| Mission: Impossible - Season 4
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DVD cover
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| Country
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 USA
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| Channel
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CBS
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| Genre
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Espionage
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| Broadcast
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9/28/69 - 3/29/70
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| No. of Episodes
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26
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| Main Cast
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| Character
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Actor
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The spring of 1969 was a tumultuous one between Seasons 3 and 4 on Mission: Impossible. Martin Landau's annual contract had expired and he was looking for a substantial salary increase to return. CBS was willing to shell out extra money to keep him on since the show was doing well and earning them money. Paramount, on the hand, was less willing to acquiesce to Landau's demands since the show was actually losing them hundreds of thousands of dollars. In the end, Landau walked away, and CBS executives were absolutely livid at Paramount for not just losing Landau, even after they offered to kick in extra money to keep him on, but also for creating so much bad blood between the two parties that Landau's wife, costar Barbara Bain, left the show as well.
Leonard Nimoy was hired on to replace Landau, at first temporarily when negotiations dragged on, and then permanently when everything went south. Nimoy was a fan of the show and good friends with Landau, so he called Landau to confirmed he was actually leaving before taking the part, not wanting to be used as leverage against a friend. Having filmed the recently-canceled Star Trek on the same lot, Nimoy was aware of the ongoing conflict between creator and executive producer Bruce Geller, who had a vision on what the show should be and the beancounters at Paramount Television, who thought Geller's vision was too expensive, and having witnessed Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry lose a similar conflict, told Paramount he would stay on the show as long as Geller remained. Nimoy had endured Star Trek's third season without Roddenberry and with a slashed budget, and he had no intention of being around if that happened to Mission: Impossible.
Replacing the Landau with Nimoy was relatively easy, since Nimoy was a popular and familiar face to viewers, and his character, magician, master-of-disguise and impressionist The Great Paris was basically the same character as Rollin Hand, which allowed the writers to simply substituted Paris for Rollin Hand in all of the existing Season 4 scripts. (It was never revealed if "Paris" was his first name, last name, or simply a stage name.)
The standoff between Barbara Bain and the show went on well into the start of production of Season 4, so by the time word came down that she would not be returning to fulfill the remaining two years on her contract, it was too late to cast a permanent replacement for her. The female roles were spread amongst several guest actresses, although the only actress to star in more than one mission was Lee Meriwether, who ended up playing team member Tracey for eight episodes. (Almost all subsequent team members went by one name after Season 3.)
Behind the camera, producer Stanley Kallis left the show mid-season to work on Hawaii Five-O, and Bruce Lansbury (brother of Angela) came on to finish out the season. Unlike his predecessors, Lansbury sided with Paramount in their effort to trim the budget, and he and writer Laurence Heath would trade off producing episodes until Lansbury was promoted to a corporate position within Paramount. The effects of Paramount's tightening of the purse strings were already evident in Season 4, as footage from previous episodes was reused, and it was painfully obvious that some episodes were entirely filmed on the Paramount lot.
As the season went on, CBS's worst fears were realized when the show's ratings took a nosedive, plummeting from eleventh all the way to 53rd. Some of the blame could be placed on the cast changes, mostly due to the lack of a female cast member, but much of the blame was on CBS itself, who cancelled the show's successful but controversial lead-in, The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. To add insult to injury, not only did CBS lose one highly rated show and wreck the ratings of another, the Smothers Brothers successfully sued CBS for breach of contract, costing the network another $766,000.
Season 4's rating came as a shock, and radical changes were planned for Season 5 in order to find an audience.
The following weapons were used in Season 4 of the television series Mission: Impossible (1966):
Handguns
Smith & Wesson Model 10
Paris (Leonard Nimoy) hijacks a plane with a Smith & Wesson Model 10 as part of his disguise as a Che Guevara-like character named El Líder in "The Code" (S04E01).
Smith & Wesson Model M&P Revolver - .38 Special
Paris (
Leonard Nimoy) hijacks a plane with a S&W 10 as part of his disguise as a Che Guevara-like character named El Líder in "The Code" (S04E01).
Walther P38
Walther P38s are seen throughout the series.
Walther P38 pistol (manufactured at the Mauser Factory) - World War II dated - 9x19mm
Jim Phelps (
Peter Graves) with a P38 in "The Numbers Game" (S04E02).
Paris with Jim's P38 in "The Numbers Game" (S04E02).
