Love this title, and it was kind of a sneaky way, back in the day, to get viewers to switch to BARNABY JONES, because the show was running against COLUMBO on Sunday nights. How do y'all like them apples?
Husky, handsome Glenn Corbett is perfect as a retired football star who is given the gate by his wealthy wife. In typical cop show fashion, he has her killed. But it's a neat spin as he arranges for his partner in crime to shoot her in a fake holdup. Corbett chases after the guy and ACTUALLY kills him.
Everything goes as planned except the dead guy has a wife --who's on to everything. What a tangled web. Lynn Marta is quite good (as usual) playing the grieving widow who proceeds to make Corbett's life miserable. Calling Barnaby Jones.
Nina Foch plays Corbett's deceased wife's aunt, who also seems to have a crush on the gray haired detective??? Foch was very popular on tv, amassing a long list of credits, having appeared on HAWAII FIVE-O that same year. She also taught acting at USC.
Glenn Corbett, who gained famed on the tv show ROUTE 66, appeared in scores of movies and in later years had a recurring role on DALLAS. I always thought he looked a bit like Robert Conrad (WILD, WILD WEST) and his smooth acting style was quite similar.
Look for some old Hollywood landmarks in this episode, such as the famous Hollywood Tower Hotel and Apartments on Franklin Avenue, near the end of the episode. Humphrey Bogart lived there in his early Hollywood days. It was later declared a historical landmark and truly a beautiful building that never ages. A block away (but not seen here) was once the royal Chateau Elysee, which is now owned by the Church of Scientology.
Another treat for late, late mystery fans. SEASON 2 EPISODE 7 remastered CBS dvd box set.