Theatrical producer Sam Packer (George Burns) made arrangements to have a filmed message from him to a small group of "mourners" at his memorial service. Packer tells the attendees that he doesn't know how he died but he knows that it wasn't of natural causes - he was murdered. He has a special message for Simon Brimmer asking him to get to the bottom of who killed him. Packer then points out the suspects - in addition to his wife, there are those key to the show "Take It Off" - a stripper, a burlesque comic, the show's backer and the show's stage manager. Although Burns' appearance is brief, it's memorable and given with the Burns style and panache. Best line: "I hope I get good reviews where I'm going, I'm just glad it's not New Haven." Since there were so many suspects who had motives, the key to solving this murder was how the seemingly impossible murder was committed. The murder method is just wacky enough to actually have been used in an Ellery Queen book. While the entire cast was very good, William Demarest as Pop Denny was the acting highlight for me. The show includes a couple of burlesque comedy skits which were so bad they were funny. The skits reminded me of the Broadway musical revue tribute to burlesque, Sugar Babies.
7 Reviews
A Decent Mystery
Gislef20 November 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I'm not that thrilled with the cast. Sure, George Burns is good doing his usual shtick for five minutes at the beginning. But then he disappears, since he's dead, and the rest of the cast isn't that good. Don Porter reminds me of John Larch, and does much less than a director and writer would have trusted Larch with.
The episode focuses mostly on Barbara Rhodes, who soon grates as the air-headed Veronica of the title. And is given bits like think Ipsen is Buddy Ebsen. That leaves William Demerest to carry a lot of scenes. The veteran actor is game, I'll give him that. But the revelation that his character has a motive for killing Packer comes too late in the episode for Demerest to do much with it.
John Hillerman as Simon Brimmer even seems a bit subdued. He accepts Ellery's out-sleuthing him at the end with surprising grace. Particularly since the last time Ellery pulled that stunt, Simon shut down his own show rather than let Ellery get any credit.
Richard is absent a lot of the episode, and Velie doesn't appear until the last act. Ellery's absent-minded nature is played up for once. I like the bit where he goes into the show girls' dressing room and doesn't notice them undressed because he's too busy pursuing clues. It's a cute bit that Hutton does well, and there are other little bits scattered throughout that Hutton does well with. But overall, Ellery just isn't a big-league detective like Columbo or the NBC pseudo detectives (McCloud, Banacek, the Snoop Sisters) of the period.
It's not a bad episode, and by TV detective shows of the era, it's better than average. There just isn't anything that thrilling going on. And the murder solution is cute, but doesn't hold together. Couldn't the killer claim that someone stole the murder weapon and used it to kill Packer, and they replaced it when it came up missing? Fortunately the killer confesses, which is a shame because the actor is probably the third best one after Burns and Demarest.
Overall, a decent episode but not a great one. But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong. What do you think?
The episode focuses mostly on Barbara Rhodes, who soon grates as the air-headed Veronica of the title. And is given bits like think Ipsen is Buddy Ebsen. That leaves William Demerest to carry a lot of scenes. The veteran actor is game, I'll give him that. But the revelation that his character has a motive for killing Packer comes too late in the episode for Demerest to do much with it.
John Hillerman as Simon Brimmer even seems a bit subdued. He accepts Ellery's out-sleuthing him at the end with surprising grace. Particularly since the last time Ellery pulled that stunt, Simon shut down his own show rather than let Ellery get any credit.
Richard is absent a lot of the episode, and Velie doesn't appear until the last act. Ellery's absent-minded nature is played up for once. I like the bit where he goes into the show girls' dressing room and doesn't notice them undressed because he's too busy pursuing clues. It's a cute bit that Hutton does well, and there are other little bits scattered throughout that Hutton does well with. But overall, Ellery just isn't a big-league detective like Columbo or the NBC pseudo detectives (McCloud, Banacek, the Snoop Sisters) of the period.
