Disc One
Episode 1: “Highest Castle, Deepest Grave” - The decade-old skeletons of a man and woman are found in a cave.  The male is found to be the long-missing assistant of powerful businessman Mondrago (Herbert Lom), while the woman’s identity is unknown, but McGarrett starts to wonder if it isn’t Mondrago’s wife (who died ten years ago).  France Nuyen plays Mondrago’s daughter and Jeff Corey guest stars as the artist responsible for the haunting portrait of the late Mrs. Mondrago Steve obsesses over.

Luigi’s Useless Information: Both Nuyen and Corey were (at some point) members of the Planet Of The Apes, Star Trek, and The Outer Limits universes.

Episode 2: “No Bottles… No Cans… No People” - Some seriously hammy performances are turned in by Henry Darrow (as mob guy Johnny Oporta) and Jack Kosslyn (his boss from Detroit).  McGarrett is alerted that the mafia is trying to tap the drug-dependent folk of Hawai’i.  Is he going to let it happen?  I should say not!

Luigi’s Useless Information: The first episode of the fourth season in which McGarrett utters the classic phrase, “Book ’em Danno”.  Richard Denning also makes his first Season 4 appearance as Governor Jameson.  (Ding-ding-ding!  We have a couple of winners, folks!)

Episode 3: “Wednesday, Ladies Free” - A killer is strangling woman and then dressing them up in a wig and heavy make-up.  Each time, the killer also appears to have entered the house with a key.  Monte Markham plays a PI.  Soon-Tek Oh is a suspect.  B-Movie Queen Marie Windsor is a Madame.

Luigi’s Useless Information: Although we’ve seen him in dozens of TV shows and film franchises, Soon-Tek Oh is most recognizable to fans of The Man With The Golden Gun (in which he played Bond’s ally Lt. Hip, the guy with the kung-fu fighting nieces) and The Final Countdown (as the captured Japanese pilot).

Episode 4: “3,000 Crooked Miles To Honolulu” - Criminal mastermind Buddy Ebsen (what, you thought you read that wrong?  Yes, the Buddy Ebsen!) plans a major traveler’s check scam for some mobsters.  Only two things stand in his way: his murderous, mob-appointed aide (David Canary), and McGarrett.  “Aloha, suckers!”

Luigi’s Useless Information: Was this the inspiration of 3,000 Miles To Graceland with Kurt Russell (which is, strangely enough, one of the few Kevin Costner films I can actually stand)?  You really have to wonder… especially when you see David Canary wearing that pair of shades with his pompadour hairdo (and dig that shirt!).

Disc Two
Episode 5: “Two Doves And Mr. Heron” - The late John Ritter is joined by the very late Vic Morrow in this one.  Ritter is a hippie (it’s OK to snicker) who gets more than he bargained for when he tries to con Morrow out of some money.  Dianne Hull is the runaway girl Danno is looking for (who also happens to be dating Ritter’s character).

Luigi’s Useless Information: Doc Bergman, one of the series’ semi-regulars characters, is played by Al Eben.  Al started out his mostly unnoticed career in such classics as Citizen Kane, A True Grows In Brooklyn, and The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty and a handful of turkeys like Sam Newfield’s White Pongo.  After a number of (mostly uncredited) bit parts, Eben found steady work on Hawaii Five-O for a good eleven years.  His last role was in another turkey: Corky Romano.

Episode 6: “And I Want Some Candy And A Gun That Shoots” - The Targets episode.  A ‘Nam Vet with a sunny disposition (Michael Burns) proves how easy it was at the time to go buy a gun outright and play sniper.  Annette O’Toole has an early role as Burns’ estranged wife and Jeanne Cooper plays the mother responsible for all of his hang-ups.

Luigi’s Useless Information: This episode starts out really well, but by the time we reach the end, the stern “Why isn’t there better gun control?” message is all but lost in some silly psychobabble.

Episode 7: “Air Cargo -- Dial For Murder” - An undercover officer is murdered whilst working with a ring of crooks that prey on cargo containers.  Barney Phillips (I Was A Teenage Werewolf), Marion Ross (Happy Days), Michael Strong, Don Chastain, and the great James Hong (who for once, doesn’t use a Chinese accent) guest star.  An extremely non-human-looking frozen corpse is a laughable highlight.

Luigi’s Useless Information: Practically everyone stumbles over their lines at least once in this episode (James MacArthur more so) but it is Harry Endo as Che Fong who gets the best delivery: “Very clever… and you’re not even Chinese!”

Episode 8: “For A Million… Why Not?” - A six million dollar band heist brings out the worst in its participants, including Al Harrington, Robert Fields, and crazed ‘Nam Vet (what, again?) Sam Melville (who should have used his share towards acting lessons).  Jack Kruschen also guest stars.  In the end, the villains relent and loan the $6,000,000 to Steve Austin’s surgery after a devastating plane crash.

