Whittaker
Chambers’ Witness is a masterpiece of American memoir, but it is rarely
granted the respect it deserves, because it is too honest. It is like the Cold
War equivalent of the Confessions of St. Augustine, wherein Chambers
chronicles his work as a propagandist for the US Communist Party and as a spy
for the GRU. Indeed, Chambers made it clear (and subsequent archival documents
confirmed) there was little functional distinction between the legal party and the
clandestine Soviet espionage services. That is why it is an incredible
opportunity when Herbert Philbrick has a chance to get his hands on the party
membership rolls, including the secret, non-card-carrying members. There is
also a very good chance he is being set up in “Baited Trap,” our next episode
of the I Led 3 Lives binge, which is findable online and on Alpha Video’s
non-chronological I Led 3 Lives, Volume 3.
It
is always a hassle when Philbrick is summoned to Party headquarters, because he
must get off on the wrong floor and then take the stairs. His new assignment is
largely clerical in nature, but it involves highly sensitive information. Using
a certain code, he will be typing an updated membership list, for Moscow, after
hours in the Party offices. Most likely, Jack Blake, the Party’s glad-handing
public face, will be watching closely for any slip. Nevertheless, scoring intel
like that would be quite a victory for the FBI (and the cause of freedom).
Even
though the narrative of “Baited Trap” is still pretty simple (as necessitated
by its half-hour time-slot), it is by far the tensest, most suspenseful episode
yet. Lew Landers, who directed Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi in The Raven
(as Louis Friedlander) takes over the helming duties and he tightens out all
the slack.
Evidently,
Philbrick now has a new FBI handler, Special Agent Jerry Dressler played by John
Zaremba—and he is also an upgrade. Based on his guest appearance as Blake, it
seems a shame veteran TV character actor Alan Reynolds never had the chance to
play LBJ, because his garrulous but hard-edged performance definitely brings to
mind “Landslide Lyndon.” Yet, “Baited Trap” might be most notable for the
casting of future Hollywood gazillionaire Aaron Spelling as the weirdo elevator
operator.
Landers
capitalizes on the claustrophobic setting Philbrick finds himself in, while maintaining
the series’ super-noir vibe. I Led 3 Lives is always strong on one-man-alone
suspense, but “Baited Trap” really concentrates and crystalizes it nicely.
Highly recommended for any fan of vintage 1950s television, “Baited Trap” is
available online and on DVD.
