KING OF DIAMONDS "Commando Tactics" 1961
KING OF DIAMONDS was a one season private detective/crime drama with Broderick Crawford as a rough and tumble hard case. Crawford is also the head of security for a large diamond company. He goes anywhere in the world to combat jewel thieves and smugglers. He works with Ray Hamilton who does most of the leg work. The series ran for 38 episodes during 1961-62. This was Crawford's first big gig after his 1955-59 run on HIGHWAY PATROL.
In this episode, the second of series, we have Crawford and Hamilton getting mixed up with a war time buddy of Crawford. The man, Gerald Mohr, was a Commando during the war and specialized in safe breaking. He now uses these skills to do jewel robberies.
Mohr is so good at his job, that the authorities and security men like Crawford are not sure if he is in the game or not. This time Mohr has hit a safe in London for a million in stones. To Crawford, it looks just like the jobs Mohr was doing as a Commando.
Mohr, this time slips up and after selling the stones to a mob connected bunch, steals the same gems back. He offers them to Crawford for half a million. The mob boys are not amused and are quickly on his trail with several gun toting types.
Mohr asks Crawford for some help and Crawford agrees, if Mohr will return the stones. Mohr agrees to the deal but the mob strikes first. Mohr is fatally wounded but returns the gems before expiring.
After the real barn burner of a first episode, this one stumbles with a less than solid story and somewhat slipshod direction. Oscar nominated writer Steve Fisher must have had a few too many martinis while doing this screenplay. His big screen work includes the film noir, DEAD RECKONING, I WAKE UP SCREAMING, I WOULDN'T BE IN YOUR SHOES, JOHNNY ANGEL, THE HUNTED, THE CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS, HELL'S HALF ACRE, and ROADBLOCK.
Not a complete waste of time by any means, but I was expecting more.
KING OF DIAMONDS was a one season private detective/crime drama with Broderick Crawford as a rough and tumble hard case. Crawford is also the head of security for a large diamond company. He goes anywhere in the world to combat jewel thieves and smugglers. He works with Ray Hamilton who does most of the leg work. The series ran for 38 episodes during 1961-62. This was Crawford's first big gig after his 1955-59 run on HIGHWAY PATROL.
In this episode, the second of series, we have Crawford and Hamilton getting mixed up with a war time buddy of Crawford. The man, Gerald Mohr, was a Commando during the war and specialized in safe breaking. He now uses these skills to do jewel robberies.
Mohr is so good at his job, that the authorities and security men like Crawford are not sure if he is in the game or not. This time Mohr has hit a safe in London for a million in stones. To Crawford, it looks just like the jobs Mohr was doing as a Commando.
Mohr, this time slips up and after selling the stones to a mob connected bunch, steals the same gems back. He offers them to Crawford for half a million. The mob boys are not amused and are quickly on his trail with several gun toting types.
Mohr asks Crawford for some help and Crawford agrees, if Mohr will return the stones. Mohr agrees to the deal but the mob strikes first. Mohr is fatally wounded but returns the gems before expiring.
After the real barn burner of a first episode, this one stumbles with a less than solid story and somewhat slipshod direction. Oscar nominated writer Steve Fisher must have had a few too many martinis while doing this screenplay. His big screen work includes the film noir, DEAD RECKONING, I WAKE UP SCREAMING, I WOULDN'T BE IN YOUR SHOES, JOHNNY ANGEL, THE HUNTED, THE CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS, HELL'S HALF ACRE, and ROADBLOCK.
Not a complete waste of time by any means, but I was expecting more.
