A 300-pound private eye who throws punches like he throws back steaks.
In this pilot film to the TV series, Cannon investigates the murder of a war buddy to clear the man's wife of suspicion in his death.
Acting
William Conrad's physical presence redefines 'heavy' leading man.
Production
That unmistakable 1971 made-for-TV aesthetic, all zoom lenses and polyester.
Director
George McCowan
William Conrad
Frank Cannon
J.D. Cannon
Lt. Kelly Redfield
Lynda Day George
Christie Redfield
Murray Hamilton
Virgil Holley
Earl Holliman
Magruder
Vera Miles
Diana Langston
Barry Sullivan
Calhoun
Keenan Wynn
Eddie
Norman Alden
Mitchell
Ellen Corby
Teacher
John Fiedler
Jake
Lawrence Pressman
Herb Mayer
Ross Hagen
Red Dunleavy
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
William Conrad was already famous as the voice of Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke radio; Cannon was his first on-camera starring role after decades of voice work and heavyset character parts.
This pilot aired during the final season of Mannix and helped CBS corner the market on 'troubled middle-aged detective' programming before the genre collapsed into self-parody by decade's end.
US
