I vaguely remember this series. I do remember it was a fairly well written series. I can't remember any episodes except for one with Mariette Hartley. She played a mom who had a young son. I forget why she didn't have a husband. Widow? Anyway she was a mystery writer who wore a handmade deerstalker. Any way she takes him on vacation by a lighthouse. He stumbles upon an interesting mystery. He gets help from mom. It was upbeat and a fun episode. I wish I could watch it again.
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wkozak22111 March 2021
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I remember this series fondly from when I was a young adult back in the 1970's. Originally, if I remember correctly, it was called the ABC Wide World Mystery. These were 90 minutes videotaped (PAL format converted to NTSC) commercials included that ran from 11:30 P.M. to 1:00 A.M. EST that were originally called the "Thriller" series in Great Britain. They were taped in England and starred one or two American actors with the rest of the cast being British. Some of my favorites were "Someone at the Top of the Stairs" starring Donna Mills; "Nurse Will Make It Better" a.k.a. "Devil's Web" starring Diana Dors (in a striking character performance; "The Eyes Have It" starring Sinead Cusack (daughter of Cyril Cusack, wife of Jeremy Irons (Reversal of Fortune, Lolita, etc.): "Murder on the Midnight Express" starring Judy Geeson; "Sign It Death" starring Francesca Annis; "Screamer" starring Pamela Franklin; and one starring Carol Lynley (the title escapes me at the moment). All of these have been released to DVD recently, although they may not play on certain DVD players as they were 1) In PAL format 2)Made for another DVD "zone" (not the United States "zone.")
Then, if memory serves, the United States jumped on board and made some entries in the series, on videotape (NTSC this time) 90 minutes, including commercials. These generally lacked the style and intricate video "editing" of their British counterparts, but were interesting in their own way. Over the years I have attempted to reconstruct a list of these episodes and their stars from memory as they have not been listed anywhere in their entirety. I remember most, if not all, of them, at least in part. Some of my favorites were: "The Invasion of Carol Enders" starring Meredith Baxter-Birney (now divorced and back to just Baxter) and Christopher Connelly (now deceased); "The Cloning of Clifford Swimmer" starring Lance Kerwin, Sheree North, and Peter Haskell (now retired and a lawyer, I hear); One starring Carol Williard and Hurd Hatfield (Title?); One starring Tige Andrews (The Mod Squad, etc)(Title?); "Distant Early Warning" starring Mary Frann (now deceased; of the "Newhart" show, remember her?); One starring Susan Strasberg (now deceased) and Michael Parks (Adam "The Bible", "Then Came Bronson" TV series (where's he been?); One starring Clifton Davis (Title?) mentioned by a previous writer; "The Last Bride of Salem" starring Lois Nettleton and Bradford Dillman (I think); One starring Paul Michael Glaser and Kim Hunter (now deceased, "Planet of the Apes" etc.); One starring Peter Coffield (now deceased) and Tisha Sterling (daughter of Ann Sothern and Robert Sterling); One starring Stephen Collins (Seventh Heaven, etc) and Heather McRae (I think); One starring Tim Mathison and Heather McRae.
And finally, "The Break" (is this the correct title?) was shown separately from both of these other two groups. It starred Robert Shaw and his then wife Mary Ure (both deceased), but I guess you could some- what include it in with these as it was 1) Shot on videotape (PAL, I think) 2)90 minutes in length including commercials 3) shown in the ABC Wide World of Mystery slot at least once (11:30 P.M. to 1:00 A.M. EST)
This was a good series that I would like to see more detail on the IMDb. -
barneyo12 September 2005I remember certain episodes of this late-night ABC show, including the one where Clifton Davis owes gangster Moses Gunn money, but sets up a plan to electrocute him instead. I also recall seeing an old TV Guide listing an episode that had Mark Hamill in the cast, although he's not listed here. I also recall the John Astin and Patty Duke episode, made when they were married, which was more of a downer than regular episodes which dealt with crime stories. This one was a more serious drama about an ailing child, with the Astins as social workers.
I also remember a comedy musical version of "Superman", called "It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman" (which I mistakenly remembered as "Up, Up and Away", that aired in this show's time slot, although it may have been considered a separate special from the series. I recall the cast included Malachi Throne and Al Molinaro (whom I confused at the time with Vic Tayback), with Lesley Ann Warren as Lois Lane and also with Loretta Swit, plus Geoffrey Horne from "River Kwai". -
Darcsyde0128 May 2007The Norming of Jack 243" was a TV movie on ABC's World of Mystery, and is really about he only one I remember clearly. From what I remember, the plot was about a planned, sterile, rigid futuristic society where everyone lives in bare rooms,and has a number for their name (like THX-1138). Jack at first is normal but after developing an attraction to a girl hobo living in an abandoned train car, Jack starts to pick up bad habits. One habit is eating in front of his wife (which is considered disgusting).
As the story progresses Jack becomes more and more out of "control", and more and more in love with the girl (who wants to join his world) to the point that the powers-that-be take notice. They capture both he and his girl friend, "norming" her,(which drives Jack nuts) and dragging him to a darkened room to see the Leader. Turns out the society is run by a man who tells Jack that society was set up this way to be more efficient, and less violent/sick and Jack must conform or else. Jack is told he must be subject to a process called "Norming". Jack, naturally rebels, and in the struggle, kills the Leader. The last scene is of a guard coming in and seeing a body on the floor with a mashed face he turns to the Leader who tells him to take the body away, "Remember, he tells the guard, "his name was Jack,..Jack 243." As the guard drags the body away, the camera pans to the Leader, and we see...it is Jack....now in charge. -
tfc9 April 2004"The Norming of Jack 243" was a TV movie of the week back in the early 70's. From what I remember, the plot was about a planned, rigid futuristic society where everyone watches TV in bare rooms (like "THX 1138"). Jack at first is normal but after running several times into a group of hobos living in an abandoned train car, Jack starts to pick up deviate habits. One such deviate habit is eating in front of his wife which is considered disgusting in a society that is so sterile and above being biological. As the story progresses Jack becomes more and more deviate (kissing his wife) to the point that the powers above take notice. The powers that be (old men) tell Jack that society was set up this way to be more efficient and Jack must conform or else. Jack runs amuck and the powers that be subject Jack to a process called Norming. At the end Jack is turned back into being a good techno-zombie.