The Return of Frank Cannon

"The Return of Frank Cannon" is a really good made for TV movie. The belly bucking, karate chopping Private Investigator comes out of retirement to help a friend in need. If you enjoyed the Cannon TV series then you'll love this movie.

When I watched this movie from the "Cannon" DVD set, I assumed that it was an attempt to restart the series...and that the network simply didn't pick up that option. It sure plays like a pilot episode...and you wonder what might have been had they decided to make another few seasons of this detective show.

This episode involves the death of a friend of Cannon's....and after watching all five seasons, I realize it was a bad thing to be one of his friends, as they often had a habit of being murdered! In this case, the ex-CIA agent's death was ruled a suicide...but this just didn't make sense. So Frank meets with his widow (with whom he used to have a relationship...long, long ago) and daughter and soon starts to realize that there is a concerted conspiracy to get him off the case...which means, obviously, that something is going on and Cannon is NOT going to be dissuaded from finding justice!

In many ways, this played exactly like an old television episode...just longer. I liked it though the plot was a bit confusing towards the end. Still, it was good enough that it left me wanting more!

By the way, if you DO watch this movie, can you explain to me why Cannon didn't hold the guy from Mel's prisoner and turn him over to the police?! This made little sense to me and if someone was trying to sabotage my car, I would have given him to the police!

As a kid, I always loved Cannon- its interesting plots and sanitized violence epitomized the many great detective series of the 70's. Also present were countless great character actors- many who had been or would become major stars- whose presence added immeasurably to the shows. Despite strong ratings, Cannon went off the air after five seasons when William Conrad became tired of his one man tour-de-force.

"The Return of Frank Cannon" is an excellent TV movie which returned Conrad to the small screen four years after Cannon ended its run. In the movie, Cannon is lured out of retirement to help an old girlfriend whose husband has been murdered. This TV movie works well because of its loyalty to the series in both style and overall look; it is simply a longer "Cannon" episode with the plot and characters more fully developed. Guests Arthur Hill, Diana Muldaur, William Smithers and a few others make us feel as if it's old home week watching our favorite shows of the recent past.

The Return of Frank Cannon brings back good memories and is worth your while.