TACKLING THE SECOND AND FINAL SERIES OF THIS FINE ITV PROGRAMME.
S02E01 - THE MYSTERIOUS DEATH ON THE UNDERGROUND RAILWAY ★★★½
Our first detective of the second series is reporter Polly Burton from the works of the Baroness Orczy. An anonymous young woman is murdered on an underground railway. After extended efforts by the police to determine the identity of the woman, finally the victim's husband William Hazeldene and his sister Laura Stanley identify the corpse as that of his wife Beatrice. Polly Burton, with the persistance and enthusiasm of an adult Nancy Drew enlists the help of her policeman beau Frobisher to help her crack the case. They soon narrow it down to the prime suspect: Frank Errington. There is a ton of circumstantial evidence connecting Errington to the crime and he soon ends up on trial for the murder. But there's something that just doesn't add up.
Big-time favourite Judy Geeson (10 RILLINGTON PLACE, A CANDLE FOR THE DEVIL, FEAR IN THE NIGHT, DOOMWATCH, BERSERK and THE LORDS OF SALEM) is typically wonderful as reporter Polly Burton who brings much more to the character through her performance than is in the script. Polly, owing to the late Victorian/Edwardian time period of the story, is faced with plenty of male-chauvinist piggery and Geeson manages to portray subdued irritation combined with subtle determination to get to the bottom of things without resorting to firebrand pushiness or stereotypical weepiness. Polly Burton is her own woman despite the often slightly-dim male characters around her. Frobisher (portrayed by the late lamented Richard Beckinsale (PORRIDGE, RISING DAMP) plays his character of a naive tyro police officer who is also a little on the dull side; however, he is obviously smitten with Polly and willing to go along with whatever plan she cooks up. One watches the episode feeling that Frobisher needs to propose to Polly already! If there's one thing this rather straight-laced, plodding young man needs it's an example of superbly-confident and capable Polly Burton to follow.
William Hazeldene is played by Anthony Corlan who is better known as Anthony Higgins (VAMPIRE CIRCUS, one of a seemingly-endless number of "Pauls" in Hammer Horror with his turn in TASTE THE BLOOD OF DRACULA and as Gobler in RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK). Cyd Hayman (who we've seen previous in the first series of RIVALS) plays Hazeldene's sister wonderfully as usual. Supporting cast finds ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL's Christopher Timothy as well as Michael Sheard (ROGUE MALE -- what IS it with that movie??? Did they just take everyone who appeared in RIVALS and cast them?!?!? -- THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, Stephanie Beacham's SUPER BITCH as well as appearances in multiple DOCTOR WHO stories: THE ARK, THE INVISIBLE ENEMY, CASTROVALVA, REMEMBRANCE OF THE DALEKS and PYRAMIDS OF MARS) and Simon Lack (whose own DOCTOR WHO credentials are for THE ANDROIDS OF TARA). This is a terrific episode mostly carried by the great performances although the mystery at hand is quite good as well.
S02E02 - FIVE HUNDRED CARATS ★★★
Our detective here is Inspector Lipinski from the works of George Griffith. A diamond mine in Kimberley, South Africa has a diamond worth millions under lock and key with seemingly impenetrable security. So how is it that the heavily-guarded diamond has disappeared from its safe?!? Dogged Inspector Lipinski is determined to find out who stole it and how. Guarding the diamond was the responsibility of Philip Marsden and his underling Charles Lomas and Lipinksi soon makes Marsden his prime suspect. Class immediately comes into play as Marsden is a high-class gentleman and the inspector is viewed as a low-class yoik. This episode is strong enough but really not my cup of tea as it feels more like a western than a Victorian-era mystery. The cast is good, the pacing is good, the mystery of "how-dunit" is quite good as well; and there are in addition two killings so it's not just a stolen diamond caper. I should probably give it another half-star but I'm just an old curmudgeon who misses drawing rooms and London fog.
