User Reviews

When I got older, I was surprised to find out the TV series Ellery Queen ran for only one season. It must have been the skillfulness of this pilot TV movie, memorable in so many ways, that made me assume it was destined for a longer run. Jim Hutton, a light comedian of little distinction in film, really hit his stride as the lanky, offhanded sleuth with the brilliant mind who solves crimes shepherded by his father, an NYC police inspector (the great David Wayne). The plotting was top-notch, Hutton's characterization masterfully at ease and the stylistic device of having Ellery speak directly to the camera once he had solved the case a nifty little touch. Catch this whenever you can (the pilot is one of the best episodes, but there are many gems).

The March 23 1975 broadcast of "Ellery Queen," now titled "Too Many Suspects," was scripted by the two producers, Richard Levinson and William Link, who went on to do similar work on the more successful MURDER SHE WROTE but may be best remembered for COLUMBO. For those of us who prefer the ELLERY QUEEN series that premiered in September '75 and only lasted 22 episodes, we remember the late Jim Hutton, who died at 45 in 1979, as a lighthearted, slightly absentminded version of Ellery, and David Wayne (1914-1995) as Inspector Richard Queen, from NY's homicide squad, who can always count on his son's capable assistance when his father dangles the right bait. Both actors play off each other so easily, the scripts so well conceived, that one might actually assume they were truly father and son, and therein lies the greatest reason why this show is so fondly remembered. Another brilliant idea was the 1947 setting, with period cars and fashions, and other wonderful details that result in a 'new' TV version of the kind of classic detective series that were so popular during the 30s and 40s, preventing the show from looking dated in succeeding decades. The network was pleased with this 96 minute pilot, leading to the hour long series to follow in September. Also held over from the pilot was Tom Reese as Sgt. Thomas Velie, who provides the brawn when Ellery and his father need assistance (the only episode that Velie does not appear is "The Adventure of the Sinister Scenario," due to its Los Angeles setting). John Hillerman (MAGNUM P.I.) plays Simon Brimmer, another character who would return from the pilot for 7 additional episodes, a self important radio sleuth who usually barks up the wrong tree, but does occasionally come up with the key information that leads Ellery to the truth. In the pilot, Brimmer unsuccessfuly tries to buy Ellery's confidential files to use as stories for his show, "The Casebook of Simon Brimmer," but Ellery is quickly off to the apartment of fashion designer Miss Monaca Gray, who was murdered in her living room, leaving a dying clue by unplugging both the electric clock and TV set at exactly 10:25 PM. The murder gun is registered to Carson McKell (Ray Milland), who admits that he'd been seeing Monaca (but not the night she died) and bought her the gun for protection. Also under suspicion is McKell's wife Marion (Kim Hunter), who claims that she knew about the affair and was curious about her 'rival,' and son Tom (Monte Markham), who doesn't want to see either of his parents hurt. The murder victim is played by lovely Nancy Kovack (billed under her married name, Nancy Mehta), a busy TV actress in the 1960s (BEWITCHED, STAR TREK), soon to retire after this role, while John Larch, as the District Attorney, is more brusque than usual. James Lydon (Henry Aldrich) is briefly seen as a radio actor on Brimmer's show, and the announcer is played by an unbilled Harry Von Zell. Also unbilled is Franny Michel, as Ellery's niece Penny, and Jimmy Baio (SOAP), as a boy whose public graffiti provides a necessary clue for Ellery, whose absentmindedness is endearingly displayed by his always leaving his glasses behind (always the little, mundane things that he misses). And finally, when our hero figures out the solution, actor Jim Hutton breaks 'the fourth wall' in the middle of the scene, turns to the camera and asks the viewers if they got it too, a rare trait repeated in all 22 episodes. With COLUMBO still riding high for Levinson and Link, it's truly a crime that this series went no further than a single season.

Taken off the air after only one season because it forced the TV audience to think. Unfortunately, there were only a small percentage of us who did not want to simply sit in front of the idiot box and look at a screen but who wanted to be challenged mentally. These shows were formated in such a way as to give the audience all the clues in one form or another. About 3/4's of the way through the episode, Jim Hutton {Ellery} would face the camera and talk directly to the audience in a "well, there you have it. You have all the clues." And challenge the audience to fathom who the murderer was during the following commercial. In the final segment of the show, Ellery or Simon Brimmer {Radio Mystery Novelist Opponent of the Queens} would call all the suspects together and the clues would be explained or dismissed as nothing. The idiots watching television in 1975 were replaced 8 years later by a much more intelligent gooup and the writers of the Ellery Queen introduced a new show in 1983 using the same format of multiple plots, misleading clues mixed in with true clues, and major motion picture stars making guest appearances. And that is how "Murder, She Wrote" came to be. Jessica Fletcher became a female Ellery Queen. As of New Year's Day, 2000, This 1975 TV series will no longer be shown on TVLAND station of Nickelodeon. Does anyone out there know if it is being shown on any other channel?

This was a great show from the 70's. Our family would gather around the set each week to see if we could figure out "whodunnit". I think it was the last time we watched anything on broadcast T.V. that made us really use our brains. Probably why it was canceled after only one season. This series was immensely entertaining, too. From opening theme song, to astounding conclusion, each episode supplied the viewing audience with all the clues and evidence necessary to solve the crime. Great performances from both the regular cast (Jim Hutton, David Wayne, John Hillerman, and others) and a long list of familiar guest stars. Worth searching for on cable, satellite, or DVD (try e-bay).

