A good beginning to what would be a short-lived program. There was much promise here which makes it easy to see why Ellery Queen went to series. Although with near 50 years hindsight, it probably would have been better to have limited the show to 7 ninety minute movies. 7 movies which could have aired in rotation alongside McCloud, McMillan and the King of all mystery movie programs, Columbo - on The NBC Sunday Mystery Movie.
This pilot movie features a murder which ends up getting pinned on multiple suspects, thus the title. It's a fun go-around featuring loads of clues as well as loads of misdirections. It even includes a bit of lively action amongst city rooftops.
However, it also features an incredibly impossible "Ultimate" clue from the murder victim. Here's the Spoiler Alert: There's simply no way the victim could know what was about to appear on her TV screen when she began slowly dragging her dying self across her living room floor. Even the act of pulling the plugs from the wall outlet at the moment of her final breath would have taken enormous effort. To do so at the very moment that her puzzle of a clue appeared on screen would have meant pulling on the cords while looking directly at the TV screen at the exact same time. Apparently this clue was an alteration to the original story. More care should have been taken by the production in considering it's improbability.
As for the leads, David Wayne and Jim Hutton? Absolutely wonderful! The father/son relationship, both family-wise and colaberative investigators-wise, is immediately established with excellent writing and acting. Yes, terrific fun!
This pilot movie features a murder which ends up getting pinned on multiple suspects, thus the title. It's a fun go-around featuring loads of clues as well as loads of misdirections. It even includes a bit of lively action amongst city rooftops.
However, it also features an incredibly impossible "Ultimate" clue from the murder victim. Here's the Spoiler Alert: There's simply no way the victim could know what was about to appear on her TV screen when she began slowly dragging her dying self across her living room floor. Even the act of pulling the plugs from the wall outlet at the moment of her final breath would have taken enormous effort. To do so at the very moment that her puzzle of a clue appeared on screen would have meant pulling on the cords while looking directly at the TV screen at the exact same time. Apparently this clue was an alteration to the original story. More care should have been taken by the production in considering it's improbability.
As for the leads, David Wayne and Jim Hutton? Absolutely wonderful! The father/son relationship, both family-wise and colaberative investigators-wise, is immediately established with excellent writing and acting. Yes, terrific fun!