Ellery Queen

1 9 7 4 (USA)
1 x 120 minute episode
22 x 60 minute episodes

Invented in a 1929 novel called The Roman Hat Mystery (by Frederic Dannay and Manfred Bennington), the character of gentleman detective and writer Ellery Queen was first brought to the small screen by Richard Hart in the 1950s series, The Adventures Of Ellery Queen.

When Hart died of a heart attack the title role passed to Lee Bowman, then to George Nader and eventually to Lee Phillips.

After 15 years the character was revived by the American NBC network, with the part of Queen now played by Jim Hutton.

Queen lived at 212a West 87th Street in Manhattan with his widowed father, NYPD Inspector Richard Queen, played by David Wayne, who had previously been on the other side of the law as Batman villain, the Mad Hatter. Inspector Queen was assisted by Sergeant Velie (Tom Reese).

Two years after handing in his badge as Queen Snr, Wayne resurfaced as Willard ‘Digger’ Barnes in Dallas.

Stories, set in 1947, told of the cases of the New York mystery writer-turned-supersleuth, and added a pleasant leavening of self-conscious humour, epitomised by Queen turning to the audience just before the dénouement to ask “Have you figured it out?”.

Simon Brimmer (John Hillerman) was a criminologist who hosted The Casebook of Simon Brimmer on the radio, wherein he tried to solve a crime over the air before Ellery did.

Frank Flannigan (Ken Swofford) was an investigative reporter for the New York Gazette. Vera (Maggie Nelson) was his secretary.

Ellery Queen
Jim Hutton
Inspector Richard Queen
David Wayne
Sgt Velie
Tom Reese
Simon Brimmer
John Hillerman
Frank Flannigan
Ken Swofford
Vera
Maggie Nelson

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