BARNABY JONES was off and running for a second season, ranking about 17 in the top 20 Neilsen ratings for Sunday night, double featured with MANNIX and the famous CBS black mystery cat. Sundays were fun and ingenious with that lineup.
Walter Grauman returned as director, however this was the only episode written by Robert Malcolm Young, who at the time was also working on the STREETS OF SAN FRANCISCO and churned out some fine scripts for the FBI (which was also on Sunday nights, on rival ABC). All of us kids will never forget the FBI and the end of the show posts of wanted criminals --near us???
I agree with the last reviewer that hysterical blindness was a common thread in so many cop shows and movies. Never to forget the famous blind episode on MANNIX, which is now cult material.
That said, the cast is marvelous, co-starring young Belinda J. Montgomery (as Amy) whose friend is murdered before her eyes -- but temporary blindness coupled with amnesia only makes her more vulnerable for the diabolical killer. Barnaby literally has to run out the clock in this one to save her life.
Of course, the big question... whodunit? That will keep the late night coffee brewing.
I always thought there was also a little touch of HAWAII FIVE O in these episodes, as Barnaby was up against some real crafty characters. Any one of the first season episodes could have been re-worked into a HAWAII FIVE O episode with the greatest of ease. And Steve McGarrett was more methodical like Barnaby.
Belinda Montgomery was a very successful young actress who appearead in a string of creepy movies, such as the DEVILS DAUGHTER, just before this episode, co-starring Shelley Winters and the TODD KILLINGS (1971), a stunning and factual movie all about a Charles Manson-like serial killer. Watch it if you ever have the chance, although I have not seen it on tv in many years.
The supporting cast is tops. Handsome Christopher Stone plays Eric, later to become a regular on DAYS OF OUR LIVES. Patricia Smith is cast as Ellen and versatile Dabney Coleman plays Paul, the guy you have to keep an eye on. Both were favorites on CANNON.
As usual, filmed around Hollywood with a lot of memories, and fun to spot the streets and houses which have stood the test of time. Barnaby keeps his famous brown Ford LTD, which was a beautiful car in its day, and it was upgraded through the seasons.
Quinn Martin had a long contract with Ford and Lincoln, hence Cannon's silver Mark IV. Likewise, Karl Malden drove a similar Ford LTD on STREETS OF SAN FRANCISCO and the best of 'em was the prime selection of fast cars Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. Drove on the F. B. I. He was behind the wheel of some slick, cool Mustangs --which you have to admit--were steady competition to Mannix's Dodge Charger and Camaro.... I always thought there was a little jealousy and one upsmanship between those two shows on Sunday night for years! The cat is out of the bag!
If you want to get Hollywood historical. You may remember the sleek T-birds Efrem Zimbalist drove on his old show, 77 SUNSET STRIP, which may have inspired producer Quinn Martin in the first place. OMG. Warner Brothers had the best classic cars.
Officially the first episode from SEASON 2 remastered CBS dvd box set.
Walter Grauman returned as director, however this was the only episode written by Robert Malcolm Young, who at the time was also working on the STREETS OF SAN FRANCISCO and churned out some fine scripts for the FBI (which was also on Sunday nights, on rival ABC). All of us kids will never forget the FBI and the end of the show posts of wanted criminals --near us???
I agree with the last reviewer that hysterical blindness was a common thread in so many cop shows and movies. Never to forget the famous blind episode on MANNIX, which is now cult material.
That said, the cast is marvelous, co-starring young Belinda J. Montgomery (as Amy) whose friend is murdered before her eyes -- but temporary blindness coupled with amnesia only makes her more vulnerable for the diabolical killer. Barnaby literally has to run out the clock in this one to save her life.
Of course, the big question... whodunit? That will keep the late night coffee brewing.
I always thought there was also a little touch of HAWAII FIVE O in these episodes, as Barnaby was up against some real crafty characters. Any one of the first season episodes could have been re-worked into a HAWAII FIVE O episode with the greatest of ease. And Steve McGarrett was more methodical like Barnaby.
Belinda Montgomery was a very successful young actress who appearead in a string of creepy movies, such as the DEVILS DAUGHTER, just before this episode, co-starring Shelley Winters and the TODD KILLINGS (1971), a stunning and factual movie all about a Charles Manson-like serial killer. Watch it if you ever have the chance, although I have not seen it on tv in many years.
The supporting cast is tops. Handsome Christopher Stone plays Eric, later to become a regular on DAYS OF OUR LIVES. Patricia Smith is cast as Ellen and versatile Dabney Coleman plays Paul, the guy you have to keep an eye on. Both were favorites on CANNON.
As usual, filmed around Hollywood with a lot of memories, and fun to spot the streets and houses which have stood the test of time. Barnaby keeps his famous brown Ford LTD, which was a beautiful car in its day, and it was upgraded through the seasons.
Quinn Martin had a long contract with Ford and Lincoln, hence Cannon's silver Mark IV. Likewise, Karl Malden drove a similar Ford LTD on STREETS OF SAN FRANCISCO and the best of 'em was the prime selection of fast cars Efrem Zimbalist, Jr. Drove on the F. B. I. He was behind the wheel of some slick, cool Mustangs --which you have to admit--were steady competition to Mannix's Dodge Charger and Camaro.... I always thought there was a little jealousy and one upsmanship between those two shows on Sunday night for years! The cat is out of the bag!
If you want to get Hollywood historical. You may remember the sleek T-birds Efrem Zimbalist drove on his old show, 77 SUNSET STRIP, which may have inspired producer Quinn Martin in the first place. OMG. Warner Brothers had the best classic cars.
Officially the first episode from SEASON 2 remastered CBS dvd box set.
