Episode Info
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Episode number: 1x8 Production Number: 43601 Airdate: Thursday October 30th, 1975 |
Main Cast
Recap
Theater financier Spencer Lockridge is in his country home in his den, telling a visitor that he refuses to let anything spoil his nephew's weekend. He tells his visitor to decide is what is really important, or warns that he'll decide for him. The visitor leaves and Spencer picks up his Mad Hatter hat to go with his costume...Read the full recap
Episode Notes
This is the only episode based on an actual short story by Ellery Queen. The pilot for the series, Too Many Suspects. was based on an actual Ellery Queen novel.
This was the first episode of the series to be filmed according to the show's production codes.
For once, Sgt. Velie plays a crucial role in the solution to the crime instead of merely putting the cuffs on the suspect after the denouement.
Larry Hagman would later become a TV legend playing the villainous J. R. Ewing on Dallas.
Jim Backus is best known for his role as millionaire castaway Thurston Howell III on Gilligan's Island.
Emmy Reinhart reveals that she turned down the lead role in the classic film Johnny Belinda. Bad career move because Jane Wyman won an Academy Award for Best Actress in the role.
It's ironic that one of the characters dresses up as the Mad Hatter at the party. Ellery Queen co-star David Wayne played the Mad Hatter on Batman.
Episode Quotes
Ellery: 10:20. I could be home now soaking in a hot tub.
Biggers: Welcome to show biz, El.
Ellery: Ellery.
Biggers: Welcome to show biz, El.
Ellery: Ellery.
Ellery: Look, Mr. Biggers...
Biggers: Howard.
Ellery: If Mr. Lockridge is so interested in turning my book into a Broadway stage play, why is he changing it?
Biggers: Well, you have to change it, it's part of the creative process.
Biggers: Howard.
Ellery: If Mr. Lockridge is so interested in turning my book into a Broadway stage play, why is he changing it?
Biggers: Well, you have to change it, it's part of the creative process.
Doyle: They couldn't start rehearsal until the boy was up in the bed. Mr. Gardner couldn't find his ears.
Ellery: Ears?
Biggers: He's a rabbit.
Ellery: Ears?
Biggers: He's a rabbit.
Ellery: How do you do?
Letitia: I do exceedingly well, much to my son-in-law's relief., Mr. Queen.
Letitia: I do exceedingly well, much to my son-in-law's relief., Mr. Queen.
Letitia: (about the house) You see here a monument of Mr. Gardner's ability to turn mighty oaks into toothpicks.
Johnny: (about Lockridge) You think he got snatched?
Ellery: I don't know. I just got out of bed.
Ellery: I don't know. I just got out of bed.
Biggers: (about Lockridge) If he walked away he's drowned now. It's a sea of mud out there.
Laura: Isn't that the usual thing you're told in these cases, don't call the police?
Ellery: There is the distinct possibility that it might endanger Spencer's life.
Letitia: Then by all means, let's call the police immediately, Mr. Queen.
Laura: Mother!
Ellery: There is the distinct possibility that it might endanger Spencer's life.
Letitia: Then by all means, let's call the police immediately, Mr. Queen.
Laura: Mother!
Inspector Queen: You want me to put out a three-state alarm for a man wearing a gray top hat, a green frock coat, and... Ellery, is he armed and dangerous, too?
Johnny: (to Ellery) For a detective, you're not very smart.
Laura: What precisely are we looking for?
Ellery: Good question, Mrs. Lockridge. I wish I knew.
Ellery: Good question, Mrs. Lockridge. I wish I knew.
Gardner: One of us is playing some sort of bizarre joke, and I for one find it distinctly unfunny.
Gardner: One of us here has a very grotesque sense of humor.
Lt. Carr: It seems like we're dealing with some sort of lunatic.
Inspector Queen: Oh, I'm used to that.
Lt. Carr: Huh? Oh, no, sir, I didn't mean your son.
Inspector Queen: Oh, I'm used to that.
Lt. Carr: Huh? Oh, no, sir, I didn't mean your son.
Ellery: Dad, come on, come on. You trust me, don't you?
Inspector Queen: No.
Inspector Queen: No.
Velie: How'd I do, Maestro?
Ellery: Perfect. Just perfect.
Ellery: Perfect. Just perfect.
Episode References
In this episode it's revealed that Sgt. Velie once played Captain Hook in a high school play.
Other Episode Crew
| • Executive Producer | Richard Levinson | William Link |
| • Producer | Peter S. Fischer (1) |
| • Music Supervisor | Hal Mooney |
| • Costume Designer | Charles Waldo |
| • Set Decorator | John McCarthy, Jr. (1) |
| • Director of Photography | Alric Edens |
| • Story Editor | Robert Van Scoyk |
| • Art Director | John J. Lloyd (1) |
| • Main Title Design | Jack Cole (2) |
| • Film Editor | John Elias |
| • Sound | Melvin M. Metcalfe, Sr. |
| • Assistant Director | Jerry Ballew |
| • Unit Manager | Jack Terry |
| • Based On Characters Created By | Ellery Queen |
| • Editorial Supervisor | Richard Belding |
| • Theme Music | Elmer Bernstein |
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