Magnum Mania!

Who is Don Luis Higgins, and Why is He Doing These Terrible Things to Me?

Episode ID: 125
Episode Number: 6.19
Air Date: 3/20/1986
Writer: Jay Huguely
Director: John Llewellyn Moxey
Producer: Chris Abbott
Exec Producer: Donald P. Bellisario

Recurring Characters

Gillian Dobb (Agatha Chumley)

Guest Stars

Robert Hogan (Alan Johnson), Cesare Danova (Pres. Manuel Ibenez), Devon Guard (Laurie), Kanani Choy (Postal Lady), Anthony LaPaglia (Albert Stanley Higgins), Ernest Chan (Butler), Edward B. Randolph (King Fernando Mongueo)

Plot Outline

Family ties bind Higgins as he tries to juggle the demands of an international chess tournament, a visting dignitary and his flamboyant half brother Don Luis Mongueo.

Rating

8.5 (17 votes) MM Episode Forum Thread & Poll

Notes

1 This is the ninth "Higgins-centric" episode of the series.

2 Following in the footsteps of Texas cowboy Elmo Ziller in "The Elmo Ziller Story" (2.21) and Irish priest Fr. Paddy McGuiness in "Faith and Begorrah" (3.23), we meet yet another of Higgins' estranged half-brothers, Don Luis Mongueo. Don Luis is from the fictional South American country of "Costa De Rosa". As with Elmo and Paddy, Don Luis is played by John Hillerman. Don Luis is the last of Higgins' half brothers to appear in the series.

3 The title of this episode is so long it appears as two separate captions during the opening credits!

4 This is the last of three episodes where T.C. does not make an appearance, the others being "Dead Man's Channel" (2.2) and "Going Home" (6.7).

5 We previously learned that Higgins plays chess at the "expert" level, and here he says that he has the highest "ranking" on the islands, yet Magnum wins five out of six games against him! Magnum employed his Uncle Lyle's (another "new" Uncle for TM) famous "Castle Blitz" maneuver, a Black opening trap ending with a queenside castle into checkmate! And after only seven opening moves!

6 This is the only episode of the series to show the "real" inside of the guesthouse (all indoor scenes of the guesthouse are filmed on a soundstage). Towards the end of the episode, Thomas finds Higgins bound and gagged inside a storage area of some sort on the other side of the estate [pic]. That's the real interior of the Anderson Estate boathouse which is used for outdoor shots of the guesthouse in the show!

7 The scenes involving the "Hawaiian Islands World Class Invitational Chess Tournament" were filmed on location at two adjacent hotels in Waikiki - the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort and Spa and the Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel (today known as the ResortQuest Waikiki Beach Hotel) [map]. (Noted by rubber chicken & Sam)

8 Magnum and Rick are apparently fans of legendary jazz pianist/composer Dave Brubeck. They desperately want to go to one of his upcoming shows in Honolulu.

9 A young Anthony LaPaglia plays a young Albert Stanley Higgins (Higgins' father) in a very brief scene set in 1921 South America.

10 The closing credits are longer than usual, clocking in at 1:40. Likewise, a longer version of the closing credits theme song can be heard.

11 In early 1943, Higgins was in Malaysia, the regiment was hopelessly outnumbered. During a lull in the battle, a Lt. Ian Bowerly recited Gunga Din very loudly, and to their amazement the Japanese were entranced by poem. They allowed everyone to leave the area except for poor Mr. Bowerly. As they left, they could hear him reciting other Kipling favorites literally for miles! To this day his fate remains unknown.

Quotes

1
Higgins: Thanks to you, my final practice session was wasted on the "Uncle Lyle Blitz".
Magnum: The "Castle Blitz" and you can make all the fun of it you want, but you couldn't beat it, could you?
Higgins: Only because it was so idiotically infantile, it caught me off guard!
Magnum: Wait, wait ... wait, wait, what about my tickets to Dave Brubeck?
Higgins: Your "wins" are invalid! You were to use maneuvers of my choice! Now, if you wish to renegiotiate.

2
Magnum: Tell me a story. The "Gunga Din Story"!
Higgins: For god sake Magnum, this is hardly the time!...
Magnum: If you're Higgins, anytime is the time! The "Gunga Din Story", now!
Higgins: Malaysia, 1943. Our regiment was hopelessly outnumbered and faced certain death. In our ranks was a young Lt. Ian Bowerly and during a lull in the battle he recited Gunga Din. I suppose to keep up our courage in face of the inevitable. His eloquent recitation grew increasingly louder until it thundered through the jungle. To our amazement, the Japanese troops walked forward. Although they spoke no English they were entranced by the poem. They allowed us all to leave the area unharmed except for poor Mr. Bowerly. As we made our escape we could hear him reciting other Kipling favorites, literally for miles. To this day, his fate remains unknown.
Magnum: Thank you. I believe your half brother is going to assassinate the president of Costa De Rosa.
[audio]

Flubs

1 The "Castle Blitz" checkmate by Magnum is shown up close, and you can see the entire board clearly. The final position is not checkmate. It's not even close to being a checkmate position [pic]! Plus, what kind of move is a4 for Higgins!? He's supposed play chess at the "expert" level, and he says he has the best ranking on the islands, yet he plays into a mate in one seven moves into the game, while most of his minor pieces are still undeveloped! And, he apparently falls for the same trap ("The Castle Blitz") four times in a row! Surely, he would have altered a move or switched openings all together if it was so deadly!?

Wish to add something? Got a correction? Shoot me an email.

---

---