Ironside (TV Series) In the Forests of the Night (1973) User Reviews

Hopes against hope

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 3 January 2014]

A little of Chief Ironside's romantic past is revealed here in this episode where he hopes against hope that an old flame has not changed her past thieving ways.

Back in the day Raymond Burr and Dana Wynter were an item and they could be again. But spotting her around a museum where a very valuable Chinese artifact is on display is too much temptation.

It's more than that, she's the spotter for a gang of thieves led by Lyle Bettger who've taken an expensive mansion and are just waiting for the word from Dana.

As for the Ironside team they're awaiting word from the Chief. Can't arrest her if no attempt is made and can't tell her or she might call off the job.

The crusty Chief shows some vulnerabilty and who wouldn't with the beautiful Dana Wynter around for temptation.

Ironside's tragic love

[TopekaBob · 8/10 · 27 March 2022]

Let's face it, when you think of Raymond Burr and Ironside, you don't think of intense romantic forays for the gruff detective. But actually, several of the more emotional episodes in the long run of the series featured Ironside finding - then losing - love. It's revealed in the pilot that he lost his wife, and then there's the incredible episode where he's ready to marry his nurse (Vera Miles) and then we find that she already has a husband and kids! Sheesh!

In this episode we have another star crossed romance as Ironside falls in love with an Art thief played by Dana Wynter. He claims he's ready to settle down and even give up his police career if she'll give up her crime career (a little unbelievable, that), but alas, she can't do it. At least she can't kill him when he dares her too at the end (that's something, right?).

His affection for her really messes up the police work though. He's in charge of protecting a valuable art piece and obviously she should have been tailed, along with her criminal associates, who'd been spotted, but none of them are. And, he lets Reese off the hook pretty easily when Reese falls for the old "fake bomb squad" trick. (note: yet another scene copied by the George Clooney film "Oceans 11", basically. In Clooney's film, it's the "fake firefighters" trick).

But have patience, Ironside fans...in the TV movie "Ironside Returns," she appears as Ironside's wife! No, not the jewel thief, but at least he finally finds something permanent.

This episode also serves as a bit of a Perry Mason reunion. Wesley Lau is given a small part as a detective here - he was prominent in Mason as Lt. Anderson. It's almost sad how small a part it is. Other actors in this episode who appeared on Mason include Richard Loo, Frank Aletter, and Gene Lyons (AKA: Commissioner Randall). Lyons is not looking so good lately, face kind of puffy. Sadly, the actor is soon to pass away, in 1974, of alcoholism. He has a few more Ironside episodes to go so we'll enjoy him while we can.

Speaking of Lyons, there's a great scene where he horns in on the dinner party involving the Ironside gang and Dana Wynter, art thief. That's a dinner party I wanted to see, but alas, no.

Also, as we know by know, Raymond Burr did not shoot scenes outside and in other locations, so the director's had to shoot scenes from behind and then cut in shots of Burr-only talking. The Director here shakes that setup up a bit by overlaying an image of Ironside/Burr's face over the image of the back of the wheelchair (which his Burr's double). Clever!