on November 26, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Mission: Impossible: The Seal
The sacred gold seal of the Far Eastern nation of Kuala Rokat has been stolen. Masterminding the heist is American industrialist Taggart (Darren McGavin), who intends to hold on to the seal despite the danger of a major diplomatic breakdown. The IMF is assigned to recover the seal, a job that requires a trained cat named Rusty and a healthy dose of the occult. Written by William Read Woodfield and Allan Balter, "The Seal" made its first network TV appearance on November 5 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Mission: Impossible: The Slave, Part One
The first multipart adventure of Mission: Impossible's second season, "The Slave" was written by William Read Woodfield and Alan Balter. The scene is the Persian Gulf state of Elkabar, where King Ibn Borca (Joseph Ruskin) supervises a vicious but entirely legal slave ring with the aid of his crony Karl de Groot (Warren Stevens). To depose Borca and end the slave trade in Elkabar, the IMF agents must resort to drastic measures...with the lovely Amara (Antoinette Bower), the wife of Borca's nephew Fasar (David Mauro), as the innocent pawn. Part one of the two-part "The Slave" was first broadcast on October 8, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Mission: Impossible: The Council, Part One
Written by William Read Woodfield and Allan Balter, "The Council" was the second multipart story of Mission: Impossible's second season. In their most ambitious assignment to date, the IMF must destroy a criminal empire that threatens to drain America's gold reserves. As part of the plan, Rollin concocts a dangerous strategy of his own, one that requires him to impersonate crooked businessman Frank Wayne (Paul Stevens). As it turns out, the success of the mission hinges upon a mob flunkey who has been targetted for extermination--and has already been buried alive. Part One of "The Council" was first broadcast November 19, 1967. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Mission: Impossible: The Killing
Gerald S. O'Loughlin guest-stars as Burt Gordon, the suspected head of a nationwide organization of contract killers. To get the goods on Gordon, Phelps and Cinnamon pose as a married couple and move next door to the suspect. The next step is to convince Gordon that he has murdered Phelps--and that he is being haunted by his victim's ghost. Nominated for several Emmy Awards, "The Killing" was written by William Read Woodfield and Allan Balter, and was first broadcast on February 25, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Mission: Impossible: The Phoenix
Frequent Mission: Impossible director Alf Kjellin appears in this episode as art museum director Stefan Prohosh, the ousted party chairman of a small Eastern Bloc country. Hoping to regain his power, Prohosh steals a secret alloy which has been welded into a metal sculpture. The IMF's mission is to switch the alloy with a counterfeit sample--an assignment that requires an extremely noisy series of diversions. Scripted by John D. F. Black from a story by Black and Edward DeBlasio, "The Phoenix" was originally broadcast on March 3, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Mission: Impossible: Trial by Fury
Written by Sy Salkowitz, "Trial by Fury" takes place in a South American dictatorship. When resistance leader Manuel Delgardo (Ernest Sarracino) is thrown into prison, his associate Santos Cardoza (Michael Tolan) has himself arrested so that he can pass on valuable information to Delgardo's followers. Unfortunately, his fellow prisoners suspect Delgardo of being a spy for the government, and plan to assassinate him. IMF agents Phelps and Barney pose as convicts to save Delgardo and expose the genuine traitor. Paul Winfield appears in the supporting role of Klaus. "Trial by Fury" originally aired March 10, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Mission: Impossible: Recovery
When a SAC bomber crashes in a Communist country, the palne's fail-safe mechanism falls into the hands of American defector Paul Shipherd (Bradford Dillman). The IMF agents must retrieve the mechanism before Shipherd inadvertently triggers its self-destruct device. Posing as the husband-and-wife manufacturers of the device, Rollin and Cinnamon arrange to be arrested, the better to gain access to Shipherd's heavily guarded laboratory. Written by William Read Woodfield and Allan Balter, "Recovery" was originally seen on March 17, 1968, as the final episode in Mission: Impossible's second season. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Mission: Impossible: The Spy
Beautiful but dangerous enemy agent Felicia Vabar (Kate Woodville) engineers the theft of valuable NATO missile-defense plans. Fortunately, only half of the plans are in Vabar's possession: It is up to the IMF to protect the other half--and, of course, to recover the already stolen documents. Journeying far behind the Iron Curtain, Rollin puts his life on the line when he apparently arranges a deal with Vabar and her henchmen. Written by Barney Slater, "The Spy" was first telecast on January 7, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Mission: Impossible: A Game of Chess
The IMF agents are assigned to recapture $1,000,000 in gold bullion, which was targetted for a pro-Democracy underground group but has been confiscated by the Communists. The money is being held under maximum-security conditions at a hotel where an important chess tournament is being held. Complications ensue when Nicholas Groat (Don Francks), an international thief posing as a chess master, draws up plans to steal the bullion himself. Originally broadcast on January 14, 1968, "A Game of Chess" was written by Richard M. Sakal. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Mission: Impossible: The Town
Taking a well-deserved vacation, Phelps finds himself in a small town populated almost exlclusively by political assassins. Captured, Phelps is drugged and left in a paralytic state. Despite his helplessness, he manages to blink a message to Rollin, who rallies the rest of the IMF to prevent the murder of a Russian defector. Future Waltons costar Will Geer delivers a nicely nasty performance as a duplicitious doctor. First shown on February 18, 1968, "The Town" was written by Sy Salkowitz. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Mission: Impossible: The Counterfeiter
The title character in this Mission: Impossible episode is Raymond Calder (Edmond O'Brien), the unscrupulous manufacturer of counterfeit drugs. Distressed that Calder has exploited the needs of the desperately ill, his former colleague Dr. McConnell (Noah Keen) conspires with the IMF agents to hoist Calder on his own petard. "The Counterfeiter" was one of several excellent episodes scripted by the team of William Read Woodfield and Allan Balter, working from a story by Lily Woodfield and Joseph Gantman. It was first telecast on February 4, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Mission: Impossible: The Condemned
Like the first-season Mission: Impossible episode "The Ransom," the second-season installment "The Condemned" is an unusual departure from the series' format. Racing against the clock, Jim Phelps hopes to save the life of his close friend Kevin Hagen, who has been convicted of murder and sentenced to die in a Spanish prison. Unbeknownst to anyone, the "murder victim" is actually alive and well and living under an assumed name. Other plot wrinkles include the disappearance of a diamond tiara and the curious behavior of Webster's ex-sweetheart Luisa Rojas (Mariana Hill). First telecast January 28 1968, "The Execution" was written by Laurence Heath. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Mission: Impossible: The Emerald
Boarding the S.S. Star of Suez, the cleverly disguised agents of the IMF attempt to prevent Communist agent Yorgi Petrosian (Michael Strong) from getting his hands on a valuable microfilm. Unbeknownst to himself, gun salesman Victor Tomar (William Smithers) is in possession of the film, which is affixed to a priceless emerald. The recovery of the film is contingent upon a meticulously staged poker game. Written by William Read Woodfield and Allan Balter, "The Emerald" first aired on January 21, 1968. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Mission: Impossible: The Condemned
Greg Morris, who played electronics expert Barney Collier on the original Mission:Impossible series, guest-stars on the "new" version in the November 20, 1988 episode "The Condemned." Framed for murder, Barney is locked up in a brutal Turkish prison and sentenced to death. It is up to Barney's son, new IMF agent Grant Collier (played by Morris' real-life son Phil Morris), to stage-manage his dad's daring rescue. Scripted by Ted Roberts and Martin Fisher from a story by John Truman, "The Condemned" is a remake of a 1968 Mission:Impossible episode written by Laurence Heath. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
