MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE: MEMORY (TV)
Summary
One in this series of adventure dramas about the exploits of the Impossible Missions Force.
The IMF has received new orders: to remove Janos Karq, dictator of a Soviet country, from power. They cannot assassinate him and thus must use subterfuge: they will have one of their own people pose as Sparrow, an agent whom Karq’s chief of security, Dmitri Soska, has been seeking for some time. Their fake Sparrow will spread misinformation that Karq is working with IMF and is thus a traitor to his people. Further evidence to support the misinformation is to arrive through a deliberately botched rescue attempt. The man selected to pose as Sparrow is Joseph Baresh, a man with an incredibly well-developed photographic memory. He agrees to the mission, even knowing that his life could be forfeit as a result.
Dan prepares Joseph for his mission. Once on the other side of the Iron Curtain, Dan and Joseph attract attention and Joseph is captured, as per the plan. Posing as Sparrow, Joseph is taken to a military prison run by Dmitri. Dmitri interrogates him, but Joseph drags out the proceedings to make it more convincing. Frustrated, Dmitri locks Joseph in a cell. Barney infiltrates the outer walls of the prison and makes his way inside. Joseph finally “cracks,” implicating Karq as a traitor, much to Dmitri’s disbelief.
Cinnamon poses as a fashion model and takes photographs with a group of firemen so that Willy can sneak into the fire house and swipe a few uniforms. Meanwhile, Barney places a smoke bomb on a windowsill in the prison. The smoke bomb goes off, making the prison officers believe that a fire has started. The firemen rush to the prison; Dan and Willy accompany them in fireman outfits. During all this, Joseph is placed back in his cell. Willy and Dan get a moment to speak to Joseph in his cell. Joseph asks that he be released, as he managed to memorize a list of all of Karq’s agents in Europe. However, Dan refuses and notices a security camera recording them. Dan and Willy manage to escape.
The IMF has completed their mission, but Dan wants to rescue Joseph. They disguise Rollin as Joseph and shoot footage of him in a set replicating his cell, in order to create fake security footage. Barney creates a miniature rocket with instructions for Joseph on it. Dmitri summons Karq and executes him via firing squad. Joseph is scheduled to be executed in five hours. Barney manages to shoot the miniature rocket into the wall by Joseph’s cell.
As per its instructions he fakes a tantrum and covers the camera in his cell with a blanket before superimposing the fake footage of Rollins onto it. Dmitri comes by to deliver his last request: a bottle of wine. Joseph gets rid of him and places thermite on the bars of the cell, destroying them. Dmitri discovers the ruse just as Joseph escapes and the entire prison guard scrambles to find him. Joseph meets up with the IMF and, with the aid of a special truck, manage to prevent him from being captured and get away safely. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: CBS
- DATE: September 24, 1966 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:49:49
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:12498
- GENRE: Drama, spy
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, spy
- SERIES RUN: CBS - TV series, 1966-1973
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Bruce Geller … Executive Producer, Created by
- Joseph Gantman … Producer
- Barry Crane … Associate Producer
- Charles R. Rondeau … Director
- Robert Lewin … Writer
- Lalo Schifrin … Music by
- Steven Hill … Cast, Dan Briggs
- Barbara Bain … Cast, Cinnamon Carter
- Greg Morris … Cast, Barney Collins
- Peter Lupus … Cast, Willy Armitage
- Martin Landau … Cast, Rollin Hand
- Albert Paulsen … Cast, Joseph Baresh
- Leonard Stone … Cast, Dmitri Soska
- Eddie Carroll … Cast, Street Photographer
- William Keene … Cast, Janos Karq
- Heinz Brinkman … Cast, 1st Guard
- Gene Dynarski … Cast, Sgt. of Guard