Jim, pretending to be a scientist, place Lorkner's (
H.M. Wynant) P38 in a pass-through in "The Controllers: Part 1" (S04E03).
Willy, pretending to be a prisoner and under the influence of a psychotropic drug, obeys Jim's command to put Lorkner's P38 to his own head in "The Controllers: Part 1" (S04E03).
A member of the Hartford Repertory Company prepares to smash a window with the butt of his P38 in "Submarine" (S0407).
Kruger Stelman (
Stephen McNally) with Paris' P38 in "Submarine" (S0407). Part of the ruse was pretending that Stelman was on the U-613, which was actually sunk in 1943.
A closeup of Phelp's P38 in "Submarine" (S0407).
The Foyer Guard (
Tony Giorgio) fires his P38 in "The Falcon: Part 3" (S4E16). Although he played many gangsters and tough guys in his career, Tony Giorgio was a former circus magician and consulted on many of the illusions used in the episode.
Paris holds the Foyer Guard's own P38 to his back in "The Falcon: Part 3" (S4E16). Note that the safety is on, although the Foyer Guard would have no way of knowing that.
Major Deiter (
Bruce Glover) holds a gun to Paris in "Orpheus" (S04E22).
Jim with a P38 in "The Crane" (S04E23).
Major Rafik (
Don Eitner) with his P38 in "The Crane" (S04E23).
Lieutenant Jocaro (
John Schuck) with his P38 in "Death Squad" (S04E24).
Barney hijacks a car armed with a P38 in "The Choice" (S04E25).
Barney with his P38 and magazine in "The Choice" (S04E25). He tells Willy that that the first four rounds are live, and the rest blank. (Since the plan was for Jim to take the gun and shoot at Willy, why weren't they all blank?)
Emil Vautrain (conveniently played by
Leonard Nimoy) with Barney's P38 in "The Choice" (S04E25).
Walther PPK
Walther PPKs are seen throughout the season.
Walther PPK - 9mm Kurz aka .380 ACP. Note the ring just behind the magazine.
Major Alex Denesch (
Don Francks) with his PPK in "The Numbers Game" (S04E02).
Major Alex Denesch points his PPK at Eva Gollan (May Britt) and Willy in "The Numbers Game" (S04E02). Willy later gets his hands on this pistol.
Lou Merrick (
Donnelly Rhodes) with his suppressed PPK in "Mastermind" (S04E08).
Jonas Stone (
Paul Stewart) about to take Merrick's PPK in "Mastermind" (S04E08). The Walther banner can be seen on the grips.
Dr. Labashi (
Lee Bergere) with a PPK in "The Brothers" (S04E11). Paris later grabs it and hands it to Lisa (
Michele Carey).
Walther PP
A Walther PP plays an important role in "The Controllers: Part 1" (S04E03).
Post war Walther PP Pistol - .32 ACP
The PP in Jim's briefcase in "The Controllers: Part 1" (S04E03).
The PP in Jim's briefcase in "The Controllers: Part 1" (S04E03). This shows the other side of the pistol.
Dr. Karl Turek (
David Sheiner) chambers a round into the PP in "The Controllers: Part 1" (S04E03). He takes a moment to decock the pistol, but chooses to use the trigger and hammer rather than the decocker.
Jim, disguised as Dr. Jarvis and pretending to be under the control of Dr. Turek, with the PP in "The Controllers: Part 1" (S04E03). There's a suppressor attached.
Astra 400
Astra 400 pistols are seen throughout the season, often in the hands of foreign guards.
Astra 400 - 9 x 23mm Bergmann / Largo
The guard on the left with his Astra 400 in "The Controllers: Part 1" (S04E03).
Premier Roshkoff (
David Opatoshu) lays down a guard's Astra 400 in "Fool's Gold" (S04E05).
Colonel Jaroslav Sardner (
Ramon Bieri) with his A400 in "Submarine" (S0407).
Captain Danko (
Jan Merlin) with his Astra 400 in "Robot" (S04E09).
Jim holds a Astra 400 to the head of Ray Dunson (
Jason Evers) in "The Double Circle" (S04E10).
Markoff's (Al Sklar) henchmen with their Astra 400's drawn in "The Double Circle" (S04E10).
Maj. Paul Johan (
Steve Ihnat) holds his Astra 400 on team member Monique (Julie Gregg) in "The Amnesiac" (S04E13).
A close of Col. Alex Vorda's (
Anthony Zerbe) Astra 400 in "The Amnesiac" (S04E13).