This is a quite superb mystery film which was the prequel to an equally superb NBC television series. A few years before 'Too Many Suspects', Peter Lawford had starred as Ellery Queen in the film 'Don't Look Behind You'. It was watchable, but Lawford just wasn't the right as Ellery Queen. Jim Hutton, with his gangling, absent-minded amiability fitted the bill perfectly. The interplay between Hutton and David Wayne, who plays his father, Inspector Queen of the NYPD, is a joy to watch as is the rivalry between the Queens and the self-satisfied radio performer and amateur sleuth Simon Brimmer. The mystery itself is a very strong one, with plenty of twists and a truly ingenious ending. The film never drags for a moment and a genuine sense of excitement is built up. If there's ever been a more entertaining mystery film made than 'Too Many Suspects', I haven't seen it.

Probably the best mystery series ever made for TV. The acting is excellent, often above average. That's too bad this series is to this day unavailable on VHS or DVD. The episode of the fashion designer murder is the best.

Another good try of the 70s' TV 'Ellery Queen' team to reconstruct the original atmosphere of the 40s in which the stories were set; the settings, the cars, the clothes, the hairstyles are about as close as they can get, and the 'double' episode of 2 hours running time keeps us entertained and our 'little gray cells' working throughout all the duration - which is not an easy thing to accomplish...

But Jim Hutton, as always, amuses us with his absent-mindedness, his dry humor and his endless 'quarrels' with his Dad, the police detective - and keeps reminding us to keep our eyes open and our brains working in order to be able to pick out the right one among the 'too many suspects'. The supporting cast consists of some very fine and well-known TV and movie actors of the time, every one of whom does his very best to keep up the suspense and the entertainment - but unfortunately, the scriptwriters weren't quite faithful to the original novel, and that makes it not only PRETTY difficult for us to guess the solution, but also makes the whole story a little bit implausible...

Now, WHY should a dying woman drag herself to the TV set and clock plug, with the only hope that someone might bother to find out what was on TV exactly at that hour (but which Ellery did, of course...), in order to give us a clue to the murderer's identity? And since the episode picked up the games with words and anagrams, which in the novel at last reveals the murderer's name, they could have gone through with that, leaving this silly TV program hokum aside... It's a shame, because otherwise the episode is an almost perfect murder mystery!

"Too Many Suspects" is the first Ellery Queen episode...the pilot. Following its success, two seasons of the series were made. However, after watching this movie, I am actually very surprised any more episodes were made considering the solution to the crime was incredibly lame...so much so that I felt like I'd wasted my time watching the prior 90 minutes of the show!

When the story begins, a pretty lady is murdered and with her last gasp, she tries to leave clues for the police. However, the clues are misinterpreted AND the actual solution is ridiculous to say the least! The police assume the killer is the man with which she's having an affair (Ray Milland) but considering the show is called "Too Many Suspects" you know that sooner or later more possible killers are identified.

I had no problems with the acting (apart from the Prosecutor...who WAY overacted). Jim Hutton, David Wayne and the rest were just fine. The problem to all this is the solution...which seems like Ellery just yanked it out of his tush! And, while the solution is ridiculous and impossible to prove, the script does the cliches of having the real killer blurt out that they did it when the suspects are gathered into a group at the finale! All in all, a script which kept my interest...only to have the WORST resolution you could imagine. I'll try one or two more of these shows and if they are this bad, I'll just skip the rest.

A stylish movie based on the book "Fourth Side of the Triangle" by Ellery Queen. This movie served as the pilot for the televison series. David Wayne makes a credible performance as Inspector Wayne, Ellery's father. Jim Hutton plays the title role in bon vivant style very in line with the spirit of the books. A very enjoyable film.

Jim Hutton (father of Tim) plays long-time mystery character/writer Ellery Queen in a curious start to a lovely series.

Based on an Ellery Queen novel (the rest of the episodes were based on short stories that fit the hour-length better), "Too Many Suspects" tackles a more serious tale than the rest (though they all involve murders).

Unlike the literary character, Hutton's writer is an absent-minded, easy-going, eminently likeable shaggy-dog type. Yet, he's capable of seeing what others don't and isolates the guilty from the merely suspected (and throughout the series, all the suspects are darned suspicious).

The cast is top-notch (for the mid-1970s), including Oscar-winner Ray Milland and a pre-"Magnum" John Hillerman (a recurring foe for Queen who isn't in the stories). This series may have kicked off the washed-up celebrity sort of show (cf "Murder, She Wrote"). Last chance to see your old big-screen favorites, now whittled down to TV size.

Ellery's father, Inspector Queen, is portrayed by old hand David Wayne. Hutton and Wayne have enormous chemistry.

Two things carry over from the Ellery Queen books: the "dying clue" (often a stretch in the books and stories and looking downright nutty on TV); and, mostly from the novels, a pause where Hutton breaks the "fourth wall" to ask if the viewer we've guessed the culprit.

Hutton (and, secondly, Wayne) carry us through some rank silliness by their excellent acting, likeableness and comeraderie. The pilot episode (originally presented as a movie on TV) was broken by commercials, which helped.

Certainly in this pilot, and throughvthe rest of the series, they did a good job on the period setting, though some of the asides (for instance, criticizing early television) sound a bit cutesy.