The way cool thing about this episode is it all takes place at Warner Brothers studios, in guise of another film company naturally, but campy fun nonetheless.
Popular heavy Robert Ellenstein (NORTH BY NORTHWEST) plays a deranged movie extra with a criminal background who hypnotizes movie star Nita Maren (played by beautiful Diane McBain) into doing some strange things. This is a bizarre episode and with the surprise casting of actor John Dehner playing himself, and also being the hero, although Jeff does earn his p.i. Credentials.
Of course, the bottom line is a bag filled with lots of cash, a weird scene finding Ellenstein walking out of the studio with zombie Nita and all the money.
Beautifully filmed on location, using the actual WB soundstages and the outside lots. There's an interesting scene with Kooky talking to John Dehner near the West Olive entrance and you can see lots of traffic, showing how busy Burbank was even in 1962!
Classic shootout at the end on a building rooftop, overlooking one of the famous street sets. Take my word for it, as a former tour guide, not much has changed on the lot some 60 years later!
Great performance from Neil Hamilton as the studio chief, looking a lot like Commissioner Gordon on BATMAN! Roscoe (Louis Quinn) has an unforgettable scene, hypnotized by Ellenstein into a gun-toting thug, about to shoot Jeff. Not to miss Diane McBain, who was actually discovered by a WB talent agent. She passed in 2022.
Exceptionally written by Lawrence Kimble who wrote 10 episodes for the show, also associated with BIG TOWN and STATE TROOPER.
A must see for movie buffs. SEASON 5 EPISODE 2 remastered.