User Reviews

"No Pockets in a Shroud" was no doubt inspired, in part, by the life of Howard Hughes. Since the 1950s, Hughes had been seen by practically no one--and by 1971, there were a lot of rumors that the nutty recluse was actually dead. Such is the unseen character in this show--a Mr. Haskell who is immensely wealthy yet hasn't been seen in ages.

A woman approaches Cannon. She thinks she might be the missing heir to Haskell's fortune. The problem is, Haskell has tons of guards around him and no one ever sees him and these folks aren't about to make an exception. Cannon wanders, too, if the man is still alive and perhaps his 'friend' (Arthur O'Connell and Roy Scheider) might have done something to the old man or are are hiding a secret. Unfortunately, the local police aren't helpful and it's up to Cannon to take on the goons until he can eventually get a look into Haskell's prison-like compound.

This is one of the better episodes of season one. Apart from Cannon's fighting skills being a big ridiculous as he takes on baddie after baddie like Bruce Lee taking on baddies in "The Game of Death", this is a very good episode--with some nice guest performances and an intriguing plot. Well worth seeing.

Intriguing story with lots of action in this solid episode of Cannon. People are always fascinated by the ultra-rich, especially when they wrap their life in mystery. So who is this mysterious man? That's what the episode aims to find out.

Roy Scheider is in this and he is terrific. The cast on the whole is quite good. Linda Marsh is in this and is very appealing to both the eye and the heart.

There's a helicopter in this episode Yep, a helicopter. And you know what that means, baby!!!

One of the best episodes of season one. Cannon.

10 STARS. And catch the eerie music score.

Ken Pettus, armed with lots of imagination, wrote this episode that should have come out at Halloween. Instead, CBS released it Thanksgiving week, perhaps for a larger audience.

The opening is real campy entertainment, and the only "spooky" episode in the series. It's fun.

Check out Cannon playing pool before it all begins.

These guys had fun behind the scenes, and the pool idea had to be yet another gag.

The weird case is about an reclusive and elusive millionaire, sort of a Howard Hughes type, who may be related to Linda Marsh -- possibly DEAD, and the crafty attorneys hoping to cheat her out of everything. Marsh, a beautiful and talented actress, was also appearing on MANNIX at the time. She was partly related to Frank Sinatra, briefly married to his cousin, Richard.

Here's where it gets good. Cannon and his client travel to a creepy mansion in the middle of the desert, set in a town called Yucca Wells, Nevada.

The story behind this is an eye opener. The crew saddled up and headed to the old Shea Castle at Lancaster, California. The desert landmark was built in the 1920s, and behind it a story of a suicide and real ghosts! It's closed today to the public, but for decades it was used as a backdrop for movies and tv.

Roy Scheider (pre JAWS) is a standout here, playing one of the nefarious attorneys. Watch him. Ken Pettus, who worked with William Conrad at Warner Brothers/ABC, was behind such hits as the WILD, WILD WEST, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE and the GREEN HORNET. Without fail, William Hale returned as director and worked his magic. This all clicks.

Hale stages a way cool road duel between the Lincoln and a helicopter. Classic Cannon stuff, and the ending is reminiscent of an old time murder mystery with all the trappings.

Interestingly.... does Linda's character have a little crush on Frank Cannon at the end? Or at least needs a good friend. You be the judge.

Thank you to William Hale for this gem.

SEASON 1 EPISODE 10 CBS/Paramount dvd box set No. 1 of 2. 10 hrs total length.