Season 2 - originally broadcast
September 21, 1966
French: "L'enfant perdu" (The Lost Child)
German: "Gesucht: Allan - 14 Jahre alt" (Sought: Allan-14 Years Old)
Writers: David Friedkin & Mort Fine
Director: Paul Wendkos
When four American agents of a special cadre have been killed, Kelly and Scotty are sent to protect the one remaining and locate the suspect who is Scotty's friend (whose siste, a night-club singer, r is also involved. A fake code book is used as a lure, leading to tragic consequences.
Cast (see images at left and on page 2)
Nancy Wilson (Lori), Malachi Throne (John Keegan), Frank Maxwell (Paul Landon),Greg Morris (Jim Rogers), Billy Gray (Gershon Stutman), Patty Regan (SheilaStutman), Logan Field (Joe Willis), Kathryn Minor (little old lady), Owen Bush (unnamed man #2), Donna Michelle (Millicent), John Goddard (Donald Forman), Charles Alvin Bell (unnamed man #1), Lou Elias (parking attendant), Charlene Jones (Judy)
FROM THE NOTEBOOKS
Synopsis: In Las Vegas, who really killed the five explosive experts?
Highlights/Comments: Plot somewhat unclear. It was Bill Cosby's show. His infectious “the genius of myself” … Scene with the newlyweds.
I SPY REVISITED
Nancy Wilson is not here just to sing or decorate the episode in her always-glamorous clothes. A heavy acting role overshadows all the light vignettes, the only thing which keeps this from being a very routine entry in the series.
The “I Spy” Forum comments on "LORI"
Author: Colonel Benkovski
Date: March 4 2002 at 2:46 AM
This episode has a lot of good things going for it, in spite of a less than imaginative plot. The plot is simply "Who is killing off the members of a group of agents who shared a training class 2 years ago?" Not particularly new or fresh, but it worked well enough to give Cosby some excellent acting opportunities.
And that's really what makes this episode, is that it gives Scotty a lot of air time. He is the one who's old friend is in trouble this time, and he is the one who is caught up in his emotions toward a woman, and he is the one with the temper and the revenge motive. All of these plot devices had been used before, and would be used again, but always with Kelly as the central character, this time it is Scotty, and Bill Cosby handled it extremely well. The climax scene at Hoover Dam, we really know that Scotty wants to kill Keegan, wants to throw him over the edge, but we know he won't. The scenes between Scotty and Lori are quite well done, too, Scotty showing a very tender and romantic side we seldom see, especially as he strokes Lori's arms when she is telling him that "Jim is dead".
The old friend in trouble scenario is trotted out again, but it works ok this time in that it was Scotty in the first place who got Jim into the "department". Las Vegas has never struck me as an exotic locale, but it works well given the premise that Lori is a lounge singer. Jim's character is never fully explored, nor is Keegan's, and we never find out what caused Keegan to turn traitor, but we assume it was money.
The opening scene in a Paris bistro is a good one, even though it is a backlot. In fact, most of the scenes are filmed on the Hollywood lot, except the scene at the dam and possibly in the casino's.
There is great tension in the scene where the guys are being briefed in the Pentagon, combining Scott's loyalty to his friend with both agents' guilt over allowing the agent in Paris to die. I also like the fuzzy focus in the flashback scene, emphasizing Lori's drunken state at the time.
Good shots of Vegas as it looked in the mid-60's, when it really was a gambling town instead of a theme park that it has become.
Some good comic relief with the honeymoon couple coming into K&S's motel room (and Kelly and Scotty hide under those globe trotting beds which follow them around the world - complete with the same red covers. And did anyone notice that the couch in Lori's dressing room was the same on she was lying on the balcony where the first agent was killed? Hmm. Maybe the couch did it........
Also check out that old fashioned cover on the US News and World report magazine Scotty hides the code book in. How the media has changed!
The chase and fight scene at the end was the only real action in the episode, it was short scene but well done. Keegan calls Scotty "Boy" as they get out of the car, which is an added touch of evil to his character.
It is obvious that this episode was intended to be the first episode chronologically in the second season, with references to the fact that they had just come from Mexico, and they are sent to Paris, back to Washington, on to Las Vegas, where they remain for the next episode - Sparrowhawk, before going on to LA and Palm Springs for the remaining episodes of this first set of episodes in the US. There is a great deal of continuity in the show if the episodes are aired in the proper order.
Over all, I give this one a B-. Good acting by Cosby and Culp, but a less than fresh plot and it moves slowly in parts.
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