Two important things to note concerning this episode. It's a terrific change of pace, thanks to writer Robert I. Holt, finding Barnaby involved in the Latino community, which was long overdue. Also, the fact it was directed by Allen Baron, a rediscovered cult film director in recent years, for his work on a classic 1961 gangster movie that went viral.
In this case, an old cop friend of Barnaby's seeks revenge on a gang who killed his son, and the going gets rough because the guy has a very short fuse. Robert Holt took a hint from some MANNIX episodes, cleverly with a Latino slant, where the victim has an axe to grind and it's up to Barnaby to stop him and apprehend the real killer at the same time. The clock is ticking...
A superb cast of Latino actors, such as Carlos Rivas, who in real life was instrumental in getting better roles for Spanish actors in Hollywood. Popular actress Anna Navarro guest stars as does A. (Adolpho) Martinez, who is still working today. An enormously popular actor, also known for soap operas, such as SANTA BARBARA, ONE LIFE TO LIVE and DAYS OF OUR LIVES. Martinez recenty appeared in the tv series BLUE RIDGE. Skip Homeier is especially good as the local sheriff, a staple in westerns and probably the reason he was cast here.
Interestingly, Holt set this in the town of Santa Luisa, California (which does not exist), the same setting for DAN AUGUST, Burt Reynold's short lived but famous cop show. It could have been because the series was popular in reruns at the time. There is a Santa Lucia Range in central California, in Monterey County, which has a long history of lost gold and ghosts. That would have made another exciting story.
Great to Barnaby on the case. Recommended. SEASON 8 EPISODE 11 remastered color. Released 2018. Check out the classic Barnaby and Betty cover.
In this case, an old cop friend of Barnaby's seeks revenge on a gang who killed his son, and the going gets rough because the guy has a very short fuse. Robert Holt took a hint from some MANNIX episodes, cleverly with a Latino slant, where the victim has an axe to grind and it's up to Barnaby to stop him and apprehend the real killer at the same time. The clock is ticking...
A superb cast of Latino actors, such as Carlos Rivas, who in real life was instrumental in getting better roles for Spanish actors in Hollywood. Popular actress Anna Navarro guest stars as does A. (Adolpho) Martinez, who is still working today. An enormously popular actor, also known for soap operas, such as SANTA BARBARA, ONE LIFE TO LIVE and DAYS OF OUR LIVES. Martinez recenty appeared in the tv series BLUE RIDGE. Skip Homeier is especially good as the local sheriff, a staple in westerns and probably the reason he was cast here.
Interestingly, Holt set this in the town of Santa Luisa, California (which does not exist), the same setting for DAN AUGUST, Burt Reynold's short lived but famous cop show. It could have been because the series was popular in reruns at the time. There is a Santa Lucia Range in central California, in Monterey County, which has a long history of lost gold and ghosts. That would have made another exciting story.
Great to Barnaby on the case. Recommended. SEASON 8 EPISODE 11 remastered color. Released 2018. Check out the classic Barnaby and Betty cover.