User Reviews

it was suggested in the trivia section that this pilot movie was doomed to failure because of the casting of a middle-aged Glen Ford, rather than a younger and sexier stud-muffin. well, i don't think sooooo.

possible spoiler: there is only one plot device used- that of the ole' switch-the-real-art-work-with-a-clever-forgery routine. normally, i wouldn't consider the last statement a possible spoiler, but since there was only one device used, maybe it qualified.

the final big mass fight scene was as ridiculous as the fights in the old batman series- pushing, shoving, pulling back before the punch lands, but the worst (or the best i suppose) is when the claw-handed guy (yes, there is even one of these) takes a swing at mr. ford, who blocks it with, yes johnny, it's an electric toaster!! as claw-man spazzes on the ground, ford starts to run off, but wheels back and says, 'i hope you like your claw crispy'.

no, it wasn't the leading man's age that doomed this turkey.

anthony quayle was kind of fun, though.

In the 1970s, it was not uncommon for networks to show a pilot movie for a potential TV series in order to either gauge the public's reaction to it or to essentially recoup some of the development cost for a rejected pilot. Either way, "Jarrett" is one I can easily see why it was never approved as a television series.

Sam Jarrett (Glenn Ford) is a private eye who is looking into some ancient scrolls that MIGHT predate the Dead Sea Scrolls. The investigation leads to a Brit who is up to no good (Anthony Quayle) and a ridiculous traveling preacher (Forrest Tucker) with his utterly ridiculous show...complete with a mostly naked dancing girl (Yvonne Craig)! If you think this really doesn't make any sense, you are right....as well as the 'preacher' mispronouncing words from the Bible or a private eye who just looks too old to be catnip for the various women in the movie.

According to IMDB, the leading man was supposed to be younger and more believable. This doesn't surprise me as often good scripts can be ruined by insane casting. But in this case you not only have poor casting but a second-rate script with parts that simply don't make sense...such as the things mentioned above AND the use of a cobra to kill Jarrett (it's a VERY unreliable and silly method). A poor film...even on its own and a waste of a good leading man.