The opening of this mystery is classic HAWAIIAN EYE as a mysterious scuba diver climbs on board a boat in the middle ot the night, and DON'T MESS with this guy!
Tom Lopaka takes up the case (for a friend), trying to track down the thief of a Robert Louis Stevenson original manauscript, snatched off the same boat. The trick that has always amazed me is how these thieves never trip themselves up, slipping in and out of places, totally unnoticed, and making noise! In one of the cabins
is a young woman (Susan Silo), sound asleep?
The case in interesting though, and with the usual suspicious types. Veteran Kent Taylor stars as Justin, wealthy man about town, also popular character actor and director Lawrence Dobkin plays Ronald. Dobkin is fun to watch, best as guys with a phony smile.
A super trivia question concerns Kent Taylor. His first name and actor Clark Gable's first name were combined to create Superman's Clark Kent.
Early appearance for Susan Silo, as native girl Lita, who is very beautiful. Silo later became a voice actress and noted teacher in Hollywood.
Popular musician Arthur Lyman plays himself, who at the time was a sensation with a string of Hawaiian jazz LPs.
Written by one of the best, Philip Saltzman, later a producer of many cops shows, including the FBI and BARNABY JONES. Director and actor Richard Benedict even appears in a mug shot!
By the way, the title "Tusitala" is Samoan, a knickname (meaning teller of tales) given to author Stevenson during his final years.
Wait for the ending. SEASON 3 EPISODE 12 remastered Warner Brothers/ABC tv dvd box set.