5 reviews
Hollywood beckons for Ellery Queen
Episode 17, "The Adventure of the Sinister Scenario," is a hugely enjoyable departure for the series, with Inspector Richard Queen and son Ellery at Hollywood's low budget Crown Eagle Studios, where director Michael Raynor (Vincent Price) is shooting a mystery film about both Queens. Lionel Briggs (Noah Beery, then busy on THE ROCKFORD FILES), cast as the Inspector, is upset that many of his lines have been given to the temperamental star playing Ellery, Gilbert Mallory (Troy Donohue), who owns a piece of the picture. Mallory is having an affair with his co-star, Pamela Courtney (Susan Damante), a constant source of humiliation for his wife Claire (Barbara Rush, previously a less glamorous suspect in "The Adventure of Auld Lang Syne"). Studio publicist Dave Pierce (Don De Fore) treats the Queens to lunch before shooting resumes with a rewritten scene which has Pamela Courtney shooting Mallory, wearing a bulletproof vest to 'finesse' her into thinking she had killed him; however, the prop gun fires three real bullets, and the phony vest worn by the actor fails to prevent a real murder from taking place on the set. Capt. Benjamin Blake (Paul Fix, THE RIFLEMAN), an old friend of Inspector Queen, allows them both to remain and assist the reluctant investigation conducted by Lt. Braden (Paul Carr) and Sgt. Harris (Karl Lukas), offering an amusing battle of wits between New York and L. A. police procedures. Property man Al Garvin (Jack Murdock), swearing he loaded blanks in the prop gun that morning, believes he may be a suspect due to a recent threat against Mallory. But when the stunt man, Mike Hewitt (James B. Sikking, later of HILL STREET BLUES), gets killed in a car with faulty brakes, Ellery learns the key to the mystery, and 'directs' the final gathering of the suspects (and winds up 'finessing' the murderer). The diminutive Inspector Queen 'shoots' his son in a reenactment of the initial crime, after bitterly complaining about the casting of the equally diminutive Lionel Briggs in his part, suggesting Chester Morris ("Boston Blackie"), Brian Donlevy, or Pat O'Brien (and Lee Bowman for Ellery's part). Preferring instead to go sightseeing (name dropping such luminous starlets as Alice Faye, Hedy Lamarr, Dorothy Lamour, and Norma Shearer), the distracted Inspector confuses Sgt. Harris for Sgt. Velie (which explains the absence of Tom Reese, the only episode in which Velie does not appear). The producers had already used Vincent Price on COLUMBO, a small role in "Lovely but Lethal," yet despite a great deal of screen time the usually reliable actor turns in an atypical performance, initially shrill and hammy before tapping it down toward the end. The unbilled Jack De Mave shows up briefly as Sonny North, the actor replacing the deceased Gilbert Mallory in Ellery's part.
- kevinolzak
- Oct 31, 2009
- Permalink
Hammy Hollywood Epic
Nice twist
This episode has Ellery Queen and his father in Los Angeles to consult on a film being made from an Ellery Queen novel.
While filming a scene, a gun with supposed blanks has real bullets. When fired, the star playing the role of Ellery is killed. That's been a common device, memorably used in a Perry Mason movie, among other detective series.
This may be the only time Ellery actually witnessed the murder. And while it's obvious who pulled the trigger, it's not so obvious who replaced the blanks with live rounds. Sadly, it is too mindful of recent real news on a set.
I don't watch these Ellery Queen shows for the puzzle, and the solution tends to be a bit obscure. However, in this case I picked up on the relevant clue and solved it as Ellery began his explanation to the suspects, witnesses, and detectives.
We enjoyed the show, as we always enjoyed the great Jim Hutton.
While filming a scene, a gun with supposed blanks has real bullets. When fired, the star playing the role of Ellery is killed. That's been a common device, memorably used in a Perry Mason movie, among other detective series.
This may be the only time Ellery actually witnessed the murder. And while it's obvious who pulled the trigger, it's not so obvious who replaced the blanks with live rounds. Sadly, it is too mindful of recent real news on a set.
I don't watch these Ellery Queen shows for the puzzle, and the solution tends to be a bit obscure. However, in this case I picked up on the relevant clue and solved it as Ellery began his explanation to the suspects, witnesses, and detectives.
We enjoyed the show, as we always enjoyed the great Jim Hutton.
- VetteRanger
- Feb 16, 2023
- Permalink
One of the best in the series
I know everyone has their favorites in any series. This is one of my two favorite episodes. My favorite is the final episode, disappearing dagger.
I really like this episode because of the across the board acting and pacing. Ellery's father has some of the best lines in the series in this episode, and Ellery is more of straight guy, but still, he is great.
The ongoing jokes about Hollywood are very funny and give this episode a lightness and you don't find the most of the other episodes. It is an enjoyable romp.
Vincent Price is of course Great, but there are so many good actors in this particular episode that it doesn't rely completely on one person to carry the episode.
I really like this episode because of the across the board acting and pacing. Ellery's father has some of the best lines in the series in this episode, and Ellery is more of straight guy, but still, he is great.
The ongoing jokes about Hollywood are very funny and give this episode a lightness and you don't find the most of the other episodes. It is an enjoyable romp.
Vincent Price is of course Great, but there are so many good actors in this particular episode that it doesn't rely completely on one person to carry the episode.
- pmcguireumc
- Dec 10, 2023
- Permalink
Ellery Queen Shot Dead! Later Killed In Car Crash!! Even Later Shot By His Own Father!!!