It's not a bad episode, and by TV detective shows of the era, it's better than average. There just isn't anything that thrilling going on. And the murder solution is cute, but doesn't hold together. Couldn't the killer claim that someone stole the murder weapon and used it to kill Packer, and they replaced it when it came up missing? Fortunately the killer confesses, which is a shame because the actor is probably the third best one after Burns and Demarest.
Overall, a decent episode but not a great one. But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong. What do you think?
A Salute To Burlesque In This one
DKosty1239 May 2011
Warning: Spoilers
Another top notch guest cast here. With George Burns & Jack Carter, plus William Demarest there are 3 folks here who know what "Take It Off " is all about. There are even a few rehearsals of the show to carry things along.
The episode begins after the murder. At the Funeral of Broadway Producer Sam Packer, his film declares he has been murdered even though it has been ruled officially a heart attack. This leads both Simon Brimmer & Ellery Queen on a twisted mission to find out if that is possible.
Packer even lists the suspects in the film for them. The thing he can't do is come back from the grave and point at which one. He doesn't have too as he leaves enough of a trail that Ellery puts it together once the veils are revealed.
The episode begins after the murder. At the Funeral of Broadway Producer Sam Packer, his film declares he has been murdered even though it has been ruled officially a heart attack. This leads both Simon Brimmer & Ellery Queen on a twisted mission to find out if that is possible.
Packer even lists the suspects in the film for them. The thing he can't do is come back from the grave and point at which one. He doesn't have too as he leaves enough of a trail that Ellery puts it together once the veils are revealed.
Perhaps the finest cast assembled for this series
kevinolzak22 October 2009
Episode 9, "The Adventure of Veronica's Veils," features a special 'cameo appearance' from none other than George Burns, playing big-shot stage producer Sam Packer, whose latest production is a Burlesque revival on Broadway titled "Take It Off!" This entry begins with Packer's funeral, where all of his associates have gathered to view a screening featuring the producer himself, making accusations against everyone and proclaiming that he was murdered, citing various unsuccessful attempts on his life leading up to his demise. Packer also engages Simon Brimmer (John Hillerman) to investigate on his behalf, which annoys Inspector Queen, whose original verdict on the case (natural causes) is later revealed to be cyanide poisoning. Packer points the finger at his wife (Julie Adams), who he believes was having an affair; Risky Ross (Jack Carter), the former Burlesque comic whom the Inspector remembers as a tough kid from his early days on the force; and Gregory Layton (Don Porter), whom Packer accuses of having an affair with the star stripper, Veronica Vale (Barbara Rhoades), whose talent he admires. 83 year old William Demarest, the oldest actor to appear in the series, plays stage director 'Pop' Denny, and Hayden Rorke (I DREAM OF JEANNIE) plays a radio actor on Brimmer's show, revealing the 35-year relationship between 'Pop' and Packer. Derrel Maury ("Massacre at Central High") makes an unbilled appearance as the page boy, while Peter Hobbs, who plays toxicologist Dr. Steiner, would play a similar role (billed as 'Medical Examiner') in episode 16, "The Adventure of the Judas Tree." Always an intelligent actress, lovely Barbara Rhoades is a standout, here cast against type and making it work. There is one moment where her character displays dignity in the dressing room, changing behind a screen while Ellery comments on her profession as a stripper, her reply: "out there I'm an actress, here I'm a person."
Nevermind The Veils - Drop The Curtain.
chashans18 March 2023
Warning: Spoilers
A fair episode with some nice, interesting performances by the guest cast. George Burns gets things going when his character announces via film, that he's dead. He's also darn certain that he's dead because he was murdered. Seems he was so certain he was about to be bumped off that he put up the money for one last cameo appearance. Turns out he was right. He also provides some suspicions as to who did the deed just in case the police aren't able to get their investigation off and running.
The production features a nice old theater with a stage upon which the players go through their rehearsals. Snippets of the acts are featured and they are all quite terrible. Perhaps that's on purpose, but regardless, those bits bring the episode's proceedings to a dead stop and leave the viewer with a sense of uncomfortable awkwardness.
