I agree with the last reviewer, Robert Loggia plays it over the top here, but he's worth every minute.
Director Michael Caffey definitely plays a part, long with cop shows. He was also directing BARNABY JONES, who had his fair share of nasty villains. This was his cup of tea. Additionally, Leonard Kantor wrote the story, who began his career with THE UNTOUCHABLES. Lots of ammunition.
Loggia plays Johnny, a mob boss (with a short fuse) who hires Cannon to figure out who put a hit on his former wife --OR was it for him? Has the feel of a MANNIX episode because nobody wants to tell the truth.
More over, everyone in the "family" seems to have an attitude. Just what Cannon needs. Good role for guest star Madlyn Rhue, playing Phyllis, Loggia's ex wife. Rhue was also no stranger to cop shows, and worked with her old boss, William Conrad, at Warner Brothers/ABC. She was everywhere on tv, and for good reason.
The fun of stories like this is guessing the bad apple, even if the intended victim is a work of art.
David Opatoshu plays Lucius and Harry Rhodes represents the police. Popular character actor Don Ross plays a hotel clerk, frequently playing cops on DRAGNET 1967. This was famous bit actor Bob Harks last appearance on the show, and an easy one, playing a dead guy. In a way, he was a smart, working steady in Hollywood and not working hard.
For all us sightseers, we get to see some nice shots of the legendary Pike Amusement Park in Long Beach. This was "the" place to have fun back in the day, replete with attractions and rides before it was razed and sold to land developers in a few years. It was named one of the greatest parks in the country.
A top episode, especially for all us fans of Madlyn Rhue. SEASON 5 EPISODE 22 remastered color CBS/Paramount dvd box set. 7 dvds. Collectors series box with a cool sketch of Cannon.