Inspector Lipinski is played with a dogged determination by Barry Keegan (Hitchcock's 1956 remake of THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH, PAYROLL, THE NAKED TRUTH, SATELLITE IN THE SKY and FOOTSTEPS IN THE FOG as well as a small role in GORGO). Security chief Mr. Arundel is played by veteran Patrick Barr (THE DAM BUSTERS, THE SATANIC RITES OF DRACULA, HOUSE OF WHIPCORD, and a DOCTOR WHO cred for THE MOONBASE). Marsden is portrayed by Martin Jarvis (TASTE THE BLOOD OF DRACULA and two DOCTOR WHO stories THE WEB PLANET and VENGEANCE ON VAROS). Unlucky Charlie Lomas is played by Richard Morant (THE COMPANY OF WOLVES). Probably my favourite role in the episode is widowed tavern-keeper Bridie Sullavan who finds both young Lomas and mature Marsden in love with her. Bridie is played marvelously by Aideen O'Kelly who sadly doesn't seem to have had much of a Cv.
S02E03 - CELL 13 ★★★½
This episode's detective is Professor Van Dusen from the works of Jacques Futrelle (who would sadly meet his death on the maiden voyage of the Titanic). The detective's friend Fielding says he has designed an escape-proof prison. Van Dusen bets Fielding that he can escape from the any prison cell in seven days by just thinking his way out. The bet is taken up and the governor of Grangemoor Prison agrees to incarcerate the Professor in cell 13 for one week under the watchful eye of his gorilla of a chief warder. Days go by and the Professor is still languishing in cell 13. Can he in fact escape?
This is the first of two appearances by Douglas Wilmer as Professor Van Dusen in RIVALS and the actor is a delight portraying the detective with a wicked twinkle in the eye. Douglas Wilmer, a former Sherlock Holmes (as are several other actors appearing in RIVALS) brings an enormous sense of fun to this episode where no actual crime is committed; the fun derives from him matching wits with the supremely-overconfident prison governor (Hammer Horror veteran Michael Gough) as well as his brutish warder played by Ray Smith (veteran of 14 episodes of PUBLIC EYE as Detective Inspector Percy Firbank, the CALLAN episode ACT OF KINDNESS, an episode of Brian Clemens' THRILLER series LOOK BACK IN HAPPINESS and the film . . . wait for it . . . . ROGUE MALE!). Van Dusen's friend Fielding is played by Donald Pickering (whose TV creds include OUT OF THE UNKNOWN, THE AVENGERS, LOVEJOY, THE PERSUADERS, SHERLOCK HOLMES AND DOCTOR WATSON as Dr. Watson, 2 episodes of YES, PRIME MINISTER as Sir Richard Wharton, 3 DOCTOR WHO creds in THE FACELESS ONES, THE KEYS OF MARINUS and TIME AND THE RANI plus film appearances in THE THIRTY-NINE STEPS and FAHRENHEIT 451). Of course, the major joy of this episode is the appearance of Nicholas Courtney (DOCTOR WHO's beloved Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart) as reporter Hutchinson Hatch! A very fun episode but I think I prefer the next Professor Van Dusen adventure better.
S02E04 - THE SECRET OF THE MAGNIFIQUE ★★★★
Our detective (sorta) here is J.T. Laxworthy from the works of E. Phillips Oppenheim. Laxworthy is another character in RIVALS that fits the gentleman rogue/Dorrington mold. The French warship Magnifique is in port in the South of France with a revolutionary new torpedo on board and Mr. Laxworthy sniffs an opportunity to make some big money. He enlists two convicts just released from jail: the upper-class Sydney Wing and the thuggish Anderson. Wing is to pose as a toff with Anderson as his valet. This is all Laxworthy tells them at first; he doles out information and instructions as he needs to and demands total obedience from the two ex-cons. Once in the South of France, Laxworthy instructs his two cats-paws in each step of his planned skullduggery so they all three might make a huge payday.
Bernard Hepton is suitably cool, calm and collected as the scheming Laxworthy who is always in control of every situation. Hepton was a superb actor who appeared in the classic GET CARTER, BARRY LYNDON, GANDHI, THE DISPUTATION, THE WOMAN IN BLACK as well as the monumental telly series I, CLAUDIUS and the classic TV folk horror classic ROBIN REDBREAST.