That's pretty much it. The mystery of whodunnit isn't that involving. There are plenty of suspects and they all have a sad story to tell. Those stories though, just aren't very interesting.
Jim Hutton keeps the episode from completely falling apart. He's most certainly very comfortable by this point in his portrayal of Ellery. Barbara Rhoades plays the part of a stripper, Veronica from the title. She's certainly lovely to look at and is rather endearing in her performance.
David Wayne, as Ellery's Inspector Father, has a couple of nice moments opposite Jack Carter. Carter plays one of the burlesque comedians. At times his character is loud and over the top, yet in some scenes he is subdued and thoughtful. An interesting range.
The cast does the best they can with what they were given to work with. The script could have used some tightening up as well as a bit more zing.
The production features a nice old theater with a stage upon which the players go through their rehearsals. Snippets of the acts are featured and they are all quite terrible. Perhaps that's on purpose, but regardless, those bits bring the episode's proceedings to a dead stop and leave the viewer with a sense of uncomfortable awkwardness.
That's pretty much it. The mystery of whodunnit isn't that involving. There are plenty of suspects and they all have a sad story to tell. Those stories though, just aren't very interesting.
Jim Hutton keeps the episode from completely falling apart. He's most certainly very comfortable by this point in his portrayal of Ellery. Barbara Rhoades plays the part of a stripper, Veronica from the title. She's certainly lovely to look at and is rather endearing in her performance.
David Wayne, as Ellery's Inspector Father, has a couple of nice moments opposite Jack Carter. Carter plays one of the burlesque comedians. At times his character is loud and over the top, yet in some scenes he is subdued and thoughtful. An interesting range.
The cast does the best they can with what they were given to work with. The script could have used some tightening up as well as a bit more zing.
Charming, but fast and loose with the "facts"
cozylittlebookjournal14 June 2014
Ignoring this episode's dubious "facts" about cyanide, there's one scene in which burlesque stripper Veronica Vale (Barbara Rhodes) longs for the good old days of 1937 when she was making "two grand a week."
TWO GRAND A WEEK???? As in TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS A WEEK? That would have meant that she was literally making more than the President of the United States at the time. Yet she seems to have no savings, is neither rich nor famous, and is complaining about working at a crappy show. Where the hell did her "two grand a week" all go??
The short-lived series aired in 1975-76 but it was supposed to have taken place in 1946-47, though you'd hardly know it from the misguided attempts at "historical accuracy."
TWO GRAND A WEEK???? As in TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS A WEEK? That would have meant that she was literally making more than the President of the United States at the time. Yet she seems to have no savings, is neither rich nor famous, and is complaining about working at a crappy show. Where the hell did her "two grand a week" all go??
The short-lived series aired in 1975-76 but it was supposed to have taken place in 1946-47, though you'd hardly know it from the misguided attempts at "historical accuracy."
The Barbara and Burns show
aramis-112-80488017 April 2024
Whenever silent movies or Vaudeville or Burlesque are recreated by more modern people, they do a shoddy job of it. In this episode an impresario is murdered while trying to revive a burlesque after World War II.
Two characters make this episode. First George Burns, who only appears briefly on film. Then Barbara Rhoades, who made lots of appearances on TV in the 1970s, from "Mannix" to comedies. Here, she plays a stripper and she's delightful as well as lovely to look at.
And who is the suspicious man who keeps trying to buy extra tickets?
The stage show is so bad, this episode is painful to watch. The mystery is no great shakes, either.
Two characters make this episode. First George Burns, who only appears briefly on film. Then Barbara Rhoades, who made lots of appearances on TV in the 1970s, from "Mannix" to comedies. Here, she plays a stripper and she's delightful as well as lovely to look at.
And who is the suspicious man who keeps trying to buy extra tickets?
The stage show is so bad, this episode is painful to watch. The mystery is no great shakes, either.
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