Magnum Mania! Banner



Previous Episode Next Episode

Beauty Knows No Pain

Episode Screen Caps Episode Number: 18
Season Number: 1.18
Air Date: 4/16/1981
Writer: Robert Hamilton
Director: Ray Austin
Producers: Rick Weaver, Andrew Schneider
Exec Producer: Donald P. Bellisario

Guest Stars
Marcia Wallace (Barbara "Babs" Terranova), Jim Weston (Roger), Darby Hinton (Buddy Moran), Louise Lewis (Wanda Barton), Curtis Credel (Agent Slim), Walt Davis (Chuck)
Episode Brief
Magnum is hired by Barbara Terranova, a near-bankrupt woman who can only afford his services for one day, to find her missing fiance, Roger, but she's not the only one searching for him. Meanwhile, T.C. gets Magnum to compete in the Ironman triathlon to give Island Hoppers some publicity.
Rating
8.4(62 votes)Rate Episode
Notes
1 Magnum P.I. ends its first season ranked #17 in the ratings. After a mediocre start, the show steadily increased in the rankings throughout the season.

2 Magnum competes in the Ironman Triathlon, a race which encompasses a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike ride and a 26 mile run! At the time this episode was filmed, the Ironman Triathlon was held in Honolulu. In 1981, the competition was moved to the Big Island of Hawaii, in Kailua-Kona. Magnum rides a genuine Italian Bianchi bicyle during the race (with most of the decals taped over). (Bike ID'd by Joe L.)

3 Instantly recognizable actress Marcia Wallace (Barbara "Babs" Terranova) is best known for her roles as receptionist Carol Kester on the 1970s sitcom The Bob Newhart Show and as the voice of Edna Krabappel on the animated series The Simpsons, for which she won an Emmy for Outstanding Voice-Over Performance in 1992.

4 Eve Anderson, the real life owner of the Robin's Nest property (aka "Pahonu"), can be seen in several scenes of the Ironman Triathlon race. In one scene, you amusingly see her exit the water from the swim part of the race just ahead of Magnum. She actually competed in the real Ironman Triathlon races on Oahu and was an excellent swimmer. (ID'd by Rembrandt's Girl & Sam)

5 Darby Hinton (Buddy Moran, the "mafia muscle") was a child star in the 1960s. He was a regular cast member on NBC's hit TV show Daniel Boone (1964-1970). He played Israel Boone, Daniel Boone's son.

6 Magnum says he runs 8 miles a day, which he usually completes in under an hour.

7 When Barbara arrives at the King Kamehameha Club she asks specifically for "Magnum, P.I.". This is the only time the phrase "Magnum P.I." is ever spoken in the show. (Noted by Jon Rooke)

8 At the beginning of the Iron Man race, a few lines from the Hawaiian standard "Beyond the Reef" are played by a musical group seen on the beach.

9 List of notable filming locations: (All locations ID'd by rubber chicken)

10 During the scene at Honolulu Lulu's pool hall, in the background you can see a row of old, rare, electro-mechanical pinball machines, including a Bally's County Fair machine (from 1959) and a Bally's Laguna Beach machine (from 1960). This scene is also notable for a funny telephone exchange between Magnum and Higgins that features a couple of rare belly laughs from Higgins.

11 Magnum says he's never been married, but in Season Two's "Memories Are Forever" we find out this isn't true. Maybe here he simply didn't want to talk about it with Barbara?

12 The voice of the newsreader heard in the final scene is that of Jeff MacKay ("Mac").

13 Higgins was in Shanghai "just after The War". He learned Chinese Acupressure techniques.
Quotes
1
Magnum: Hawaii's like every sensual woman I've ever known. She can have raging, violent bursts of temper, followed by incredible calm, and peacefulness. Today was one of those days of true serenity, when even the great tourist wave seems to recede. (Narration)

2
Magnum: I'm at ... Honolulu Lulu's pool hall.
Higgins: (belly laugh) Honolulu Lulu's! I don't believe it. (laughs)
Magnum: It's on the corner of Kahlua and Honaleki.
Higgins: I'll send one of the gardeners over. Oh, and Magnum, don't forget to tell him what bus to take back. I wouldn't want him to make the wrong transfer, or whatever it is one does on a bus. (laughs)

3
Higgins: You realize, of course, you have no chance of winning.
(Magnum looks at the gun he's holding)
Flubs
1 The Ironman Triathlon is supposed to be Swin/Bike/Run, but this episode shows it as Swin/Run/Bike.

2 While T.C. is sitting at the King Kamehameha Club "Beach Bar", you can see a freighter on the ocean in the background. Seconds later, the freighter is gone! (Noted by Bernd-Christian Schulze)

3 The scene with Magnum and Barbara at the pool hall has several flubs involving the billiard balls. 1) When Magnum breaks during the first game the cue ball barely touches the balls, and only a few billiard balls break away from the rest. Most of them stay compact in the middle of the pool table. When Barbara begins to shoot, the balls are suddenly widely dispersed around the table. 2) After each of Barbara's shots, the billiard balls end up in one position, but when she takes the next shot, they are in a totally different place. (Noted by IslandHopper)

4 In the scene at the gas station with Magnum and the Hitman, when the Hitman gets out of his "jacked-up" car and kicks his hubcap, notice right before he kicks the hubcap, it is in perfect condition (no dents), then they cut to him kicking the hubcap, which you can see has already been kicked several times during previous takes. (Noted by IslandHopper)

5 When Magnum is running along side Barbara on her bike, he begins to sprint onto a sidewalk past the two Federal agents. The sweat pattern on the back of Magnum's tank-top is in the shape of a "V", but when Magnum suddenly turns to run back to help Barbara only a few seconds later, the sweat pattern on the back of the shirt has suddenly changed. It is no longer a "V" shaped. It is more like a "U" shape and noticeably different. (Noted by IslandHopper)

6 When Magnum is on the beach just prior to the beginning of the race, Rick, T.C. and Barbara are helping him get warmed up. Magnum is wearing a tight, black speedo bathing suit, but when Barbara tells him to stretch his arms downward, we cut to a side shot of Magnum wearing black jogging shorts. When the camera position returns to a front shot, he is again wearing black speedos.

7 After Magnum comes out of the water from the first leg of the Ironman competition, he goes to the table to get changed for the marathon run. After changing, he runs off beneath the overhang of a building. His hair is wet from the swim, as it should be. Watch the runner who goes through behind him. His hair is dry as a bone and styled to match! This guy could not have just finished a 5 mile swim! (Noted by Wally)


Shoot me an email if you'd like to have something added or corrected



Magnum P.I. on DVD

All 8 seasons are now available for purchase! External DVD Reviews

Rubber Chicken's Guide Magnum P.I. Locations

Magnum on the Web