Ultimate bait and switch episode, well written by John T. Dugan, known for all those cops and robbers escapades on ADAM 12.
Dedicated to fans of this series because it's one heck of a challenge for the team. The mission is to save a European cardinal (played by Paul Stevens), kidnapped by no account General Zepke (in an over the top performance by Theodore Bikel). The cardinal's blessing is the saving grace for Zepke, if he expects to take over a country. Accordingly, Cardinal Souchek is kidnapped and replaced by a phony (also played by Stevens) which will insure Zepke's future. Fairly clever stuff.
The team has no choice but to put one over on the general, much in the same fashion as he's trying to fool the earnest citizens of the small country. Let the games begin. Barney and Willy have a lot of undercover work to do, the setting being a huge complex. Mount Saint Mary's College in Bel Air, California was once again used as a backdrop, noted for its magnificent architecture, and with a European slant. I agree with the last reviewer, if you look close enough in long shots, yes, you can see the Los Angeles smog!
Great costume and the famous rubbery makeup change by Rollin, as usual, playing a bishop. Guest star Barbara Babcock plays Major Maria Felder, a role that may have been inspired from her many appearances on HOGANS HEROES. The famous sitcom was a springboard for actors playing foreign agents. Babcock is best known for DR. QUINN.
Top direction by Sutton Roley, who headed five episodes, 16 episodes for MANNIX.
Watching the nasty general get his due is worth the wait. The shocked expression on his face is the whole show, and always what all us fans couldn't get enough of. Paul Stevens shines in his closing comments, bringing down the curtain on another thug. This episode did do away with the usual dark comedy ending; it would have been fitting to see Zepke taking a friendly, casual walk to the hangman's noose.
Best of SEASON 3 EPISODE 6 remastered CBS/Paramount dvd box set. 7 dvd set. Released 2008.