Lawrence F. Doheny Movies

This episode was originally the first half of a two-part crossover with the CBS private-eye series Simon and Simon. At the same time that Magnum (Tom Selleck) is hired to provide security at a high-society antiques charity auction, Mainland detectives A.J. and Rick Simon (Jameson Parker, Gerald McRaney) arrive in Hawaii in search of a priceless artifiact known as the Ki'i Doll. The doll carries with it an ancient curse, which brings death to anyone who touches it--and guess who that includes? Gillian Dobb, later to join the series' cast as Agatha Chumley, is here seen as Mabel. Inasmuch as the followup Simon and Simon episode "Emeralds are Not a Girl's Best Friend" is not included in the syndicated Magnum, P.I. package, "Ki'is Don't Lie" has been provided with an alternate ending which bring closure to the story and swift punishment to the principal villain! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Higgins (John Hillerman "volunteers" Magnum (Tom Selleck) to act as bodyguard for "Sir Algernon Farnsworth", a disagreeable terrier owned by wealthy Gloria Marston (Kathleen Nolan). Though the last thing Magnum wants to be in the world is a dog-sitter, he agrees to the assignment in exhange for a year's free use of the tennis courts at a ritzy private club. But he may not live long enough to enjoy this perk: the dog's previous owner, an ill-tempered gangster named DiGiorgio (Michael Gazzo), is determined to reclaim the mutt--even if he has to kill a few people to meet his goal. The episode's climax finds DiGiorgio and his goons chasing Magnum and animal regulations officer Sharon Karns (Shawn Hoskins) through an old banana field. . .which turns out to be reaping some rather strange "fruit." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

After making a mysterious nocturnal helicopter flight, T.C. (Roger E. Mosley) is arrested on charges of smuggling a person into the country and transporting drugs. Magnum (Tom Selleck)is determined to clear T.C.'s name--even though T.C. himself throws up several roadblocks by refusing to explain or justify his actions. The key to solving the mystery is a certain Joey Santino (Vincent Caristi), whose long-standing friendship with T.C. may result in disaster for both men. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Higgins (John Hillerman) opens Robin's Nest to his former Royal Army commander, Brig, Allistair ffolkes (Richard Johnson). Having been instrumental in capturing several IRA terrorists, ffolkes is now faced with the challenge of staying alive long enough to testify against them. In his efforts to keep fflokes out of harm's way, Magnum (Tom Selleck) is frustrated by a pair of taciturn Naval Intelligence secret-service agents who refuse to tell him anything more about the assignment than what he already knows--which, truth to tell, isn't very much! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A professional boxer (Herb Jefferson Jr.) refuses to accept the official verdict that he delivered a fatal blow to his opponent, who collapses and dies several days after the fight.. At the same time, a chef (Pete Schrum) who works for Quincy's friend Danny (Val Bisoglio) unexpectedly dies after undergoing routine surgery in an doctor's office. Investigating, Quincy (Jack Klugman) determines that the two deaths were connected--and the culprit may be a cut-rate physician whose "skills" are as inadequate as his cheap surgical equipment. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

While the Angels are taking a well-deserved vacation at a fashionable resort, Sabrina (Kate Jackson) senses that all is not well with another vacationer, a prominent Polish freedom advocate named Professor Peter Wycinski (Theodore Bikel). Sabrina's instincts prove to be on target when Wycinski is kidnapped and replaced with a double for the purpose of sabotaging an important international conference. Need it be added that this turn of events compels the Angels to make their vacation a "working" one? ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Jim (James Garner) is dumbstruck when he discovers that his former cellmate Angel (Stuart Margolin)--or "Angelo", as he now calls himself--is rolling in wealth and living in a luxurious penthouse. All this happened once Angel became majority owner of something called the Indianhead River Land Development Company. When it turns out that the company is actually a front for mobsters in need of a tax dodge, Angel is put on the spot--and when a woman connected with the crooks is found murdered in Angel's penthouse, Jim tries to save his erstwhile chum from both arrest and assassination by having him committed to a sanitarium! This episode is highlighted by a VERY high-stakes golf game between Jim and the principal villain (Robert Loggia). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

While investigating an insurance claim on behalf of the posh Brend Air Health Club, Jim (James Garner) finds himself in the middle of a sting operation involving Federal agents and illegal gunrunners. It all begins when an undercover Fed mistakes Jim for a police officer, an error which briefly affords Lt. Chapman (James Luisi) the opportunity to put Jim behind bars for keeps. Of course, our hero manages to wriggle out of this predicament, but his troubles are still far from over! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In this light-hearted (and slightly light-headed) episode, Angel (Stuart Margolin) prevails upon Jim (James Garner) to recover some money from gambler Tom "Chicken" Little. When Little turns up dead, Jim finds out that the man was involved in an elaborate swindle, and that the money Angel had been after actually belonged to Mob. The only way Jim can recover the cash and avoid being offed by the Mob himself is to stage a swindle of his own--and that's why the episode ends with a free-for-all at Angel's "funeral." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The death of police rookie Dave Banning has been ruled accidental by the authorities, but Dave's grieving mother Kate (Edith Atwater) is convinced that her son was murdered. Although Kate cannot afford his $200-per-day fee, Jim (James Garner) agrees to help her learn the truth behind her son's death. Subsequently, Jim uncovers evidence of illegal drug trafficking within the police department--but try telling that to the ever-antagonistic Lt. Alex Diehl (Tom Atkins), who lives for the day that he can send Jim back into the slammer. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Predating the Oscar-nominated theatrical feature Apollo 13 by over two decades, the made-for-TV Houston, We've Got a Problem dramatized the same real-life crisis in space from a different point of view. It was back in 1970 when an explosion on board Apollo 13 forced Mission Control to scuttle the vessel's intended moon landing. Unfortunately, the astronauts and the NASA control team faced an even bigger dilemma -- the very real possibility that the Apollo 13 capsule would remain hovering in space forever, with no possible hope for a return to the earth. Unlike the film version of Apollo 13, in which the men on board the ill-fated craft were spotlighted, the TV movie focused exclusively on the NASA engineers in Houston, and the families and friends of the endangered space travelers. In fact, Jim Lovell and his crew weren't even shown onscreen, save for a random TV news clip. Houston, We've Got a Problem debuted March 2, 1974, on ABC. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of a two-part story, Jim continues probing into the kidnapping and murder of computer programmer Alec Morris, despite pressure brought to bear by Morris' bosses at Fiscal Dynamics. Based on evidence provided by other employees, it appears that the company's higherups ordered the killing--but Jim still doesn't know why. Ultimately, Jim's dad Rocky (Noah Beery Sr.) puts his own life on the line to help solve the mystery (while simultaneouly trying to figure out why his garbage disposal has suddenly gone on the blink!) ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Officers Jim Reed (Kent McCord) and Pete Malloy (Martin Milner) think that something fishy is going on where they're summoned to two different accident scenes. In both instances, the same tow truck pulls up to haul off the damaged vehicle--and the same witness comes forth to tell what he saw. Sure enough, there's a con job going on, and Jim and Pete join forces with the Bunco division to nab the perpetrators. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide