Another one where the boys, at least some of them, get to play bodyguard. In this case to a older actress, Pauline Grant ( Marilyn Maxwell ), attempting a comeback. It seems there was a shooting of the newer "Santa" during the Hollywood Christmas Parade, while the actress was also in the same car. At first, this was written off as an attempt on Santa, for some unknown reason. When there is another attempted shot at the car holding the actress during the Tournament of Roses Parade, Spencer and crew are called in. Jeff asks Kookie to help with the guard duty, and he finds the actress's young daughter, Kristan Royal ( Yvonne Craig ) something of a distraction from his duties.
There is another attempted shot at Pauline, in the studio during filming, with everyone present, including Lt. Gilmore. Even though he takes quick action, no gun or shooter is found.
Jeff finds something interesting in the remains of the vase that was hit in this third attempt, and comes to a conclusion about the second and third shootings. It seems they were faked attempts, to draw publicity. They were set up by the actress's manager.
But as Jeff is doing his Sherlock Holmes impression regarding the faked attempts, another shot happens during the filming of a stunt scene, and the stunt actress is killed, this time for real.
Jeff has a thought about this last shooting, and verifies some information. But the killer catches him, and they both leave together. As they are about to drive away, Kookie and Pauline come along. The killer is surprised, as he thought she was dead. As he tries to make that a reality, he is shot by one of Lt. Gilmore's men.
So in the end, the killer gets his, and Kookie gets an extended kissing scene in his office with Kristan, ending with the rest of the office watching.
A minor note - the movie being filmed was directed by Victor Buono (Charlie Case), played in the most restrained fashion I can recall ever seeing him do. He was a few months short of 24, and he died too soon, just short of 44.
As for the legs sneaking out of the apartment, I am pretty sure they really were those of Yvonne Craig. Aside from her earlier dance training, if you saw her dance in Whom Gods Destroy (1969), you would agree.
Btw, the Storyline is wrong, the second Santa was not killed, only shot in the shoulder. His shooter did end up dead though, but of old age in the nursing home he was staying in.
There is another attempted shot at Pauline, in the studio during filming, with everyone present, including Lt. Gilmore. Even though he takes quick action, no gun or shooter is found.
Jeff finds something interesting in the remains of the vase that was hit in this third attempt, and comes to a conclusion about the second and third shootings. It seems they were faked attempts, to draw publicity. They were set up by the actress's manager.
But as Jeff is doing his Sherlock Holmes impression regarding the faked attempts, another shot happens during the filming of a stunt scene, and the stunt actress is killed, this time for real.
Jeff has a thought about this last shooting, and verifies some information. But the killer catches him, and they both leave together. As they are about to drive away, Kookie and Pauline come along. The killer is surprised, as he thought she was dead. As he tries to make that a reality, he is shot by one of Lt. Gilmore's men.
So in the end, the killer gets his, and Kookie gets an extended kissing scene in his office with Kristan, ending with the rest of the office watching.
A minor note - the movie being filmed was directed by Victor Buono (Charlie Case), played in the most restrained fashion I can recall ever seeing him do. He was a few months short of 24, and he died too soon, just short of 44.
As for the legs sneaking out of the apartment, I am pretty sure they really were those of Yvonne Craig. Aside from her earlier dance training, if you saw her dance in Whom Gods Destroy (1969), you would agree.
Btw, the Storyline is wrong, the second Santa was not killed, only shot in the shoulder. His shooter did end up dead though, but of old age in the nursing home he was staying in.