Review - The Big Ham Aired 1-28-54
Definitely worth anyone's time to catch this episode unfold with a surprise finish to what is guessed to be an open and shut case with the boyfriend and girlfriend. The title character is the other actor.
Friday, Smith are working the day-watch out of Homicide Division. They have to investigate a young girl shot, reported as a suicide, with a note left at the scene. The information provided police was at two AM; the landlady found the victim. The lessee was Ross Mitchell, gone at the time of the victim's death. No record on Mitchell, no victim print identification either; reported as a Jane Doe. Her father identifies his daughter's body, her name is Molly Paul. He said she had no bad personal habits or vices, she wanted a husband; to settle down, raise a family, no career plans. She did some modeling, acting, once in a while. Mr. Paul had no idea why Molly Paul wanted to take her own life and he did not know Ross Mitchell.
Friday, Smith interview Thelma Keene, the landlady, asking about Ross Mitchell. He left Saturday, be back around noon today. He had been renting for about three plus years, since he came to Los Angeles from the Midwest. She says the weapon belonged to Ross. He had the only key. Thelma told police, she had no idea how Molly Paul got into the apartment. Thelma spent more time talking about her acting career than she did answering questions for Friday, Smith; the multitude of pictures on her apartment walls, the artifacts scattered about, were an indication of the landlady's ego toward he past career.
Friday, Smith talked to the victim's girlfriend, Peggy Wallace. Last time Peggy saw Molly was Sunday morning. She had nothing good to say about Ross. Smith calls the lab for a victim update, he tells Friday the girl was murdered.
It would have been impossible for the victim to pull the trigger, based on fingerprints found on the gun, plus there was no gunshot residue on the victim. The suicide-note-handwriting did not match Molly Paul's handwriting-samples. The crime lab concluded, the victim had not committed suicide, but had been murdered.
Friday, Smith wait for Ross to come home, when he does, he is cuffed and escorted to the car. Thelma stops them before exiting the building, she wants to talk to Friday. Friday listens to her talk about Ross' future in the business. She tells how much a burden Molly was to Ross' career. Thelma could help him excel in the profession, while she talked again of her days in movies. Thelma admitted to Friday, she killed Molly for Ross' sake, and wrote the note left behind.
Thelma got her best role, life in prison. Watch for yourself the surprise confession. She is the ham.
Friday, Smith are working the day-watch out of Homicide Division. They have to investigate a young girl shot, reported as a suicide, with a note left at the scene. The information provided police was at two AM; the landlady found the victim. The lessee was Ross Mitchell, gone at the time of the victim's death. No record on Mitchell, no victim print identification either; reported as a Jane Doe. Her father identifies his daughter's body, her name is Molly Paul. He said she had no bad personal habits or vices, she wanted a husband; to settle down, raise a family, no career plans. She did some modeling, acting, once in a while. Mr. Paul had no idea why Molly Paul wanted to take her own life and he did not know Ross Mitchell.
Friday, Smith interview Thelma Keene, the landlady, asking about Ross Mitchell. He left Saturday, be back around noon today. He had been renting for about three plus years, since he came to Los Angeles from the Midwest. She says the weapon belonged to Ross. He had the only key. Thelma told police, she had no idea how Molly Paul got into the apartment. Thelma spent more time talking about her acting career than she did answering questions for Friday, Smith; the multitude of pictures on her apartment walls, the artifacts scattered about, were an indication of the landlady's ego toward he past career.
Friday, Smith talked to the victim's girlfriend, Peggy Wallace. Last time Peggy saw Molly was Sunday morning. She had nothing good to say about Ross. Smith calls the lab for a victim update, he tells Friday the girl was murdered.
It would have been impossible for the victim to pull the trigger, based on fingerprints found on the gun, plus there was no gunshot residue on the victim. The suicide-note-handwriting did not match Molly Paul's handwriting-samples. The crime lab concluded, the victim had not committed suicide, but had been murdered.
Friday, Smith wait for Ross to come home, when he does, he is cuffed and escorted to the car. Thelma stops them before exiting the building, she wants to talk to Friday. Friday listens to her talk about Ross' future in the business. She tells how much a burden Molly was to Ross' career. Thelma could help him excel in the profession, while she talked again of her days in movies. Thelma admitted to Friday, she killed Molly for Ross' sake, and wrote the note left behind.
Thelma got her best role, life in prison. Watch for yourself the surprise confession. She is the ham.