Luigi’s Useless Information: Henry Darrow’s character of Johnny Oporta is mentioned again in this episode, providing a little continuity to another storyline for a change.  This would be the last of several bit roles on the series for Samoan Al Harrington.  The following year, he would replace Zulu’s spot at the beginning of Season Five (as Detective Ben Kokua, a role he would carry on for three seasons). 

Disc Three
Episode 9: “The Burning Ice” - When the wife of physician Alexander Southmore is shot and killed shortly after returning home in an apparent robbery, McGarrett instantly suspects the good doctor himself (Jackie Coogan).  Things change when a drifter (Lou Antonio) turns up with the jewels… but is he really the killer?  Tommy Fujiwara, a frequent series bit-player, plays a fence.

Luigi’s Useless Information: Lou Antonio started out as an actor, but later found his calling on the other side of the camera as a television director, helming various episodes of assorted series in the late 60s right up to “Boston Legal” in 2007.  He also directed a few episodes of “CSI”, which I still think was inspired by Five-O’s character Che Fong.

Episode 10: “Rest In Peace, Somebody” - An anonymous voice on the phone decides to play a game with Steve and the Five-O crew.  The voice leaves keys and clues all throughout the isle, each hinting at his ultimate goal: the assassination of Governor Jameson!

Luigi’s Useless Information: Asian character actor Danny Kamekona makes one of his many appearances in the series as psychiatrist Dr. Rosenstadt.  Danny portrayed a variety of doctors and detectives on the series, including the part of Five-O forensics guru Che Fong (he was the second actor to play the part - Harry Endo was the third… but the best, of course).

Episode 11: “A Matter Of Mutual Concern” - A dead mobster is found tied to a stake in the ocean missing a finger.  Tensions then mount between several gangsters, including the bigoted Russian, Tasi (Manu Tupou) and the local Chinese gang lord, Li Wing (Steven Spielberg’s father-in-law, David Opatoshu).

Luigi’s Useless Information: This episode earns some points for a scene where McGarrett scolds the racist racketeer for his derogatory remarks, but having a Jewish actor in yellowface play Li Wing takes said points right back.

Episode 12: “Nine, Ten -- You‘re Dead” - Moses Gunn plays a brain damaged ex-fighter who sneaks into the room of the next big champion of the boxing ring and smashes his fingers.  Why?  Well… he really doesn’t know why… but that doesn’t stop veteran character actor Albert Paulsen from hiring a hitman to take care of him.  Lynn Hamilton also guest stars.

Luigi’s Useless Information: Take a close look at the right side of Jack Lord’s face during his conversation with Albert Paulsen by the hotel pool: he’s sporting a large purple bruise that the make-up department unsuccessfully tried to cover up!

Disc Four
Episode 13: “Is This Any Way To Run A Paradise?” - You bet it is!  Five-O is stumped as a lone madman calling himself Kaili (a Hawai’ian God of war and the inspiration) is running about committing a rash of eco-friendly crimes to stop pollution from destroying Hawai’i (naturally, Kono has absolutely no beef with the guy whatsoever).

Luigi’s Useless Information: Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the 70s TV version of An Inconvenient Truth (eat your heart out, Al Gore).

Episode 14: “Odd Man In” - The great Hume Cronyn returns as mastermind (and master-of-disguise) Louis Avery Filer (see Season 3, Episode 11), who promptly escapes from prison and infiltrates the ranks of some dope smugglers - tipping McGarrett off every step of the way, but toying with him the entire time as well.  He even disguises himself as a drunken old woman in one scene.  What a guy.

Luigi’s Useless Information: I’m guessing the viewers weren’t the only ones who loved Hume’s character: the loveable actor gets the entire six minute pre-credit jailbreak sequence to himself!  The smugglers in this episode are played by Japanese actor Jiro Tamiya and former Republic player Lane Bradford, but the most interesting bit of casting is William Thourlby as an HPD officer.  Now, the name might not ring a bell, but his face sold a shitload of cigarettes in the past: he was the very first Marlboro Man!  In addition to inadvertently helping Big Tobacco kill millions of people worldwide, Thourlby also served as a fashion advisor to President Nixon and even co-starred (as Dr. Bradford - not Lane, though) in the Golden Turkey Award winning classick The Creeping Terror!

