Greg Morris Movies

In the first episode of a two-part story, Jason (Chuck Connors) recalls an incident in his past, involving a young and inexperienced African American Cavalry officer named Johnny Macon (played by future Mission: Impossible regular Greg Morris). While leading a small patrol into hostile Indian territory, Macon is captured by Apache chief Wateekah (Michael Keep), who has a sinister plan in mind for both Macon and his fellow captive Jason. Excerpts from "Fill No Glass for Me" were later spliced together with scenes from two other Branded episodes, "Now Join the Human Race" and "Call to Glory", to form the direct-to-video "feature film" Blade Rider: Revenge of the Indian Nations. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This drama, financed by DST Communications, a subsidiary of Delta Sigma Theta, the world's largest black sorority, centers around the revolutionary leader of a fictionalized African nation, Fahari. He is being hunted by a mercenary hired by a big corporation disgruntled by the rebel's policies because they are cutting into the company's profits. The film features a notable soundtrack by Manu Dibango, an African musician. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Though not readily apparent, Flight to Holocaust is the feature-length pilot film for a potential TV series. Crashing into the side of a high-rise building, an airplane is precariously wedged in the structure's 20th floor. Dispatched to rescue the survivors are a team of acrobatic troubleshooters, played by female circus performer Fawne Harriman and combat veterans Chris Mitchum, Patrick Wayne, Desi Arnaz Jr. and Paul Williams. As can be gathered by a perusal of the cast list, the film's gimmick was the presence of three second-generation Hollywood stars. After the initial telecast of Flight to Holocaust on March 27, 1977, NBC invited viewers to mail in their opinions of the film. Evidently the verdict was unanimous, since no weekly series resulted. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The IMF agents are assigned to recapture $1,000,000 in gold bullion, which was targetted for a pro-Democracy underground group but has been confiscated by the Communists. The money is being held under maximum-security conditions at a hotel where an important chess tournament is being held. Complications ensue when Nicholas Groat (Don Francks), an international thief posing as a chess master, draws up plans to steal the bullion himself. Originally broadcast on January 14, 1968, "A Game of Chess" was written by Richard M. Sakal. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

IMF agents Rollin and Cinnamon are assigned to an Iron Curtain nation, where they hope to retrieve a reel of recording wire containing details of an enemy chemical-warfare project. To avoid detective, Rollin poses as dockworker, while Cinnamon impersonates a news photographer. Finding the reel is the "easy" part: The problem now is to get the wire out of the country, which is festooned with agents from a variety of unfriendly countries. Written by Ellis Marcus, "A Spool There Was" first aired on November 12, 1966. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The IMF is assigned to learn the identity of a corrupt political higher-up, known only by his code name C6. To that end, Casey poses as a Syndicate delivery girl. The catch: The briefcase Casey is to deliver has been wired with a live bomb, set to explode the moment the briefcase is opened. A pre-Rookies Georg Stanford Brown heads the guest-star list as Luke Jenkins. First broadcast on January 29, 1972, "Bag Woman" was written by Ed Adamson and Norman Katkov. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

William Windom makes a return visit to Mission: Impossible, again in a villainous characterization. This time, Windom is cast as Stu Gorman, a music-industry executive fronting for the Syndicate. To get the goods on Gorman, IMF agents Barney and Casey pose as blues singers--with Casey taking her part of the charade to dangerous extremes. This episode is highlighted by Greg Morris' rendition of "Judy's Gone Now", a song specially written for the series by Morris and Benny Golson. Scripted by Howard Berk and Orville H. Hampton from a story by Berk, "Blues" first aired on November 20, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The seventh and final season of Mission:Impossible commenced on September 16, 1972 with the episode titled "Break!" In his second series appearance, guest star Carl Betz is cast as Syndicate gambling boss Dutch Krebs, who has just finished murdering a federal undercover agent. The IMF must recover the wristwatch camera that the dead agent was carrying, and to do this Jim Phelps poses as a pool hustler, engaging Krebs in a high-stakes game which had been meticulously rigged by fellow IMF agent Barney. Though series regular Lynda Day George receives billing as agent Lisa Casey in this and subsequent episodes, she spent most of the 1972-73 season on maternity leave. Her IMF replacement in "Break!" and elsewhere is paroled convict Mimi Davis, played by former Ironside regular Barbara Anderson. Thus, in this episode the viewer is treated to the ritual of the Impossible Mission Force's recruiting process for the first and only time. "Break!" was written by Sam Roeca and James L. Henderson. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This time it's personal for IMF agent Barney Collier: His brother Larry (Marc Hannibal), a crusading newspaper editor has been murdered at the behest of a crooked police chief. Larry had been on the verge of proving the chief's connection with a ghetto gang that is in the employ of the Syndicate. To help Barney avenge Larry's death, the IMF masterminds a trap for the corrupt cop and his Syndicate higher-up. Hari Rhodes and Abbey Lincoln are among the guest stars in "Cat's Paw", which was written by Howard Browne and was first broadcast on January 9, 1971. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The IMF has only 72 hours to intercept a huge shipment of cocaine, which is being delivered to supplier Carl Reid (Stephen McNally) by smuggler Fernando Lorca (Gregory Sierra). In order to undermine the main villains, agents Phelps and Willy prey upon the gullibility of Reid's second-in-command, Joe Conrad (William Shatner, in the second of his Mission: Impossible guest appearances). The gimmick: a "miraculous" new computerized machine which purportedly manufactures synthetic cocaine. Barbara Anderson again appears as IMF operative Mimi Davis, subbing for series regular Lynda Day George. Scripted by Harold Livingston from a story by Livingston and Norman Katkov, "Cocaine" was first broadcast on October 21, 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

"Committed" was first telecast on January 22, 1972, the same day that the latest cast of Mission:Impossible appeared on the cover of TV Guide. Bert Freed guest stars as Syndicate chieftan Leon Chandler, whose trial for murder may end in acquittal thanks to the actions of a corrupt lieutenant governor. The key witness against Chandler, Nora Dawson (Susan Howard), is slowly being driven insane in a mob-controlled mental hospital. The IMF's mission: To infiltrate the hospital, rescue Nora, and expose Chandler's political stooge. Series regular Lynda Day George steals the show with her impersonation of a deranged woman. "Committed" was scripted by Arthur Weiss, from a story by Laurence Heath. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

With no pressing assignments at hand, Phelps and Barney head to the Caribbean for a long-overdue vacation. Falling in love with gorgeous artist Alma Ross (Cicely Tyson), Barney finds himself framed for the murder of Alma's ex-boyfriend. The instigator of the frame-up is crooked police chief Manuel Corba (Pernell Roberts), the head of a private death squad that has already claimed some 70 victims. Summoning the rest of the IMF team to come to Barney's rescue, Phelps intends to put the sadistic Corba out of business for keeps. The impressive supporting cast includes such familiar faces as Leon Askin and John Schuck. Written by Laurence Heath, "Death Squad" was originally broadcast on March 15, 1970. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide