"Mission: Impossible" (1966) TV series 1966-1973

User Rating:

8.3/10   

Creator:

Bruce Geller

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Release Date:

17 September 1966 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Failure impossible.

Plot:

An elite covert operations unit carries out highly sensitive missions subject to official denial in the event of failure, death or capture.

Plot Keywords:

Mission | Deception | Superspy | Self Destructing Message | Sweaty Face

Awards:

Won 3 Golden Globes. Another 10 wins & 25 nominations

Cast

Greg Morris	...	Barney Collier (168 episodes, 1966-1973)
Peter Lupus	...	Willy Armitage (158 episodes, 1966-1973)
Bob Johnson	...	Voice on Tape (158 episodes, 1966-1973)
Peter Graves	...	James Phelps (143 episodes, 1967-1973)
Barbara Bain	...	Cinnamon Carter (77 episodes, 1966-1969)
Martin Landau	...	Rollin Hand / ... (76 episodes, 1966-1969)

Runtime:

50 min (168 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG | UK:PG | UK:U (some episodes) | New Zealand:PG | Argentina:Atp

Filming Locations:

Desilu Studios - 9336 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company:

Desilu Productions

Trivia:

Although the IMF usually received its instructions from a self-destructing reel-to-reel tape, this didn't become the norm until several seasons into the series. In early episodes, Briggs and Phelps got their instructions from other sources such as records and filmstrip projectors. The "tape scenes" for each episode (as they were known) were usually filmed in one block at the start of each season. Peter Graves said he never knew which episode would use which tape scene until it was broadcast.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: In numerous episodes a very tiny black "tape player" is used. It is identifiable by the aluminum tape reels which each have three holes. This was a dummy prop and, in several shots, it is obvious that the tape is a continuous loop running around both reels since the shiny aluminum center of the "takeup" reel is visible rather than the brown tape color.

Quotes:

Voice on Tape: Good morning Mister Briggs.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Strawberry Statement (1970)

Rarely equalled, never surpassed

One of my fondest memories of TV viewing in the late 60's and 70's, was the weekly hour of tension which Mission Impossible provided. There was the initial bewilderment of trying to work out how on earth the brief flashes of peculiar devices and tension-ridden confrontations could possibly be woven into a coherent plot. Next, there were the wonderfully mundane locations in which Peter Graves would retrieve the briefing materials and the tape which invariably dissolved in a cloud of smoke.

After all the introduction, the remaining fifty minutes was sometimes an anti-climax. More often, it was very satisfying to see the initial vignettes fitted jigsaw-pattern into the plot. Perhaps towards the very end of the series, the plots became a little stilted or physically impossible; but invariably entertaining.

Like most fans of the original series, I found the over-hyped film of the same name to be an facile and shallow work with no redeeming features. I would die happy seeing a film in which Martin Landau, Peter Graves, Greg Morris et al. emerge creaking from retirement to save the day, and as they so often did, drive off leaving thwarted villains to turn on each other.