We get a rare glimpse at how the IMF would work in the real world; torture and straight-out murder to accomplish a goal. The team would be right at home in Guantanamo. Not surprisingly, an episode like this was relatively rare. In the 60's television reality we were typically portrayed as the good guys...
4 Reviews
Rather cruel but incredibly effective.
planktonrules7 February 2014
Carl Wilson (James Daly) is an important US ambassador. However, the enemy has apparently substituted him with a perfect fake. The Americans realize this but don't want to immediately act on this for fear that the real Wilson will then be killed. So, the team abducts the phony and place him in a fake mental hospital where they plan on breaking him. In the meantime, Briggs, in disguise, will fill in for Wilson with no one being the wiser.
The mental hospital is, of course, in some abandoned warehouse. In many ways, it's like a torture chamber where they use shock treatment and mind-altering drugs to confuse the double. And, they talk about using more of the shock treatment unless he 'opens up and talks about himself and his past' to the doctors. In other words, talk about the mission substituting him for Wilson or he'll get more 'treatment for his own good'! It's truly horrifying....and it couldn't happen to a nicer guy! The key is can they break the double before his people enact whatever sort of plan they've hatched to discredit Wilson and the United States? I loved this episode because it was so vicious. Imagine using a fake mental hospital to drive someone over the edge! A bit mean-spirited--and I liked that! Also clever and well-written.
By the way, the psychiatrist who is helping the IM team is played by familiar actor Vic Perrin. While you easily could have seen him on TV in the 60s (such as his several appearances on "Dragnet"), he is also the Control Voice from the beginning of each of the classic "Outer Limits" programs.
The mental hospital is, of course, in some abandoned warehouse. In many ways, it's like a torture chamber where they use shock treatment and mind-altering drugs to confuse the double. And, they talk about using more of the shock treatment unless he 'opens up and talks about himself and his past' to the doctors. In other words, talk about the mission substituting him for Wilson or he'll get more 'treatment for his own good'! It's truly horrifying....and it couldn't happen to a nicer guy! The key is can they break the double before his people enact whatever sort of plan they've hatched to discredit Wilson and the United States? I loved this episode because it was so vicious. Imagine using a fake mental hospital to drive someone over the edge! A bit mean-spirited--and I liked that! Also clever and well-written.
By the way, the psychiatrist who is helping the IM team is played by familiar actor Vic Perrin. While you easily could have seen him on TV in the 60s (such as his several appearances on "Dragnet"), he is also the Control Voice from the beginning of each of the classic "Outer Limits" programs.
PLAYING A GAME ON THE MASTERS OF THE GAME
tcchelsey16 October 2023
Laurence Heath, who wrote 23 episodes for the series, rolled up his sleeves again and delivered a darn good fake out story. Actually, it was a double switch story, quite original and fairly clever.
Veteran actor James Daly plays Carl Wilson, a distinguished US ambassador who is the target for international extremists. He is secretly kidnapped and replaced by an exact double! The IMF team goes to work and kidnaps the phony! What do ya'll think about that? And they have some treacherous plans for this guy....
The last episode had the team staging a crash on make-believe train. Keeping that in mind, the masters of trickery now construct a phony mental hospital, and with all the trimmings. What was always so fascinating about M. I. were the anonymous background people, working in tandem with the the IMF team, putting all of the brick and morter parts together. In this case, a remote warehouse was now transformed into a working hospital. Certainly, Briggs and the rest could not do it all. Briggs does assume Wilson's identity, though.
The "other" Wilson is subjected to shock treatment and mind games that only you will see on MISSION IMPOSSIBLE. It is truly a way of life, and you wouldn't want be in this guys shoes... James Daly plays his role well, long a tv actor, known for playing the senior doctor on MEIDCAL CENTER. Interestingly, not too long after this episode he portrayed Honorious in the original PLANET OF THE APES. He was the father of actress Tyne Daly.
Great guest stars here, including Sorrell Booke as Peter and Vic Perrin as Dr. Drake. Perrin was a regular on DRAGNET for years, playing both detectives and some nasty bad guys. He had an outstanding role in the DRAGNET tv movie playing a serial killer who ate candy bars!
Look for popular child actor Jean Michael Michenaud as Fydor. Jean was everywhere on tv at the time, both in comedies and dramas. He later became an accomplished producer.
Skillfully directed by Lee H. Katzin, who never let his audience down. Katzin was later behind a string of hit tv movies in the 70s, which are now mini classics.
A must for thrill seekers. SEASON1 EPISODE 25 remastered dvd box set.
Veteran actor James Daly plays Carl Wilson, a distinguished US ambassador who is the target for international extremists. He is secretly kidnapped and replaced by an exact double! The IMF team goes to work and kidnaps the phony! What do ya'll think about that? And they have some treacherous plans for this guy....
The last episode had the team staging a crash on make-believe train. Keeping that in mind, the masters of trickery now construct a phony mental hospital, and with all the trimmings. What was always so fascinating about M. I. were the anonymous background people, working in tandem with the the IMF team, putting all of the brick and morter parts together. In this case, a remote warehouse was now transformed into a working hospital. Certainly, Briggs and the rest could not do it all. Briggs does assume Wilson's identity, though.
The "other" Wilson is subjected to shock treatment and mind games that only you will see on MISSION IMPOSSIBLE. It is truly a way of life, and you wouldn't want be in this guys shoes... James Daly plays his role well, long a tv actor, known for playing the senior doctor on MEIDCAL CENTER. Interestingly, not too long after this episode he portrayed Honorious in the original PLANET OF THE APES. He was the father of actress Tyne Daly.
Great guest stars here, including Sorrell Booke as Peter and Vic Perrin as Dr. Drake. Perrin was a regular on DRAGNET for years, playing both detectives and some nasty bad guys. He had an outstanding role in the DRAGNET tv movie playing a serial killer who ate candy bars!
Look for popular child actor Jean Michael Michenaud as Fydor. Jean was everywhere on tv at the time, both in comedies and dramas. He later became an accomplished producer.
Skillfully directed by Lee H. Katzin, who never let his audience down. Katzin was later behind a string of hit tv movies in the 70s, which are now mini classics.
A must for thrill seekers. SEASON1 EPISODE 25 remastered dvd box set.
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