The Bargain

Episode aired Dec 15, 1968
TV-PG
50m

IMDb RATING

7.6/10

218

YOUR RATING

Barbara Bain in Mission: Impossible (1966)

Action Adventure Crime Drama Thriller

An exiled dictator who's desperate to regain power turns to a major crime syndicate for help with his plan, promising to legalize gambling and grant them exclusive control of the casinos.An exiled dictator who's desperate to regain power turns to a major crime syndicate for help with his plan, promising to legalize gambling and grant them exclusive control of the casinos.An exiled dictator who's desperate to regain power turns to a major crime syndicate for help with his plan, promising to legalize gambling and grant them exclusive control of the casinos.

Director
- Richard Benedict
Writers
- Bruce Geller
- Robert E. Thompson
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.6/10

218

YOUR RATING

Director
- Richard Benedict
Writers
- Bruce Geller
- Robert E. Thompson
Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Trivia
The reclusive wealthy individual who leased out several floors of the Hotel and made the potential offer to buy the business outright seems to be an allusion to eccentric industrialist Howard Hughes. In 1967, Hughes purchased the Desert Inn, a resort casino in Las Vegas, from Las Vegas mobster Moe Dalitz and partners for $13.2 million. The purchase came after Hughes was asked to leave the hotel's penthouse in December 1966 and, instead of leaving, he began negotiations to buy the property. He died in one of the hotel rooms in 1976, emaciated, addicted to codeine, allowing the nails on his hands and feet to grow to a grotesque length.

Goofs
The IMF wants gangster Frank Layton (Warren Stevens) to believe that Gen. Neyron (Albert Paulsen) has signed a contract with a reclusive billionaire to double-cross the Syndicate. To do this, they forge Neyron's signature on a substitute contract that supposedly deals with gambling rights in the General's home country. The creators apparently borrowed a standard form entertainment agreement as a prop, however; the text immediately above the signature line, which is visible in a couple of shots even without freeze-framing the picture, deals with television and production rights.

Quotes
[first lines]
Person on Tape: [voice on tape] Good morning, Mr. Phelps. The man you are looking at is General Ernesto Neyron. The former dictator of Suranaica who now lives in exile at his closely-guarded Miami estate. In order to finance a military coup which will return him to power, Neyron is about to conclude a deal with this man, Frank Layton, a top syndicate leader. In exchange for several million dollars, Neyron has agreed to legalize gambling in Suranaica and give all rights to the syndicate. Your mission, Jim, should you decide to accept it, is to stop Neyron and the syndicate. As always, should you or any of your IM Force be caught or killed, the Secretary will disavow any knowledge of your actions. This tape will self-destruct in five seconds. Good luck, Jim.

User reviews2

Review

Featured review

10/10

THE M.I. TEAM AND THE MOB.

Solid direction by Richard Benedict, who did some fine work on many cop shows, originally an actor.

It another mob story --which are always exciting-- and leading the pact is noneother than versatile Albert Paulson, playing General Neyron. One of those I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine deals. Neyron, who is living in exile in Miami, teams with mobster Frank Layton (Warren Stevens) who will pour money into a coup which will insure him a return to power --IF-- he legalizes gambling casinos. Not a bad deal, if you're the crooked type, obviously the general getting the best of it.

The M. I. team subsequently descends on Neyron's estate, cleverly gaining access and throwing a monkeywrench into the best laid plans. Paulson is super in this role, appearing in four additional episodes. He was born in Ecuador, though specialized in European roles, especially playing Germans.

Good writing on the part of Robert E. Thompson, popular with westerns, like HAVE GUN WILL TRAVEL and BONANZA.

I agree with the goof notes, yes, there's a lady wearing an orange dress who pops up multiple times in a hotel scene. Common mistakes in many tv shows, although considering the fashion industry, designers may have wanted to get lots of exposure for their dress. Very clever, but who knows?

SEASON 3 EPISODE 10 remastered CBS/Paramount dvd box set. 7 dvd set.