Sydney Wing is played by Christopher Neame (forever Johnny Alucard in DRACULA A.D. 1972) with Anderson played by Neil McCarthy ( WHERE EAGLES DARE, TIME BANDITS, THE MONSTER CLUB, ZULU, CLASH OF THE TITANS and veteran of telly shows DANGER MAN, PUBLIC EYE, THE EDGAR WALLACE MYSTERY THEATRE episode SOLO FOR SPARROW, DIXON OF DOCK GREEN, THE AVENGERS, CATWEAZLE, SYKES and 2 DOCTOR WHO creds in THE MIND OF EVIL and THE POWER OF KROLL). Also in the cast are Gary Watson (DOCTOR WHO: THE EVIL OF THE DALEKS, THE AVENGERS, PUBLIC EYE, CALLAN, Brian Clemens' THRILLER: ONCE THE KILLING STARTS and Nigel Kneale's BEASTS) and John Nettleton (A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS, AND SOON THE DARKNESS, JINNAH and DOCTOR WHO: GHOST LIGHT and many appearances as Sir Anthony Robinson on YES, MINISTER and YES, PRIME MINISTER). Bruce Boa, the Canadian actor who specialised in playing Americans on British TV is perhaps best remembered around here for futilely trying to order a Waldorf Salad from Basil Fawlty! I admit to being a sucker for the way the episode begins which, while now probably a cliche, still really works for me! The two convicts Wing and Anderson walk out of the prison on their separate releases to find a carriage awaiting to take them to the mysterious, unknown Mr. Laxworthy where they will receive room and board and an allowance to follow instructions. I just love that stuff!
S02E05 - THE ABSENT-MINDED COTERIE ★★★
The detective here is Eugine Valmont from the works of Robert Barr. Inspector Hale of Scotland Yard employs the help of French amateur detective Valmont to help corral a gang of counterfeiters. But does this case lead to something else entirely? A little on the lightweight side; probably because author Robert Barr started out writing gentle parodies/pastiches of Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories. However, while most of the episode/story is entertaining enough if rather uninspired, there is a terrific hook to the episode as well as about half of Barr's original Valmont stories apparently as the detective lost as many cases as he won! He wasn't infallible and in this episode, while he does correctly guess the "culprit", he still loses the case by a slip-up that's sort of the Victorian equivalent of failing to read the suspect their Miranda rights. A solid if unspectacular episode . . . but hey, there's lots of fog!
Charles Gray is, as always, wonderful as Valmont. Gray, known around here from many many many films and TV roles is perhaps best loved as the narrator from THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW and the demonic Mocata from THE DEVIL RIDES OUT. Barry Linehan (of the Lon Chaney Jr. spooker WITCHCRAFT) plays Inspector Hale and Suzanne Neve (Albert Finney's SCROOGE and BUNNY LAKE IS MISSING) appears as Miss Mackail.
S02E06 - THE SENSIBLE ACTION OF LIEUTENANT HOLST ★★★★
Our detective this time is the eponymous Lt. Holst from the works of Palle Rosenkrantz. Russian Countess Maria Wolkinski appears at the Copenhagen police station claiming her brother-in-law Dimitri is stalking her and trying to kill her after kidnapping her son. Lt. Holst is put in charge of the case of protecting the countess; he leaves her in the care of his wife Ulla while he tracks down Dimitri. The brother-in-law is a (presumably Bolshevist) revolutionary and explains to Holst that the Countess is in fact an agent in the employ of the Russian Romanov government who has sent many men with revolutionary sympathies to their deaths. Both the Countess and Dimitri seem believable but only one can be telling the truth. And Lt. Holst is caught in the middle.
