Mannix - The First Season | 
 enlarge | Director: Bill Bixby
Actor: Mike Connors
Studio: Paramount
Category: DVD
List Price: $49.99
Buy New: $35.26
You Save: $14.73 (29%)
New (42) Used (8) Collectible (1) from $25.99
Rating:  50 reviews
Sales Rank: 9402
Format: Box Set, Color, Dvd, Full Screen, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Number Of Items: 6
Running Time: 1210
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.2 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: 132814
UPC: 097361328140
EAN: 0097361328140
Release Date: June 3, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Amazon.com
One of the most fondly remembered and action-packed detective series of the late '60s and early '70s, Mannix was the brainchild creators Richard Levinson and William Link (Columbo, Murder: She Wrote) and executive producer Bruce Geller (Mission: Impossible). Mike Connors won an Emmy as the title character, a tough, streetwise private eye whose hands-on approach to cases raised the hackles of his employers, the scientific-minded Intertect, and his no-nonsense boss Lou Wickersham (Joseph Campanella). Episodes generally saw Mannix taking his share of licks, either from or in the service of that week's guest star (celebs on display in this debut season include Tom Skerritt, Karen Black, Julie Adams, William Windom, and Neil Diamond in Episode 4, "The Many Deaths of Saint Christopher"). The on-screen violence, which earned the show its devoted audience as well as critical outcry, is fairly tame by today's standards, though it preserves the show's energy and drive; the chemistry between Connors and Campanella and especially Emmy winner Gail Fisher as secretary Peggy Fair (one of the first African-American characters to appear as a regular on a television series) also keep the episodes moving at a crisp pace. Modern audiences used to more high-tech crime shows like Num3ers and the CSI franchises may find Mannix's methods sort of quaint, but those who favor classic TV fare or who remember it from its lengthy network and syndicated runs will enjoy tagging along with Joe Mannix all over again. All 24 episodes of the 1967-1968 debut season are featured on this six-disc set, including the 1967 pilot "The Name is Mannix." Connors himself is all over the DVD--not only is he interviewed with Campanella in a loose but informative featurette about their time together on the show (Wickersham was phased out by its second season in order to let Mannix work for himself), but he provides commentary on several episodes and audio introductions for just about every supplement. These include a promo clip for the show in a CBS TV special announcing the fall 1967 lineup; an interview with Connors on a 1969 episode of The Mike Douglas Show; a Paramount sales reel for prospective syndication broadcasters (with voice-over by the legendary Ernie Anderson); and a clip from a 1997 episode of Diagnosis: Murder in which Connors reprised Mannix to investigate a unsolved murder that was introduced in a '70s-era episode of that series. It's an impressive package, and should give Mannix devotees much to look forward to in regard to upcoming DVDs. --Paul Gaita
Description
From the dynamic opening credits to the closing shootout, Mannix crackles with excitement, and is finally available on DVD for the first time ever! Cool, no-nonsense private detective Joe Mannix (Mike Connors) is a tough-talking loner within the large detective agency Intertect. He has street smarts and class, but he constantly fights with his boss, Lou Wickersham (Joseph Campanella), over how to conduct their investigations. Lou relies on the company's computers, but Mannix has to go with his gut. And that's just what he does every time! One of the most popular crime shows ever, this long-running series was developed by executive producer Bruce Geller (Mission: Impossible), and features all 24 Season One episodes on 6 discs, including the rarely-seen series pilot. Brace yourself for unbeatable action — Mannix is back!
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| Customer Reviews: Read 45 more reviews...
Attention Star Trek Fans, Mannix Season 1 is a Treat! January 21, 2009
As a diehard fan of classic TV, and an even more intense fan of the original Star Trek, I'm pleased to report that season 1 of Mannix caters to both of my passions. Produced at the same time as classic Trek, by the same studio and overseen by some of the same production and casting people, many familiar Trek guest stars and two Trek regulars pop up in these 24 episodes. I hesitate to be more specific lest I ruin the wonderful surprises that await you. Columbo fans will also gain considerable insight from the audio commentary that accompanies the pilot, where the conversation seems to be more about the rumpled detective in the trenchcoat than the combustable Mannix. This release is VERY highly recommended!
Excellent Series, Excellent DVD November 24, 2008
The only things I would have changed about this DVD set are, (1) the audio introduction by Mike Connors are a great thing, but when playing the shows I had wished there was an option to turn them off because they play before the start of every episode (unless you're using the "play all" feature). I haven't seen these episodes in a long time, so they were all like new to me... I didn't want anything spoiled for me before the episode began. However, they are easily skipped, you just have to be ready on the remote button to start the episode from the intro screen. (2) I would've liked to have had even more special feature material, such as interviews and "making of" stuff. I know a lot of folks don't appreciate that sort of thing, but I'm one that eats it up.
But these are rather nit-picky points. The DVD set is great, and the series is even better than I remembered it. I've already ordered Season 2.
Man I miss 1970 November 24, 2008
If you were young in the late 60's and early 70's there is nothing I can tell you about Mannix that you do not already know. Glamorous girls, convertible muscle cars and Joe Mannix. If you aren't 40 something I just don't have the words but if you are IT'S MANNIX!!
mannix November 2, 2008
I always liked mannix. Glad it's out on dvd.Have the first season, will purchase more.
 Don't Care For the INTERTECT Angle October 28, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
"Mannix" has an impressive pedigree, having been created by Bruce Geller (Mission: Impossible) and Richard Levinson and William Link (Columbo) who were among the most original minds in television. The series was one of the most popular detective series of all times, appearing for seven seasons and Mike Connors earned a repuation as a fine actor. Thus I was surprised to find that this first season left a lot to be desired, in terms of quality. All sucessful series have to work out a lot of kinks in their first episodes, but this first season of "Mannix" had quite a few poor episodes. I think this was due to the unsuccessful tie-in with the "INTERTECT" angle, a high-tech crime-solving corporation headed by an egg-head, played by Joe Campanella. Over and over we see his character peeking into Mannix's office using a closed-circuit television system (I think that may be illegal, how many workers would want their bosses spying on them?). Campanella always has a bemused, exasperated look as if thinking to himself "what am I going to do with this guy...he is so unorthodox, yet I can't get by without him!". After the first several dozen times we see this, it gets tiresome. Also, part of the charm of private detective stories is the sleuthing the PI's do in order to come up with clues. Here it seems INTERTECT and its army of egg-head intellectuals and their computers seem to be able to spew out mountains of information about every person in the United States, if not the world, making Mannix's job too easy.
In the early shows we see poor acting on the part of numerous supporting characters and an episode where Mannix's foot is injured, yet manages to gimp aroudn for miles and miles around a rural town without a car. He is even chased by tractors and manages to survive.
A couple of interesting things we see in these early episodes is a cameo appearance by producer Bruce Geller playing a movie director, who might have been very talented as a creative person, but certainly was no actor. We also have a scene where Mannix gets to speak Armenian.
I must admit that as the season wore on the quality did improve and part of the reason was that we saw less of INTERTECT and Joe Campanella stopped showing up miraculously when Mannix was in deep trouble. The dialogue also improved and became more Raymond Chanlerish with interesting quips commenting on life, the world and human nature.
Maybe it would be worthwhile for someone who is not sure whether they want to see this series to start with the second season, where he becomes a more convention PI with his own office and secretary.
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