User Reviews

In this one, you see the murder of a boxer in the ring to start the show. Or did it happen that way? When Inspector Queen investigates the death, he finds the boxer was poisoned, not punched to death. Then the question becomes who poisoned him and when? While you'd think this one would be easy for Ellery as there are plenty of photos including ones of the poisoned water bottle, there is more to it than the pictures reaching the eyes. Especially as the motives behind the dead become muddled.

Then comes scoop Flanaghan trying to amateur detective his way into the killer only to bungle things up. What is good is that once Ellery finds the killer, he gets in the last punch.

Another good episode of EQ, this one set at a city boxing gymnasium. The murder victim - he could have been a contender - is first nearly knocked out by a sparring partner. Then he falls unconscious and ends up very dead.

Tabloid reporter Frank Flanigan is on scene and remains there when Inspector Queen and Son show up for the investigation. While Flanigan provides some laughs, Ellery gets a few himself.

At one point, Ellery is in the boxing ring, bouncing his body against the ropes. Just like any little boy would quite probably do when not being properly supervised by a parent.

Then there's a moment when Ellery is confronted on the city sidewalk outside the gym by a mobster's well dressed right-hand man. Ellery is invited by the smiling hood to go for a nice car ride to meet the man's boss. Ellery says he has other things to do. When the man "insists", guiding Ellery to the large Mobster Mobile parked at the curb, Ellery fearfully agrees. He says he will tend to those other things when he gets back from meeting "the Boss". Ellery then, with a weak smile and a shakey, worried voice, asks, "I am coming back, right?" It's a somewhat frightening moment for the sleuth, but the humor presented in the moment assures the viewer that Ellery's going to be just fine. Probably.

The humor continues in the following, unusual scene in which Ellery has an unnerving and very bizarre conversation with the Big Boss gangster himself. Strolling upon the grounds of the Criminal's beautiful estate, the two toss around one-liners. This, even after the Godfather-type informs Ellery that there is a submachine gun trained on the Mystery Writer's physique at that very moment. He advises Ellery to not make any sudden moves and certainly to not reach into his jacket for any reason. Of course Ellery then proceeds to forgetfully make a sudden move.

The Big Boss is portrayed by actor Robert Alda, father of Alan (M*A*S*H) Alda. With white hair, black mustache and a gleaming white-toothed smile, this is one of the friendliest yet fearsome, deadly mobster kingpins to ever fill a televsion screen. Alda should have won an Academy Award Oscar - even though those are presented for acting in theatrical films, not television 1-hour mystery dramas.

A good murder mystery with good suspects and good guest actors. Also good, enticing and thoughtful motives. This one also features a terrific "big reveal". Jim Hutton is clearly very much enjoying himself and the production.