Colonel Moya (
Rudy Solari) threatens Paris with his Astra 400 in "Gitano" (S04E18).
Willy hijacks a car in "Phantoms" (S04E19).
Leo Vorka (
Luther Adler) with his Astra 400 in "Phantoms" (S04E19).
Ismet El Kabir (
Michael Tolan) fires a Astra 400 in "Terror" (S04E20).
Tim Rorke (
Don Knight) places a Astra 400 in the hand of the dead LCDR Patterson (uncredited) in "Lover's Knot" (S04E21).
Willy with his Astra 400 in "Orpheus" (S04E22).
M1911A1
M1911A1s are seen with several characters throughout the season.
World War II Colt M1911A1 Pistol - .45 ACP
Barney with a holstered M1911A1 in "Commandante" (S04E06). The grip safety is seen in this shot.
Barney with his M1911A1 drawn in "Commandante" (S04E06).
Commandante Juan Acero (
Lawrence Dane) with his M1911A1 drawn in "Commandante" (S04E06).
Paris draws an M1911A1 in "The Crane" (S04E23).
Smith & Wesson Model 36
Smith & Wesson Model 36s are seen throughout the season.
Smith & Wesson Model 36 - .38 Special
Nicholson (
William Bryant) is armed with a Smith & Wesson Model 36 in "Mastermind" (S04E08). The five-shot cylinder can be clearly seen here.
Arturo Sandoval (
Percy Rodrigues) with Jim's hidden revolver in "Chico" (S04E17). In the insert shot, it was a Smith & Wesson Model 10 snub, but here's a Smith & Wesson Model 36.
Jim Phelps with the S&W 36 in "Chico" (S04E17). Note the five shots. In the previous insert shot (see below), it was a S&W 10 snub.
Jim checks the S&W 36 in "Chico" (S04E17).
Colt Detective Special
Colt Detective Special revolvers are seen throughout the season.
Colt Detective Special 1st Gen with Round Butt - .38 Special
Jim hands Ray Dunson a DS in "The Double Circle" (S04E10).
Ray Dunson with his DS in "The Double Circle" (S04E10).
Markoff takes Dunson's DS in "The Double Circle" (S04E10). Markoff is a representative of the United People's Republic, one of the stand-ins for the Soviet Union throughout the series.
American Derringer Model 1
The compact American Derringer Model 1 is given to Francesca (Diane Baker) by Paris in "The Falcon: Part 1" (S4E14) and then used in "The Falcon: Part 2" (S4E15).
American Derringer Model 1 - .45 Long Colt
Tracey (
Lee Meriwether) hands the derringer to Paris in "The Falcon: Part 1" (S4E14).
Paris hands over the derringer to Francesca in "The Falcon: Part 1" (S4E14).
The derringer hidden under Francesca's bouquet in "The Falcon: Part 2" (S4E15). (Since she got it from Paris, maybe this qualifies as "something borrowed.")
Smith & Wesson Model 10 (snub)
Insert shots of Jim Phelps' Smith & Wesson Model 36 feature a snub-nosed Smith & Wesson Model 10 instead in "Chico" (S04E17).
Smith & Wesson Model 10 snub nose revolver - .38 Special.
A hand, supposed to be Jim's, reaching for the S&W 10 in an insert shot for "Chico" (S04E17). Note the six-shot cylinder, which means it can't be a S&W 36, which it turns into in the next shot.
An insert shot of the open cylinder in "Chico" (S04E17). Note the six-shot cylinder, which means it can't be a S&W 36, even after the audience saw the S&W 36 in Jim's hand.
Jim with a S&W 10 in "Lover's Knot" (S04E21).
Webley Mk IV
Suroq soldiers are seen with Webley Mk IV revolvers in "Terror" (S04E20). One of them hands his to a disguised Paris.
Webley Mk IV - .38 S&W. WWII production. Note words "War Finish" on the frame, under cylinder.
A pair of Suroqi soldiers with their Webley revolvers in "Terror" (S04E20).
Paris with the Webley in "Terror" (S04E20).
Tokarev TT-33
Tokarev TT-33s started to appear in the later third of Season 4.
Tokarev TT-33 - 7.62x25mm Tokarev. Pre-1947 version.
Tim Rorke (
Don Knight) attaches a suppressor to his TT-33 in "Lover's Knot" (S04E21).
Tim Rorke with his TT-33 in "Lover's Knot" (S04E21).
