Before playing a monotone detective in the 1969 series DAN AUGUST, young mustache-less/Marlon-Brando-looking Burt Reynolds played a monotone detective named HAWK... the difference being he's, like the initial breakthrough role on GUNSMOKE, part Indian... and instead of investigating old friends mostly during daylight, the twist here's a seedy gumshoe style world after midnight...
In this case, one of the few episodes available, THE HANDS OF CORBIN CLAYBROOKE, centering on an offbeat artist with gorgeous assistant Marianna Hill teamed with a handsome criminal that had murdered another artist, both involved in a scam a bit difficult to follow, for the audience more than Burt's titular detective, knowing the girl's involved as if he'd seen enough noir films...
Providing young Burt his first of two one-season-shows before the second of three catapults: first on the big screen for DELIVERANCE before riding high in SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT...
Meanwhile, it's already famously infamous that his comedic brand derailed an otherwise serious dramatic career... yet he could have used some of that likeable levity both in DAN AUGUST and HAWK since, liken to Jack Nicholson, when Burt discovered a more breezy style, even his dramatic performances improved.
