Another challenge for the Green Hornet, his aide Kato, and their rolling arsenal the Black Beauty! On police records a wanted criminal, the Green Hornet is really Britt Reid, owner-publisher of the Daily Sentinel. His dual identity is known only to his secretary and the district attorney. And now, to protect the rights and lives of decent citizens rides the Green Hornet!

The Green Hornet opening narration, read by producer William Dozier

The Silent Gun

Writer: Ken Pettus; director: Leslie Martinson

The episode starts with the murder of Dave Bannister at the funeral of his father, James, a retired gunsmith. Turns out that he was shot although no-one heard a shot being fired. Daily Sentinal newshound Mike Axford is contacted by Dave's girlfriend, Miss Cameron, who is willing to spill the beans about the killer for $2,000. At the agreed rendezvous the Green Hornet and Kato appear, gassing Mike and offering the woman $4,000 to tell them instead. Apparently her father-in-law created a silent .17 caliber pistol which his son stole to sell to crook Al Trump after squandering his own and Miss Cameron's savings. When the upset father threatened to go to the cops Trump had him killed, and then sent his thug Brenner to kill the son as well.

When the Hornet and Kato arrive at Brenner's house they see two crooks who work for Trump rival Dan Carly leave the premises, and discover Brenner dead. Carly therefore knows about the gun. Trump and two henchmen pitch up, deduce that Brenner was killed by the Hornet, and want to call the cops on him. Kato saves the day by taking out the henchmen while the Hornet beats up Trump. The Hornet convinces Trump that Carly will have him whacked too to get the gun, and offers to negotiate with the other crime boss.

The next stop is Carly's, where the Hornet and Kato come in through an open window. Kato defeats the same two thugs who killed Brenner by beating one up and darting the other. A well-placed dart convinces Carly not to do anything rash. Carly is informed that he has to deal with the Hornet, who will set up a demonstration of the gun to be attended by the two of them and Trump. Before they leave Kato bugs the desk. As expected Carly phones Trump and the two decide that the Hornet will do nicely as a target during the demo.

Carly, Trump and the Hornet drive to the site agreed on for the demonstration, while Kato follows in the Black Beauty. He is following a signal from the Hornet, which he loses temporarily when picked up by a cop car. Wise to the crooks' plan the Hornet manages to avoid being shot and runs into a parking garage to evade them, jinxing the lights on his way in. The Hornet manages to disable Trump by pumping oil into his face but is caught dead bang by Carly. Naturally Carly doesn't shoot him immediately which gives Kato time to arrive, blow open the locked door and distract Carly so that the shot goes wild. The bullet hits a steam pipe, "parboiling" Carly's face.

The episode ends with the pistol in the hands of the police and Mike more convinced than ever that the Green Hornet is a "master criminal".

Comments

The Green Hornet's house, car and gadgets are stereotypically over-elaborate and impractical but enjoyable. District attorney Scanlon enters the house from the back via a disguised door and an elevator behind a fireplace. The elevator is operated by tilting certain books in the bookcase. All very Thunderbirds.

The Black Beauty is hidden upside down below the floor under Britt Reid's regular car. It uses an exit which is hidden behind an advert for Candy Mints. It is a very noticeable car for a secret crimefighter.

The episode itself is perfectly adequate but no great shakes. Bruce gets to kick and beat butt twice, but the moves tend to be very theatrical and telegraphed - about as far from Jeet Kunde Do as one can get.

Notes

• The Green Hornet wears green eyeshadow under his mask.
• Kato's mask doesn't appear to fit very well - he often adjusts it after action sequences throughout the series.
• The Black Beauty's registration number is V194.
• Britt Reid's house looks pretty up-market but the alley behind it which houses the hidden entrance/exit for both Scanlon and the Black Beauty looks dangerously delapidated.
• The two cops who follow Kato practically sit on top of each other in a very broad car. I assume this was done to have both fit into the same shot but it looks very funny. Maybe they're just very close.