Private inquiry agent Jeff Randall (Mike Pratt) is hired by a ghost hunter called James McAllister (Freddie Jones) to help him solve the mystery behind a ghost that is supposedly haunting Crake Castle, the home of the heiress and seven times married Kim Wentworth (Lois Maxwell). The ghost has been terrifying her and McAllister has seen it for himself; but he is not convinced that it is genuine. McAllister offers Jeff £750.00 (half his fee) for his help, and since his detective agency isn't exactly overwhelmed with work, he readily accepts the job. At Crake Castle, Jeff and his ghostly partner, Marty Hopkirk (Kenneth Cope), discover that Kim's husband Larry Wentworth (Michael Coles) goes alone to his studio every night. But, they learn that he isn't painting but having an affair with a glamorous blonde called Laura Slade (Carol Cleveland). Naturally, Larry is the chief suspect for presumably impersonating a ghost in a plot to drive his wife insane leaving him free to marry Laura and get control of her millions. However, this theory is shot down in flames when McAllister is murdered whilst he was at the studio and Jeff and Marty were following him. On conducting a search of the castle, they discover a secret panel in a bookcase where a more earthly killer could have hidden. Meanwhile, Marty discovers that the local cafe owner, Mrs Pleasance (Marjorie Rhodes), is psychic and can see and hear him. She proves vital in helping him and Jeff solve the case later on. That night Kim is attacked by the ghost and, in panic, shoots it and the body turns out to be that of her husband Larry. It seems that the police are satisfied that Larry was responsible for the hauntings and it seems very likely that the Coroner will return a verdict of accidental death. Jeff, however, is unhappy because it does not explain how McAllister came to be murdered. He soon learns that Kim and her French housekeeper, Jean Claude (Paul Bertoya), are lovers and invented the ghost as part of a plot to kill her husband. But, they overpower Jeff and lock him in the secret panel behind the bookcase. Can Marty find a way to release Jeff so he can present his evidence to the Coroner's Court or will they get away with it and flee abroad?
All in all, For The Girl Who Has Everything is a strong entry in the deeply-felt Randall and Hopkirk Deceased series. The 2000 remake appears to have been long forgotten and rightly so. It boasts good performances all round with Lois Maxwell, appearing here in between her best known and regular role as Moneypenny in the James Bond series, standout as Kim Wentworth. She convincingly portrays the spoilt heiress whom has undoubtedly been used to getting her own way all of her life and twisting everybody around her little finger. Her scenes in the Coroner's Court are particularly noteworthy in which she plays the part of the supposedly grieving widow to perfection (crocodile tears et all) and her bid to manipulate the Coroner into believing her story looks as though it might work but... Interestingly, in this episode, it is usually Jeff who is easily lead by people and the ghostly Marty almost invariably is the one who digs him out of a hole. But, on this occasion, it is Jeff who sees through the manipulative Kim whereas everybody else does not. Even Marty, although he doesn't fall for her, does not see any way in which his partner could make a murder charge stick against her. The on screen chemistry between Mike Pratt and Kenneth Cope is still there, although Annette Andre's Jeannie, Marty's widow, has very little to do in this one. Freddie Jones is very good as the eccentric ghost hunter and Marjorie Rhodes is good value as the psychic owner of the old fashioned village cafe who proves vital in saving Jeff's life and bringing Kim and Jean Claude to book. Her scenes with the sceptical vicar who does not believe in ghosts are amusing to watch. "You don't believe in all this nonsense, do you?", he asks. "No, because if there really was a ghost up at the castle I'd have felt the vibrations long before now". The look on his face is priceless since he cannot believe that a rational human being would say anything like that. Cyril Frankel directs with his usual competent professionalism and the episode has a genuinely creepy atmosphere through a combination of Edwin Astley and Albert Elms' mood music, Albert Elms' colour camerawork and the attractive settings; including the gothic Hilfield Castle in Patchetts Green near Borehamwood and the attractive village of Denham that gives the proceedings a nice oldie-worldie spooky feel. In addition, the scenes in which Jeff finds himself locked in the secret panel and Marty's efforts to free him provide both laughs and suspense.
All in all, For The Girl Who Has Everything is a strong entry in the deeply-felt Randall and Hopkirk Deceased series. The 2000 remake appears to have been long forgotten and rightly so. It boasts good performances all round with Lois Maxwell, appearing here in between her best known and regular role as Moneypenny in the James Bond series, standout as Kim Wentworth. She convincingly portrays the spoilt heiress whom has undoubtedly been used to getting her own way all of her life and twisting everybody around her little finger. Her scenes in the Coroner's Court are particularly noteworthy in which she plays the part of the supposedly grieving widow to perfection (crocodile tears et all) and her bid to manipulate the Coroner into believing her story looks as though it might work but... Interestingly, in this episode, it is usually Jeff who is easily lead by people and the ghostly Marty almost invariably is the one who digs him out of a hole. But, on this occasion, it is Jeff who sees through the manipulative Kim whereas everybody else does not. Even Marty, although he doesn't fall for her, does not see any way in which his partner could make a murder charge stick against her. The on screen chemistry between Mike Pratt and Kenneth Cope is still there, although Annette Andre's Jeannie, Marty's widow, has very little to do in this one. Freddie Jones is very good as the eccentric ghost hunter and Marjorie Rhodes is good value as the psychic owner of the old fashioned village cafe who proves vital in saving Jeff's life and bringing Kim and Jean Claude to book. Her scenes with the sceptical vicar who does not believe in ghosts are amusing to watch. "You don't believe in all this nonsense, do you?", he asks. "No, because if there really was a ghost up at the castle I'd have felt the vibrations long before now". The look on his face is priceless since he cannot believe that a rational human being would say anything like that. Cyril Frankel directs with his usual competent professionalism and the episode has a genuinely creepy atmosphere through a combination of Edwin Astley and Albert Elms' mood music, Albert Elms' colour camerawork and the attractive settings; including the gothic Hilfield Castle in Patchetts Green near Borehamwood and the attractive village of Denham that gives the proceedings a nice oldie-worldie spooky feel. In addition, the scenes in which Jeff finds himself locked in the secret panel and Marty's efforts to free him provide both laughs and suspense.
