Thursday, December 9, 2010

Ellery Queen Mysteries

Christmas came early for little David. Ellery Queen Mysteries! I've been waiting quite awhile for this classic TV series starring Jim Hutton. Who was my secret Santa you ask? Well, sometimes you just have to take matters into your own hands, don't you?

Producer William Link video clip | EQ opening theme.

12 comments:

Ron Scheer said...

Very Pink Pantherish theme. One forgets that TV used to be for grownups. Jim Hutton was so cool and left us too soon. Thanks, and enjoy your early prezzy.

David Cranmer said...

Hutton WAS Ellery Queen. He immersed himself so much in the role that, according to Link, he lived on the lot during the course of the series.

The theme is marvelous but I find the opening credits a little bland. Stylish but bland. However the show is tops.

Evan Lewis said...

When I saw the ad for this on the back of EQMM, I was surprised to see John Hillerman (Magnum's Higgins) listed as a regular. Don't remember that.

David Cranmer said...

John Hillerman played radio detective Simon Brimmer who constantly tries to best Queen. According to the Link interview this character was created especially for the show.

Jodi MacArthur said...

Nice! And enjoy, my friend. ;-)

David Cranmer said...

I will. Denise and I watched the first episode last night and enjoyed the heck out of it. The ending ("Too Many Suspects") was far-fetched but it didn't detract from the fun. Jim Hutton was damn good.

Todd Mason said...

Yep. Always liked the Huttons. And I enjoyed this series enormously as a kid, and wonder, when I pick it up, how much I'll remember of each of the too-few episodes.

Hillerman made an impression, here and in PAPER MOON at about the same time. Always thought he was wasted on MAGNUM, PI (particularly as that series slid into mediocrity as it continued).

Randy Johnson said...

As a long time Ellery Queen fan, I was fond of this one and dismayed that it didn't last ling. Enjoy!

Alyssa Goodnight said...

Little David?? :)

I take these sorts of matters into my own hands all the time.

pattinase (abbott) said...

He sure died too young.

David Cranmer said...

Todd, That’s my main beef with US television: they run 'em in the ground. Magnum was a fine show for the first three years. It should have ended there. I think you will still get a kick out of ELLERY though I’ve found a couple of the endings a slight bit hokey.

Randy, I can see why it didn't do well in the era of fast-paced shows like Starsky and Hutch. But that may be a good thing because we have twenty-two perfecto classic episodes.

Alyssa, Yeah, I better scratch the little title. That didn’t come across right. :)

Patti, Forty-five. Sigh.

Dave King said...

You do indeed, increasingly so with age, I have found. It has its upside, though.