Magnum Mania!

Legend of the Lost Art

Episode ID: 159
Episode Number: 8.10
Air Date: 2/10/1988
Writer: Jay Huguely
Director: Burt Brinkerhoff
Producer: Rick Weaver
Exec Producer: Donald P. Bellisario

Recurring Characters

Carmella Barut (Carmella), Esmond Chung (Sgt. Kenny Chung)

Guest Stars

Margaret Colin (Connie Northrop), Anthony Newley (Peter Riddley-Smythe), Kabir Bedi (Malcolm)

Plot Outline

Higgins is determined to find a priceless ancient scroll that he believes was created by a highly advanced culture.

Rating

9.0 (14 votes) MM Episode Forum Thread & Poll

Notes

1 The episode of commonly referred to as "The Raiders of the Lost Ark Episode". It is a homage/parody of the classic 1981 Spielberg/Lucas film Raiders of the Lost Ark, but with different characters and storyline. Tom Selleck was originally offered the role of Indiana Jones by Steven Speilberg, but Selleck had to turn it down because of contractual obligations with MPI. As it turned out, MPI filming was delayed by a writers strike that year, so Selleck would have actually been free to play the role!

2 The Complete Eighth Season DVD features excellent episode commentary by longtime MPI writer/producer Jay Huguely. According to Jay, this was one of the most expensive MPI episodes ever produced.

3 The scroll that Robin/Higgins/Magnum are after is called "The Lost Art of the Ancients". It was created a highly advanced prehistoric group of people (of small size) that Higgins calls, "The Ancients". The Lost Art scroll "may contain solutions to maladies that have plagued man for centuries". The only way to translate the scroll is with the mysterious "Hanolay [sp] Prism".

4 Many scene transitions use the "sweeping wipes" made famous by George Lucas (Star Wars) and (earlier) Akira Kurosawa.

5 Margaret Colin (Connie Northrup) played girlfriend Rebecca opposite Tom Selleck's Peter Mitchell in Three Men And A Baby (1987). In this episode, we learn that Magnum and Connie were involved with each other seven years prior, which would have dated it to the first season, or early second season. However, this is the first time we have ever seen or heard mention of the character! Magnum broke off the relationship by note.

6 Higgins has known Peter Ridley-Smythe for many years. He is a double-agent and master thief "who is known to concoct elaborate scenes out of his favorite movies as part of his assignment". It's his "calling card".

7 Out of the blue "Bogie Rick" returns, complete with white tux and cigarette.

8 The KKC "Anuenue Room" (or "Rainbow Room") set is used for a great brawl scene. This rarely used "party room" was previously seen in "I Witness" (4.21), "The Kona Winds" (6.4), "A Little Bit of Luck, A Little Bit of Grief" (6.20), "Death of the Flowers" (7.12), and "The Great Hawaiian Adventure Company" (8.9).

9 T.C. subscribes to a couple of archeological magazines.

10 In attempting to figure out Peter Ridley-Smythe's plan, several classic movies are mentioned - The Maltese Falcon (1941), The Treasure of the Sierre Madre (1948), North by Northwest (1959), Bad Day at Black Rock (1955), King Soloman's Mines (1950, the Stewart Granger version), Raiders of Ghost City (1944), The Perils of Pauline (1947), and Perils of Nyoka, aka "Nyoka and the Lost Secrets of Hippocrates" (1942). A brief clip from Perils of Nyoka is seen on Magnum's TV at the end.

Quotes

1
Magnum: KENNY! (the police officer)
Higgins: All right! I was sworn to secrecy, but I'll tell you everything. The "Lost Art" is not just a whim of Mr. Masters. International agencies wish to remain officially uninvolved and Robin Masters provides them with a perfect, innocent collector.
Magnum: How accommodating of you.
Higgins: I have reason to believe that those three men that were here tonight are foreign operatives.
Magnum: Working for the eccentric Peter Ridley-Smythe, double-agent and cinema buff!?
Higgins: This is no joking matter Magnum. We must find Ms. Northrop before they do.
Magnum: KENNY!
Higgins: All right! I lied! She does have the prism. It's the key translating the "Lost Art", and if we don't get to her before they do!

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

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