Mission: Impossible - "Blind"

by Ted Davis and Linda Kay

Original Air Date: September 28, 1971

Directed by: Reza Badiyi

Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains spoilers for this episode!

Synopsis: IMF squad leader Jim Phelps (Peter Graves) takes one for the team when he undergoes an operation that renders him totally blind so that he can better impersonate a degraded ex-FBI agent and worm his way into the upper levels of the crime syndicate to protect Henry Matula (Tom Bosley), an IMF undercover mole who is in danger of being exposed by vicious mobster Carl Deetrich (Jason Evers).

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): A singularly cheerful and smiling security guard (Calvin Chrane) feeds and pets O.J., an orange and white tabby, and questions the cat to ensure that he’s happy and enjoying the meal.

Mission: Impossible - Blind - security guard Calvin Chrane feeding ginger and white cat on desk

Either the milk is particularly tasty or the guard’s constant encouragement drowns out the sound of Phelps and Johnny (Peter Brown) sneaking down the corridor so that even O.J. doesn’t notice them.

Mission: Impossible - Blind - security guard Calvin Chrane feeding ginger and white cat on desk with Phelps Peter Graves and Johnny Peter Brown behind

Mission: Impossible - Blind - Phelps Peter Graves and Johnny Peter Brown trying to sneak by security guard feeding ginger and white cat animated gif

Slight Kitty Carnage Warning! Moments later, when the sightless and tentative Phelps attempts to escape down a flight of stairs and steps inadvertently on O.J. (note the person never puts his full weight on the cat), the pussy repays the guard’s kindness by sounding the alert and emitting the patented Poor Cat Screech. As a result, the confused Phelps (or rather Graves’ stunt double) loses his balance and tumbles to the floor, crashing through the flimsy stair railings during his descent. The cat, meanwhile, hops nimbly to the side and avoids the messy destruction.

Mission: Impossible - Blind - ginger and white cat sitting on stairs

Mission: Impossible - Blind - ginger and white cat getting stepped upon on stairs

Mission: Impossible - Blind - Phelps stunt man tripping over ginger and white cat on stairs

Mission: Impossible - Blind - Phelps stunt man tripping over ginger and white cat and falling down stairs animated gif

A unique feature of this series are the opening credits, not only notable for the unforgettable theme song but changed each week to feature video clips from the upcoming episode. In this case, O.J. makes the opening credits, but the shot of the cat is completely different from any which appear in the actual episode.