* date indicates the first London showing (ABC, London, ITV transmission) of this Biritish produced show; the program was aired earlier in the United States, with this episode appearing sometime in December 1954 -- exact date not certain; the first airing in the British Midlands was on February 29, 1956 on ATV, Midlands)
It's time to take another peek into the Department of Queer Complaints, created by renowned mystery author John Dickson Carr under the pseudonym Carter Dickson. "The Sorcerer" was the first episode of the series and introduced viewers to the idiosyncratic Colonel Perceval March**, portrayed by Boris Karloff. Also featured were Ewan Roberts (as Inspector Ames), Phil Brown, Gerard Heinz, Robert Adair, Eileen Erskine, and Lily (Lilly) Kann. The episode was directed by Bernard Knowles and scripted by Paul Monash, and was produced by Hannah Weinstein.
A man accuses his wife's psychoananlyst of being a "witch doctor" and threatened to kill him. Later the psychoanalyst is found dead during a session behind locked doors with the wife -- stabbed with the wife's hatpin! An intriguing locked room mystery with over-the top acting from most of the cast, remarkably well done considering the limits of the show. Karloff's performance, of course, stands out.
Enjoy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GuZv31e4LY&t=31s
** In a great Huh? moment, the door to March's office is labeled "A.L. March" -- continuity was not a big thing in 1954 British television.
Jerry, you go down a lot of Rabbit Holes!
ReplyDelete