Jim cocks his suppressed TT-33 in "Orpheus" (S04E22).
Paris with his TT-33 in "Orpheus" (S04E22).
Remington Model 51
Lord Richard Weston (John Williams) draws a Remington Model 51 in "Lover's Knot" (S04E21) The serial number indicates it was an early production, .380 caliber.
Remington Model 51 Pistol
Lord Richard Weston (
John Williams) tosses his Remington Model 51 on his desk in "Lover's Knot" (S04E21).
A closeup of the above in "Lover's Knot" (S04E21) showing the serial number, PA2570.
Unidentifiable Colt revolver
Major Carlos Martillo (Sid Haig) is armed with an unidentifiable Colt revolver throughout "Commandante" (S04E06). He only draws it once, and even then, it's too far to see any details.
Major Carlos Martillo (
Sid Haig) with his revolver holstered. The revolver appears to have Colt grips.
Major Carlos Martillo with his revolver drawn. It's impossible to see any detail other than the barrel length at this distance.
Submachine Guns
Madsen M50
Madsen M50s are seen throughout the series in the hands of guards and henchmen.
Nueva Tierran troops with replica M50s in "The Code" (S04E01).
East European Republic guards with replica M50s in "Submarine" (S04E07).
A closeup of one of the replica M50s in "Submarine" (S04E07). Note the "Madsen" rollmark, and the fact that the trigger guard has either come loose or was never fully attached to begin with.
A soldier (uncredited) with a replica M50 in "The Crane" (S04E23).
MP40
MP40s are seen throughout the season.
MP40 submachine gun - 9x19mm
Nueva Tierran troops with replica M50s in "The Code" (S04E01).
Paris with an MP40 in "The Numbers Game" (S04E02).
PPSh-41
PPSh-41s are seen throughout the season.
Soviet PPSh-41 Submachine Gun - 7.62x25mm Tokarev
An EER guard with his PPSh-41 in "Submarine" (S04E07).
The Sergeant (
Gene Tyburn) with his PPSh-41 in "Submarine" (S04E07).
A pair of crossed PPSh's in "Submarine" (S04E07).
A pair of soldiers guarding Constantine (
Eric Mason) with their PPSh-41s in "The Crane" (S04E23).
Sten Mk II
Sten Mk IIs are seen throughout the season.
A pair of EER guards with Stens in "Submarine" (S04E07). Parts of this search montage, including this shot, were later used in "The Crane" (S04E23).
Willy Armitage with a Sten in "Submarine" (S04E07). (Finding costumes that fit Peter Lupus probably wasn't easy or cheap.)
A guard with his Sten in "Phantoms" (S04E19).
A gate guard (uncredited) cocks his Sten in "Lover's Knot" (S04E21).
M1928/M1928A1 Thompson
Colonel Moya's assassins are both armed with M1928/M1928A1 Thompson submachine guns in "Gitano" (S04E18).
M1928A1 Thompson with 30-round magazine - .45 ACP. This specimen has the sling swivel relocated to the top of the stock, a modification often made to Thompsons in British service.
One of the assassins cocks his Thompson in "Gitano" (S04E18).
Colonel Moya's assassins with Thompsons in "Gitano" (S04E18).
Rifles
Mauser Gewehr 1898
Guards are armed with Mauser Gewehr 1898 rifles in "The Controllers: Parts 1 and 2" (S04E3-4).
Mauser Gewehr 1898 - 7.92x57mm Mauser
A guard with his G98 in "The Controllers: Part 1" (S04E03). The Lange-Visier sight is clearly visible.
A guard fires his G98 in "The Controllers: Part 1" (S04E03).
Guards fire their G98s in "The Controllers: Part 2" (S04E04). One of the locations used for this two-parter was Rio Hondo College in Whittier.
Another pair of guards with their G98s in "The Controllers: Part 2" (S04E04). The water tower they are guarding is actually on the Desilu/Paramount lot. Also note the "foreign" signage. It was intended to appear foreign, but yet understandable for the audience.
M1 Carbine
Revolutionaries are seen armed with M1 Carbines in "Commandante" (S04E06). Willy later uses an M1 Carbine with an aftermarket stock with a folding stock in "The Choice" (S04E25).
