SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 45:00 Min.
CBS first televised this Bob Sweeney-directed episode on March 3, 1985. After an aborted car chase, private detective Harry Fox (Warden) is in a San Francisco hospital, now immobilized with a broken arm and leg. In the middle of the night, a semi-conscious, drugged-up Harry witnesses his surly roommate (Carlson) being suffocated by a professional hitman (Zee). Otherwise eerily silent, this assassin’s sole ‘trademark’ is a distinctive limp in the form of a dragging foot.
Only Cindy (Peyser) initially believes her father-in-law’s outlandish claim, as she prods a skeptical Harrison (Rubinstein) into pursuing leads on this supposed culprit. Meanwhile, with their young son (Kiger) away on a ski trip, Harrison & Cindy cope with a wonky electrician’s (Howell) decimation of their home.
Realizing that their quarry is far out of his attorney son and daughter-in-law’s league, Harry, with help from his favorite cronies (Kirby & Manza), tries slipping out of the hospital and evading his supercilious nurse (Reese). To protect his family, Harry finally urges Harrison & Cindy to back off, unaware that the elusive killer intends to invade their home to silence them.
Harry Fox, Sr.: Jack Warden
Harrison K. Fox, Jr.: John Rubinstein
Cindy Fox: Penny Peyser
Josh Fox: Robby Kiger
Mrs. Flood (Nurse Flood): Della Reese
Herbert Lowe: John A. Zee
Manny: George Kirby
Papa John: Ralph Manza
Nurse Janet: LaGena Hart (aka LaGena Lookabill Greene)
Electrician (Schafer): Hoke Howell
Lt. Conley: Robert Hanley
Riley: Steve Carlson
Mrs. Riley: Bernadette Williams
Police Officer: Mark Solinger
Mr. Pancrest: Fred Carney
Hospital Clerk: Lewis Dauber
Motorcycle Bandit: Unidentified Stuntman
REVIEW:
Watchable on a level somewhere between average and mediocre, “Fox Hunt” opts for formulaic TV pap vs. any semblance of originality. Even the pratfall by which the killer will be inevitably snared is telegraphed practically with blinking lights. Still, what the ultra-predictable “Fox Hunt” has going for it is likability: a trait that this classy ensemble (especially Peyser, Reese, & Rubinstein) exudes, as far as sharing light comedic repartee. The show’s good production values also partially compensate for such a rudimentary script.
Though “Fox Hunt” is easily forgettable, its harmless entertainment value ensures at least one decent viewing. In that sense, the undemanding Crazy Like a Fox bridges viewer demographics between fans of buddy action shows (i.e. Hardcastle & McCormick) to TV programs closer in spirit to Murder, She Wrote.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 4½ Stars
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