User Reviews

Warner Brothers studio executive Neil Hamilton hires the Bailey&Spencer team of detectives to protect young actress Diane McBain. What makes this one of the best episodes of the series is the truly unique form of intimidation this takes.

Two bit con artist Robert Ellenstein is creepy as all get out in this story. He used to have a hypnosis act and he's done that to McBain. He's planted a post hypnotic suggestion to her that will cause her to kill of maim herself and he won't give it for some financial consideration. Not to say it can't be triggered accidentally either.

Ellenstein is also very good at concealing himself. When Louis Quinn locates him the results are almost tragic.

Some fast thinking by Roger Smith is what does him in. And an actor gets the role of a lifetime.

One of the best in the series.

Even without Efrem Zimbalist Jr., this later episode of the hit series benefits immensely from the appearance in a leading role of Diane McBain, a heart-throb in my youth from her starring in the same studio's "Surfside Six".

She portrays a Hollywood movie star who gets hypnotized by an unscrupulous criminal posing as an extra on set. The subject of post- hypnotic suggestions, and how they can be used to harm people, as well as how a professional can remove them, is delved in depth and makes for an interesting crime topic.

One sidelight is casting veteran character actor John Dehner as himself, a friend of our private eye played by Roger Smith. He's pressed into service at the end of the show to save Diane from the clutches of the evil hypnotist by posing as a expert on hypnotism and ultimately saves the day with some fast talking. It is curious to see how this sort of role falls between the cracks: it's not a cameo by a famous celebrity literally playing themselves, as Dehner does expert acting in his impersonation, so he's not really the "real" John Dehner.

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.