Irv Pearlberg, the man behind the MAN FROM UNCLE tv series wrote this episode, and with lots of imagination.
THE HERO is an excellent character study, all about the son (Dean Stockwell) of a general (Morgan Woodward) accused of killing a gang leader with a ton of baggage. The ongoing nightmare here is that he wakes up, after being attacked, to find the dead man beside him. How convenient. It's an old storyline, also used on MANNIX , but well done.
The acting is spot on, especially Dean Stockwell, who had been working in movies and tv since he was nine years old ( SONG OF THE THIN MAN as William Powell and Myrna Loy's cute son).
Series regular Lee Purcell returns, a super actress. Lee was best at playing desperate roles, with lots of emotion.
Of honorable mention is Morgan Woodward, who worked with William Conrad on scores of westerns at Warner Bros/ABC TV such as TEMPLE HOUSTON, which Conrad produced and directed. Morgan was inducted in the Hall of Fame for great western performers --although he plays a general here!
He appeared in 55 episodes of DALLAS. He was working everywhere, and thanks to Bill Conrad for getting him on the show.
Check this out: the opening chase scene was filmed at the historic train museum near Griffith Park, not far from Forest Lawn. It's still around with all the neat old choo choo's. A great place to spend the day. Take lots of pictures!
Not to be missed. SEASON 5, EPISODE 12 Nov 1975 and Happy Thanksgiving.