Episode 15: “Bait Once, Bait Twice” - McGarrett rushes from his date with the barber (it’s a toupee for Pete’s sake) to prevent Loretta (“Hotlips” Houlihan) Swit from jumping off of her hotel balcony.  What Steve doesn’t know though is that the whole thing is the clever rouse of gangster Malachi Throne to bring her fiancée out of hiding so they can assassinate him.  Glenn Cannon makes his first appearance as D.A. John Manicote (although it was not his first acting gig on the show).  Amityville II: The Possession actor James Olson (the evil version of Niles Crane) plays a corrupt lawyer named Mariss (which makes the evil Niles Crane joke even funnier… to me, that is).

Luigi’s Useless Information: The guy in the pre-credit sequence that looks like a caveman from a Geico Insurance commercial?  That’s Ric Marlow, a television bit player who was also the lyricist for the tune “A Taste Of Honey” which was performed by The Beatles, Herb Alpert, Tony Bennett, and more.  He also sports a very noticeable third leg in his tight white shorts (which explains why he has that look of confidence).

Episode 16: “The Ninety-Second War, Part 1” - There’s always room for a good two-parter in Five-O, and which Five-O villain is more suited for it?  Red Chinese agent Wo Fat, of course!  Khigh Dhiegh returns (via an exceptional introduction and entrance - kudos to writer John D.F. Black and editor Arthur Hilton) with his sophisticated sinisterness, but this time he brings in a McGarrett doppelganger (also Jack Lord) and Dana Wynter, too!  Richard Denning also guest stars.

Luigi’s Useless Information: The voice of the McGarrett clone is provided by the absolute best voice actor that ever lived, Paul Frees.  He also dubbed the voice of Jiro Tamiya in “Odd Man In” (Episode 14).

Disc Five
Episode 17: “The Ninety-Second War, Part 2” - I guess Joseph Sirola must’ve been busy, so Peyton Place and Buck Rogers In The 25th Century fave Tim O’Connor (who was also in Episode 16 of Season 3) takes over the role of Jonathan Kaye in this follow-up to Part 1 (he looks pretty bored, too).  Back in Hawai’i, Wo Fat (Khigh Dhiegh again - who else could play the part?) has unwilling scientist Hans Vogler (Donald Pleasance!) in his pocket, helping him to disable a U.S. tracking station so nobody will notice the Red Chinese firing off a test rocket.  Roger C. Carmel reprises his role from “F.O.B. Honolulu”two-parter from Season 3.

Luigi’s Useless Information: With so many great guest stars, the absence of Chin and Kono almost goes by unnoticed.

Episode 18: “Skinhead” - Mitch Kenner, an angry young (and bald) soldier (played by big bully Lee Paul) is convicted of the brutal beating and subsequent rape of a young woman based on witness testimony.  But when new evidence about Kenner comes to light, McGarrett he begins to wonder if he and D.A. Manicote put away the real criminal or not.

Luigi’s Useless Information: Lee Paul is a fine example of typecasting if there ever was one.  The poor guy was stuck playing burly thugs and tough soldiers in the near twenty-years he worked in the industry before retiring (apparently) in the late 80s (at least I’m assuming he retired - we haven’t seen much of him since then).

 
Episode 19: “While You‘re At It, Bring In The Moon” - Or: McGarrett Meets Monk.  Morgan Hilliard, an oddball billionaire germophobe (Barry Sullivan) is accused of murder.  Normally, this wouldn’t be a problem for a rich white guy but in this case, getting Hilliard of might prove to be a bit of a problem: he refuses to leave his yacht!  Meanwhile, Hilliard’s three associates (who are also suspects) create problems by taping everything and trying to turn the newspapers against McGarrett (whom McGarrett joyfully fires off ammunition by just to prove a point).

Luigi’s Useless Information: Hmmm… a filthy-stinking rich eccentric guy that has a severe phobia of germs… remind you of anyone?  I suppose he owns a big casino in Vegas, too.  One can’t help but squirm in horror when Sullivan’s character talks about his associates wanting him dead for having designed a steam-powered automobile that doesn’t use gasoline (nah, big oil wouldn’t KILL to cover an invention like that up)!

Episode 20: “Cloth Of Gold” - Can it be true?  Jason (Herb) Evers, Ray Danton, and Jay Robinson together in the same episode?  Jason and Ray play sleazy real estate scam artists with a passion for homemade pornography who become murder suspects when their partner Ralph Mingo (Robinson) keels over after opening up a birthday present and promptly inhales the poison of a rare shellfish.

Luigi’s Useless Information: Wow, talk about your B-Movie guest stars!  Evers starred as Dr. Bill Cortner is the sleaze classick The Brain That Wouldn’t Diewhile Danton is perhaps best known to cult movie fans as the title character in Secret Agent Super Dragon (he plays a Hawai’ian here - not that big of a change since he was always being cast as “ethnic” characters).

