SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 45:00 Min.
ABC-TV first broadcast this mid-season episode on January 13, 1979. Mr. Roarke and Tattoo host this week’s guests: a young heiress who wishes to contact her dead twin brother through a séance; and a blue-collar fisherman brings along his down-to-earth wife to explore life as an instant multi-millionaire.
Meanwhile, Tattoo has inadvertently ‘stolen’ a pony from somewhere on the island. Also briefly seen is another guest (a mild-mannered news reporter, no less) living out his dream as Superman – though the character’s name is never stated, presumably for copyright purposes.
Mr. Roarke: Ricardo Montalbán
Tattoo: Hervé Villechaize
Clare Conti (“Séance”): Eve Plumb
Todd Conti (“Séance”): Uncredited (possibly Eve Plumb)
Victor Conti (“Séance”): Leslie Nielsen
Eddie Loomis (“Séance”): Ross Bickell
Denise Morot (“Séance”): Stepfanie Kramer
Claude Morot (“Séance”): Joseph Hacker
Eva Capos (“The Treasure”): Shelley Fabares
Joe Capos (“The Treasure”): George Maharis
Party Guests (“The Treasure”): Warren Munson, Doug Banks, & Dorit Renier
McCloud (“The Treasure”): Michael Fox
Rancher: Don Megowan
Island Dancers: Uncredited
Island Inhabitants: Uncredited
‘Clark Kent:’ Uncredited
REVIEW:
Though Montalbán and Villechaize are in reliably good form, their guest stars fail to bring their A-game or even their B-game. “Séance’s” plot thread presents some dark turns, but this supernatural potboiler is mediocre to the hilt. Still, the outlandish spectacle of two explosive séances solving a murder-mystery is better viewing than “The Treasure.”
When one sees Fabares & Maharis’ casually-dressed couple actually go scuba diving without equipment (aside from a single mask), “The Treasure’s” quality control instantly sinks with them. This get-rich-quick fable is so predictable and illogical that the entire cliché-fest becomes virtually unwatchable.
In particular, there shouldn’t be viewer sympathy for Maharis’ self-absorbed and nasty Joe Capos, i.e. as to how monetary wealth can be corruptive and why a happy marriage offers far greater wealth. The only sympathy that should be extended is to co-star Fabares for being stuck with a crummy script.
As for Tattoo’s pony, this minor side story is mildly charming, as are the Superman/Clark Kent sight gags eliciting a quick chuckle. The insurmountable problem, however, is that two ridiculous storylines suffer from undeniably dreadful acting. Ironically, it makes sense that Nielsen’s cynical uncle would be this episode’s most believable guest character.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 3 Stars
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