User Reviews

When the story begins, Barnaby Jones has arrived at a new client's home...only to learn that the police were there because the prospective client was murdered. The next day, Barnaby receives a letter...along with a retainer check from the dead man! So, it seems that he's been hired by a dead man!

The trail initially goes towards the dead man's girlfriend. After all, he was still married and perhaps this lead will take Barnaby to the truth about the murder. However, it turns out that the lady knows nothing about the killing..but someone close to her does...as Barnaby soon discovers.

This is a decent episode about murder and blackmail. Modestly interesting and enjoyable to watch...though perhaps a bit farfetched.

This episode is very well acted and great story! 70's TV at its best!

George F. Slavin wrote this gem, and what a gem it is. After all these years, I still think it's one of the best, reminding me of a COLUMBO-type episode. Slavin was one of those prime writers who did a bit of everything, from cop shows, to comedies to westerns. Prior to this episode, he wrote a story for MANNIX.

Speaking of COLUMBO, guest star Roddy McDowall (as Stan) played a very similar part on an episode called "Short Fuse" about a year earlier. He played a devious, deadly character, very much like his role here. In this case, Stan is a nightclub pianist who is into blackmail with lots of well known people on his list. He also pretends he's blind, replete with sunglasses and a walking stick. What a neat alibi, ya think? Of course, one of his victims, a prominent Hollywood doctor, is about to expose him and is promptly murdered. And who would suspect a blind man, right?

Enter Barnaby, who really has his work cut out for him, because Stan is about as clever as he is. This is a nifty little mystery. Also, I don't know if it was a gag, but Barnaby is wearing a raincoat(?) --just like COLUMBO?? Amazing.

Great supporting cast with the likes of Marlyn Mason (as Ginny), always convincing at whatever she does, also Patricia Donahue as Ruth, in a smaller but very good supporting role.

What makes this all so fascinating is that you begin to wonder how Stan gets his just reward, because this is as close to a perfect crime as it gets. Wait for the classic ending.

Interestingly, Roddy McDowall was the subject of a real-life Hollywood investigation a few years earlier, as his home was raided by the FBI due to the fact that he collected hundreds of original rare film prints from movie studios. The complaint was that although he legally came into possession of them (some studios were actually trashing the old films that had been remastered), nevertheless he was not allowed to sell or trade the originals due to existing copyright infrigements. The case opened up legal discussions concerning other old movie collectors (there were countless, including fellow actors and directors) and why today there are strict vhs, dvd and blu ray copyrights on films.

Rated 10 STARS. SEASON ONE, EPISODE 9 remastered CBS box set.