Actor John Davis Chandler makes his first of three guest appearances in this episode. The name may not be familiar but the face most certainly will be. Chandler was a much in-demand actor for decades whenever a TV script called for the creepiest, most frightening looking face in Hollywood. Hopefully he made great money because he certainly deserved to. He always came through, providing television dramas with one of the most terrifying smiling snares and pair of incredibly insane, staring eyes.
Chandler's best, most horrifying appearance for Adam-12 comes in his third outing, the 5th season episode, "Killing Field". However, this episode sees him as a more slovenly, dispicable weasel who physically and mentally abuses his wife. To add to a further level of disgust, his character also abuses a daughter. To what degree, the 1971 script does not outwardly reveal. The viewer is left to arrive at a possible further revelation on their own. However, actors Martin Milner and Kent McCord provide their Officers Malloy and Reed characters with full-blown angered glares of obvious accusation. This aids the viewer in realizing what's truly been going on in the rat-nest equivalent Barstow family apartment. Very powerful.
There's other awful things going on in this episode, including a robbery in a barroom which leads to bullets flying. Female teen viewers are offered the lesson of not venturing into unknown, potentially dangerous areas. The young woman here laughs off Officer Malloy's advice and dismisses the partners. Not much later, M & R witness two men seemingly kindly guiding the girl into their vehicle. A run of their car's plates reveal the awful truth. These guys are wanted for kidnapping. If there were any female teen viewers watching in 1971, hopefully they got the message and are now enjoying visits with their Grandchildren, 52 years later. Maybe they're sharing with them the advice they learned here.
Chandler's best, most horrifying appearance for Adam-12 comes in his third outing, the 5th season episode, "Killing Field". However, this episode sees him as a more slovenly, dispicable weasel who physically and mentally abuses his wife. To add to a further level of disgust, his character also abuses a daughter. To what degree, the 1971 script does not outwardly reveal. The viewer is left to arrive at a possible further revelation on their own. However, actors Martin Milner and Kent McCord provide their Officers Malloy and Reed characters with full-blown angered glares of obvious accusation. This aids the viewer in realizing what's truly been going on in the rat-nest equivalent Barstow family apartment. Very powerful.
There's other awful things going on in this episode, including a robbery in a barroom which leads to bullets flying. Female teen viewers are offered the lesson of not venturing into unknown, potentially dangerous areas. The young woman here laughs off Officer Malloy's advice and dismisses the partners. Not much later, M & R witness two men seemingly kindly guiding the girl into their vehicle. A run of their car's plates reveal the awful truth. These guys are wanted for kidnapping. If there were any female teen viewers watching in 1971, hopefully they got the message and are now enjoying visits with their Grandchildren, 52 years later. Maybe they're sharing with them the advice they learned here.
