The only thing sharper than the tweed is the wit — and EVERYONE'S guilty of something.
When a famous fashion designer is found murdered, Inspector Richard Queen of the NYPD is baffled by her dying clue, prompting him to bring in his son, mystery writer Ellery Queen, to help in the investigation. This was the pilot film for the short-lived TV series.
Acting
Jim Hutton's endearingly awkward genius stammer.
Production
Glorious 1975 period detail — the tweed budget alone.
Writing
Dying clue actually plays fair with the audience.
Director
David Greene
Jim Hutton
Ellery Queen
David Wayne
Insp. Richard Queen
Ray Milland
Carson McKell
Kim Hunter
Marion McKell
John Hillerman
Simon Brimmer
John Larch
District Attorney
Tim O'Connor
Ben Waterson
Nancy Kovack
Monica Gray
Warren Berlinger
Eddie Carter
Monte Markham
Tom McKell
Gail Strickland
Gail Stevens
Tom Reese
Sgt. Thomas Velie
Victor Mohica
Ramon
Dwan Smith
Cora Edwards
John Finnegan
Matthew Thomas Cleary
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Jim Hutton was Tim Hutton's father; the elder Hutton's twitchy charm here is genetic destiny.
This pilot's 'fair play' pledge to viewers was a deliberate throwback to Golden Age mystery conventions as 1970s TV grew gritty.
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