A solid entry elevated by some particularly fine guest performances, by Jack Cassidy, Anne Francis, Whit Bissell, Cathy Lee Crosby, and the legendary Estelle Winwood! Barnaby (Buddy) is smooth, shrewd and courtly, as usual. Also as usual, one wishes Lee Meriwether, such a likeable actress, had more to do here! SPOILER ALERT: I've just started watching this series via the dvd set; hadn't seen it in 40 years. I've noticed that some plots are similar to Columbo, in that the story starts by showing us the killer committing the crime. Then, we watch Barnaby match wits, kind of like in a Columbo. It works fine as a plot device, I was just a little surprised, I didn't recall it was sometimes set up like that. Very different from the Murder She Wrote setup! Fans will enjoy this episode, including seeing the fine guest cast.
3 Reviews
THE DOLL HOUSE STRATEGY, AND VERY CLEVER!
tcchelsey10 October 2023
The best of this episode is watching versatile Estelle Winwood (as Aunt Anita) help Barnaby solve a puzzling case. She is one of a kind. Her antique dollhouse figures prominently in exposing the murderer of a famous author.
This story was somewhat done in the tradition of a Miss Marple mystery, so well played by the great Margaret Rutherford, who passed not too long before this episode.
Benjamin Masselink wrote this one, who handled four episodes for the series, later doing work for STARSKY AND HUTCH. He spins a super tale here. Ben may have also been inspired by the old movie detectives, such as Philo Vance (William Powell), who in THE KENNEL MURDER CASE (1933) used a dollhouse to re-construct a killing, a classic movie scene well remembered by all of us mystery buffs.
Smooth villain Jack Cassidy makes an appearance, playing Woodridge, and I agree with the last reviewer his black goatee makes him a dead giveaway for a shady, shady character, indeed. Could also have been a little inside joke cooked up by the makeup people, too?
Regardless, Jack was at his best in the villainous department. Also guest starring is Anne Francis as Miriam, never to let fans down. Anne was a natural in both movies for years and later tv. She also played a dynamic suspect or mystery woman.
There is one goof... Barnaby leaves the hotel manager on the floor, and does not check to see if he's all right. True, with his medical background, he should have at least checked his pulse. Then again... IF you were Barnaby you probably didn't give a heck because the goon would have probably slugged him first, right?
Another top mystery, and wait for the ultimate ending. SEASON 1 EPISODE 8 remastered CBS dvd box set.
This story was somewhat done in the tradition of a Miss Marple mystery, so well played by the great Margaret Rutherford, who passed not too long before this episode.
Benjamin Masselink wrote this one, who handled four episodes for the series, later doing work for STARSKY AND HUTCH. He spins a super tale here. Ben may have also been inspired by the old movie detectives, such as Philo Vance (William Powell), who in THE KENNEL MURDER CASE (1933) used a dollhouse to re-construct a killing, a classic movie scene well remembered by all of us mystery buffs.
Smooth villain Jack Cassidy makes an appearance, playing Woodridge, and I agree with the last reviewer his black goatee makes him a dead giveaway for a shady, shady character, indeed. Could also have been a little inside joke cooked up by the makeup people, too?
Regardless, Jack was at his best in the villainous department. Also guest starring is Anne Francis as Miriam, never to let fans down. Anne was a natural in both movies for years and later tv. She also played a dynamic suspect or mystery woman.
There is one goof... Barnaby leaves the hotel manager on the floor, and does not check to see if he's all right. True, with his medical background, he should have at least checked his pulse. Then again... IF you were Barnaby you probably didn't give a heck because the goon would have probably slugged him first, right?
Another top mystery, and wait for the ultimate ending. SEASON 1 EPISODE 8 remastered CBS dvd box set.
An okay episode...thanks to the ending.
planktonrules4 July 2021
When the episode begins, a famous author is gunned down by his friend. You KNOW this is going to happen for two reasons. First, the friend is played by Jack Cassidy and he ALWAYS was the bad guy when he appeared in 1970s detective shows! Second, he sports a black goatee...a sure sign that he is evil!!
Barnaby is hired by the dead man's publisher. No one knows where he is and his latest manuscript is overdue...so Barnaby investigates and begins digging up clues.
Generally, this is a good episode. My only complaint is the ending...where Barnaby is miraculously saved out of the blue from death. Plus, once again, Barnaby is smashed over the head and knocked out (the second or third time so far in the series) and his brain should be like tapioca by now! Worth seeing...even with it's weak ending.
By the way, she show is supposedly set in Los Reyes, California. Well, I checked and there is no such place. There is a Point Reyes in California (north of SF) and a Los Reyes in Mexico.
Barnaby is hired by the dead man's publisher. No one knows where he is and his latest manuscript is overdue...so Barnaby investigates and begins digging up clues.
Generally, this is a good episode. My only complaint is the ending...where Barnaby is miraculously saved out of the blue from death. Plus, once again, Barnaby is smashed over the head and knocked out (the second or third time so far in the series) and his brain should be like tapioca by now! Worth seeing...even with it's weak ending.
By the way, she show is supposedly set in Los Reyes, California. Well, I checked and there is no such place. There is a Point Reyes in California (north of SF) and a Los Reyes in Mexico.
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