Korean War Era M1 Carbine, with Birch Stock, Adjustable sight, bayonet lug, and twin magazine pouch - .30 Carbine
M1 Carbine in Universal folding stock - .30 Carbine
A guard with his M1 Carbine in "Commandante" (S04E06). ("Hey, we should get that guy from
Star Trek to play to an Asian. You know the one. What was that guy's name? Spock?")
A rebel with his M1 Carbine before Colonel Ortiz (
Pepe Callahan) (left) takes it away from him in "Commandante" (S04E06). Note that this carbine has the older non-adjustable peep sight.
Another rebel with his M1 Carbine in "Commandante" (S04E06). This one also has the older style peep sight.
Willy with his M1 Carbine in "The Choice" (S04E25).
Willy with his M1 Carbine in "The Choice" (S04E25). Note the Universal underfolding stock.
M16/SP1
Revolutionaries receive crates of modern M16/SP1 rifles in "Commandante" (S04E06).
The original M16, the first version, firing in a 20-round magazine, adopted in large numbers by the U.S. Air Force in Vietnam. This has the original 3-prong flash hider. It would later be replaced by the upgraded M16A1 - 5.56x45mm
A crate of M16/SP1s is revealed in "Commandante" (S04E06).
The crate labels them as fully automatic M16s in "Commandante" (S04E06). They are never seen firing though.
Commandante Juan Acero (
Lawrence Dane) handles an M16/SP1 in "Commandante" (S04E06). Note the lack of a forward assist and the lack of fencing around the magazine release. He later tosses this rifle to Major Carlos Martillo (
Sid Haig).
Karabiner 98k
Karabiner 98k rifles are often seen in the hands of guards throughout the season.
Karabiner 98k - German manufacture 1937 date - 7.92x57mm Mauser
A guard with his K98k in "The Amnesiac" (S04E13).
A closeup of a K98k in "The Amnesiac" (S04E13).
Guards with their
Karabiner 98k rifles in "The Falcon: Part 1" (S4E14).
A Suroqi soldier with his K98k in "Terror" (S04E20).
A down-the-barrel shot of a K98k in "The Crane" (S04E23).
The same shooter (uncredited) with his K98k in "The Crane" (S04E23).
Paris with a K98k in "The Crane" (S04E23).
Shotguns
Coach Gun
IMF agent Clay (Ralph Ventura) is armed with a Coach Gun in "The Crane" (S04E23).
Stoeger/IGA Coach imported side by side shotgun - 12 Gauge
Machine Guns
Browning M1919A4
Guards are armed with Browning M1919A4 machine guns in "Commandante" (S04E06).
Browning M1919A4 - .30-06 Springfield
A shot of the guard with his M1919 though Jim's windshield in "Commandante" (S04E06).
The guard with his M1919 behind Willy in "Commandante" (S04E06).
Other
Tranquilizer dart
One of Barney's gadgets in "The Controllers: Part 1" (S04E03) is a tranquilizer dart that fits into a .380 ACP shell.
Jim holds up the dart/shell combo during the planning scene in "The Controllers: Part 1" (S04E03).
Meredyth (
Dina Merrill) prepares to lead the dart into the magazine of the Walther PP in "The Controllers: Part 1" (S04E03).
.223 rounds
One of Barney's gadgets in "Commandante" (S04E06) is a .223 round that detonates via remote control.
One of Barney's trick bullets in "Commandante" (S04E06).
An entire crate of Barney's trick bullets in "Commandante" (S04E06).
Haenel Model 28
Tracey (Lee Meriwether) fires a gas pellet from a Haenel Model 28 in "Submarine" (S04E07).
Tracey draws her pellet gun in "Submarine" (S04E07).
Tracey fires her pellet gun in "Submarine" (S04E07).
Webley No. 1 Mark 1 flare gun
Barney Collier (Greg Morris) fires a gas round from a Webley No. 1 Mark 1 flare gun in "The Falcon, Part 3" (S04E16).
Webley No. 1 Mark 1 Flare Gun - 37mm
Barney with the Webley No. 1 Mark 1 flare gun in "The Falcon, Part 3" (S04E16).
Diana 5 Air Pistol
Barney uses a suppressed (?) Diana 5 Air Pistol to fire tranquilizers in "The Choice" (S04E25). Although he is shown breaking it open earlier in the episode, he is later able to fire two rounds without reloading later in the episode.
Barney breaks open the Diana 5 in "The Choice" (S04E25).
Barney fires the Diana 5 in "The Choice" (S04E25). He never discloses why he felt the need to add a suppressor to an air pistol.
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