A Ransom in Diamonds
- Episode aired Jan 12, 1978
- 1h
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
71
YOUR RATING
This episode was likely a "backdoor" pilot for a new series that shelved before production.This episode was likely a "backdoor" pilot for a new series that shelved before production.This episode was likely a "backdoor" pilot for a new series that shelved before production.
Sharon Thomas Cain
- Barbara
- (as Sharon Thomas)
Douglas Hume
- Doorman
- (as Doug Hume)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis episode was a back-door pilot for a spin-off series that was never picked up. They would try another back door pilot (The Killin' Cousin (1980)) in the last ever Barnaby Jones episode.
- GoofsThere are two problems with the ransom drop-off at the bridge. J.R. positions himself on the far side of the bridge in order to keep surveillance of the pick-up. When Stanley drives up to the bridge he throws the package out of the passenger side window where it lands in the bottom, with the bridge between the package and J.R.'s position. When the kidnapper drives up to retrieve the package, he goes past where the package was dropped off, goes under the bridge, and collects the package which is now suddenly on the wrong side of the bridge. (If Stanley had driven toward the bridge from the other direction this problem wouldn't have occurred.)
What's more, when the kidnapper gets the package, the camera's POV (which should be the same as J.R.'s) is now in a radically different position, as if he had moved from his original location. Then the camera shows J.R. still in the same place he had been from the beginning. It's hard to understand how this sequence got so messed up.
Featured review
An easy mystery to solve and a couple of uninteresting new heroes.
Apparently, "A Ransom in Diamonds" is a show that was intended as a platform for a spinoff series. This is exactly how "Barnaby Jones" began...as a spinoff from "Cannon". But unlike "Barnaby Jones", the spinoff series never materialized. I think this probably is for two reasons....the two leads in the proposed series weren't that interesting (at least as they were written) and the mystery didn't seem very mysterious and so I guessed the solution early in the show.
When the show begins, Mr. Christie (Dennis Patrick) has hired two incompetents (Felton Perry and Sam Weisman) to help him. It seems his wife was apparently kidnapped and he is using this private dick and his friend to handle the transfer of the diamonds Christie is using for the payoff. However, two scruffy looking guys rip off the loot on the way to the drop-off and now the kidnappers are demanding even more! Barnaby and Jedediah get involved when Christie's employer discovers that the diamonds used for the ransom belonged to the company...and Christie is in SERIOUS trouble.
As I watched the show, I found myself way ahead of the show in figuring out the crime. You wonder why they'd pick such a weak story in order to generate interest in a new series. It certainly hindered any chance at the spinoff. But what also hindered is that the 'heroes' seemed really dim and not particularly likeable....which is an even bigger problem. Overall a clear miss.
When the show begins, Mr. Christie (Dennis Patrick) has hired two incompetents (Felton Perry and Sam Weisman) to help him. It seems his wife was apparently kidnapped and he is using this private dick and his friend to handle the transfer of the diamonds Christie is using for the payoff. However, two scruffy looking guys rip off the loot on the way to the drop-off and now the kidnappers are demanding even more! Barnaby and Jedediah get involved when Christie's employer discovers that the diamonds used for the ransom belonged to the company...and Christie is in SERIOUS trouble.
As I watched the show, I found myself way ahead of the show in figuring out the crime. You wonder why they'd pick such a weak story in order to generate interest in a new series. It certainly hindered any chance at the spinoff. But what also hindered is that the 'heroes' seemed really dim and not particularly likeable....which is an even bigger problem. Overall a clear miss.
helpful•83
- planktonrules
- Aug 1, 2021
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