User Reviews

The second chapter of "Landmark" continues with Inspector Luger breaking down and proposing marriage to his mail order sweetheart Perlita Avilar (Carina Afable, second of three), who confesses to Barney that she knows he was the one who wrote her that nice love letter (both appear in the concluding chapter as well). Al Ruscio (last of five) returns as Jack Norrell, who purchases the 12th Precinct building, thoughtfully allowing the squad room detectives 30 days to vacate the premises, his architect (James Murtaugh, last of three) not too thrilled with the building's rundown nature. Wilma Kestner (Florence Halop, last of six) and Estelle Bobus (Helen Verbit, last of three) are a pair of novice criminals who tried to use a stolen credit card at a drugstore (Wilma: "they wouldn't take a bad check!"). They confess that they graduated from the 'Connell Institute of Mercantile Management,' a thievery class run in the back of a bar by Professor Vincent Thorndyke (Robert Costanzo, last of three). Barney reads off some of the courses: "False IDs-Theory and Application," "Robert Vesco-Man or Myth," "Check Kiting-Does It Work?" He fails to recognize his two recent graduates ("who are these broads?"), until he recalls that their tuition check bounced! (Wilma: "we thought you'd be pleased!"). Dietrich refers to the two as 'Lucy and Ethel,' and after Estelle praises him as being "very considerate and attractive," he stuns her by offering to have dinner some night!

"They're good, I swear!" Dietrich reports the ladies said this when arrested with fake checks, etc gotten from Thorndyke's Crime School.

Actress Florence Halop with her raspy voice was a favorite of mine appearing numerous times throughout the Barney Miller series, providing the some of the best laughs with each guest spot. She later went on to become a series regular on the original Night Court comedy.

By the way, under the Quotes Section for this episode, Dietrich is misquoted when he answered the phone. What he actually said is, "Katherine ain't here," referring to Arthur Murray's wife and partner in business and dancing, Katherine Murray. Arthur Murray's Dance Studio was vastly popular and well-known for teaching people various ballroom style dances.