Disc Six
Episode 21: “Good Night, Baby, Time To Die” - When convicted murderer L.B. Barker (William Watson) escapes from prison, McGarrett heads directly to the apartment of his ex-girlfriend Carol (Beth Brickell), who everyone knows will be dead should Barker get his hands on her.  Kono must have taken the day off or something as he isn’t here.

Luigi’s Useless Information: William Watson first appeared onscreen in Jerry Gross’ 1965 exploitation messterpiece, Girl On A Chain Gang before grabbing a part in Norman Jewison’s In The Heat Of The Night two years later.  He went on to appear in numerous TV shows, mini-series and movies before his death in 1997, a decade after his final role in It’s Alive III: Island Of The Alive (once a B-Movie actor, always a B-Movie actor).

Episode 22: “Didn‘t We Meet At A Murder?” - Dead Chicago mobsters must be easier to find in Hawai’i than grass hula skirts!  Steve and the Five-O gang probe into the slaying of a mainland gangster and uncover a blackmail plot as well as a plan to pull off a bank heist!  Television bit-players Joanna Barnes, Simon Oakland, and Bill Edwards (one of several actors to play the Jonathan Kaye character in the series) guest star.

Luigi’s Useless Information: Another guest star in this episode, Morgan Upton, played in several horror and exploitation flicks (such as Linda Lovelace For President) as well as appearing in numerous TV episodes.  He also provided the voice of a Stormtrooper in Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope.

Episode 23: “Follow The White Brick Road” - Killer tattoos and a ring of heroin smugglers onboard Naval ship USS John Haskell are just part of the fun here.  When a drug runner falls down dead on the street, McGarrett sends Danno in undercover as a medic while the rest of the Five-O gang work on land.  Mark Jenkins (also in Episode 22 of Season 3, “The Bomber And Mrs. Moroney”), David Birney, and David Doyle (“Charlie’s Angels”) guest star.  The Navy helped out a lot with this episode: the USS Preble stands in for the John Haskell while real-life Admiral Joseph McGittirck plays an onscreen Admiral.  Several other real-life sailors were lucky enough to get to play some bit parts.

Luigi’s Useless Information: At this point in the series, Al Eben’s Doc Bergman had become as regular of a character as Harry Endo’s Che Fong.  I don’t think there’s a chance in Hell the Armed Forces would let an episode like this air nowadays: drugs dealers, users, and killers… in the service?  Never!

Episode 24: “R & R & R” - Before they picked up their own tedious television series, army wives had to wait patiently for their soldier hubbies to return from the war off-screen.  When the spouses of several enlisted men are murdered while waiting for the husbands to take a break from the war, Five-O tries to figure out what’s going on… and all evidence points to trouble when one army wife gets a telegram to meet her husband - who was killed on the battlefield before the message was even sent!  Maree Cheatham is one of the many guest stars in this, the last episode of the Fourth Season.

Luigi’s Useless Information: Not only is this the last episode of the season, but it would also prove to be the last episode for Zulu - period.  Somewhere between the Fourth and Fifth Seasons, Zulu (allegedly) had an altercation with the series’ publicist and (supposedly) made a racial slur towards him.  (Rumor has it) Jack Lord had long been a silent partner of the show and (legend has it), fearing the squabble would hurt the ratings, had him fired (of course, that’s all hearsay).  Zulu did return however in the unaired, unseen 1997 pilot - an attempt at reviving the series which was also titled Hawaii Five-O.

Presentation
As with Seasons One, Two, and Three of Hawaii Five-O, CBS/Paramount has done an exceptionally nice job of remastering these classic episodes and each one looks better than it ever did when originally televised.  A few scenes are of lesser quality (mainly credits and stock footage), but this shouldn’t have a huge impact on one’s enjoyment… the only exception to that would (unfortunately) is “Cloth Of Gold” (Episode 20, Disc 5) which has a very nasty video distortion problem that makes it look like an old bootleg or something you would get from an old mail-order video service back in the 90s.  I wonder if the original source material for that particular episode was perhaps damaged and CBS/Paramount had to use the best-looking video print they could find.  That, or the guy in charge of supervising the remastering job fell asleep during that one.  Either way, CBS/Paramount should have inserted a disclaimer stating this episode was not up to par with the others.

All episodes feature a Mono Stereo soundtrack available in English or Spanish.  The English track comes through just fine.  The Spanish-language audio sounds like every other Spanish-language soundtrack produced for Spanish-language television I’ve ever heard: shitty.  English, Spanish, and Brazilian Portuguese Subtitles are also available on every episode.

Extras
Again, as featured on the previously released Seasons, the original Episodic Promos narrated by Jack Lord accompany most of the Episodes themselves.

The Bottom Line
Book ‘em.