This is a rip-snorter of an episode which has an entirely different feel and mood to all the other episodes in RIVALS as it is more gritty and factual-feeling than the sometimes fanciful, cozy mystery stories the era produced. We as viewers are as much in the dark as to who to trust as Lt. Holst and we feel his internal struggle to do the right thing. Towards the end of the episode, it really gets pretty dark and we're left with a punch to the stomach not found in any other episode in the series. John Thaw is wonderful as Holst with a nuanced, subtle performance which lets us feel what his character feels. Thaw is probably best known for his perennial role as INSPECTOR MORSE as well as his tour of duty on THE SWEENEY. Catherine Schell (probably still best known as the shape-changing Maya on SPACE:1999 as well as ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE, the CALLAN movie, THE BLACK WINDMILL, MOON ZERO TWO and the DOCTOR WHO classic CITY OF DEATH) is also superb as the Countess Maria. Speaking of DOCTOR WHO, Philp Madoc (veteran of 15 episodes of DOCTOR WHO) gives arguably the finest performance of the episode as Dimitri Wolkinski. Madoc appeared in the DOCTOR WHO stories THE KROTONS, THE WAR GAMES, THE BRAIN OF MORBIUS and THE POWER OF KROLL as well as the Peter Cushing DOCTOR WHO film DALEKS' INVASION EARTH 2150 A.D. besides appearing in the telly series THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO, THE AVENGERS, UFO, Z CARS, a celebrated appearance on DAD'S ARMY as a captured U-Boat Captain, PUBLIC EYE, THE GOODIES, SPACE: 1999 in the pilot episode "BREAKAWAY", PORRIDGE, GOOD NEIGHBOURS and the films THE QUILLER MEMORANDUM, DR. JEKYLL & SISTER HYDE, BERSERK! and JOURNEY TO THE FAR SIDE OF THE SUN). All three leads in fact give excellent, measured performances. Holst is pushed and pulled seemingly from all directions as his superiors in the police as well as higher up in the government want a quick and easy resolution whereas Maria and Dimitri are both equally convincing in their rightness. Hell, even Holst's wife Ulla takes a side and starts giving Holst flak! This is an absolutely top-notch episode
S02E07 - THE SUPERFLUOUS FINGER ★★★½
Here we have the second appearance of Professor Van Dusen as played by the delightful Douglas Wilmer and, I think, possibly the better of the two episodes. I don't know though . . . it's really close. This is also the one episode of RIVALS which I have the nagging feeling I saw back in the dim, dark days of my youth. I don't know the broadcast history of THE RIVALS OF SHERLOCK HOLMES in the U.S. but the plot of this episode seems very familiar to me as if I'd seen it once as a child or teenager. That plot being the appearance of a woman suddenly at a doctor's surgery requesting that he amputate one of her fingers. There is nothing wrong with the finger in question so the surgeon refuses; however, on the way out of the office the woman slams her finger in the door thus requiring it's immediate amputation. Puzzled, the doctor (Prescott) calls in his friend Prof. Van Dusen to solve the mystery.
Douglas Wilmer is once again fantastic as Professor Van Dusen and he could have easily spun this character off into it's own series (although that can be said for many of the detectives found in the RIVALS series). It's a shame that Nicholas Courtney doesn't return here as reporter Hutchinson Hatch as there is a reporter named Roderick Varley played by Mark Eden (CURSE OF THE CRIMSON CULT, DR. ZHIVAGO, HEAVENS ABOVE!, SEANCE ON A WET AFTERNOON and 2 DOCTOR WHO creds for the lost MARCO POLO as well as 2013's ADVENTURES IN TIME AND SPACE) who is quite important to the proceedings. Laurence Payne as Dr. Prescott appeared in VAMPIRE CIRCUS, THE CRAWLING EYE, Powell & Pressburger's ILL MET BY MOONLIGHT, THE TELL-TALE HEART, biblical epics BEN-HUR and BARABBAS as well as DOCTOR WHO creds for THE GUNFIGHTERS, THE LEISURE HIVE and THE TWO DOCTORS. Rounding out the cast are Charles Morgan (CASH ON DEMAND with Peter Cushing and 2 DOCTOR WHO creds for THE ABOMINABLE SNOWMEN and THE INVASION OF TIME) and William Mervyn (CARVE HER NAME WITH PRIDE, CIRCUS OF HORRORS, the Miss Marple romp MURDER AHOY!, BLOODSUCKERS with Peter Cushing and the DOCTOR WHO adventure THE WAR MACHINES).
S02E08 - THE ANONYMOUS LETTERS ★★★
The detective this time is Dagobert Trostler from the works of Balduin Groller. Countess Nadja has received a series of blackmail letters which reveal some pre-marriage peccadillo she is desperate to keep from her husband the Viennese Archduke Othmar. She comes to society detective Dagobert Trostler for help for herself and her best friend the Countess Tildi Leys who has also received letters from the same blackmailer. There is quite a bit of over-the-top to this episode in it's courtly settings amongst royalty where one's societal status seems a matter of life or death. However, given the episode's rather flighty mood, it's still an enjoyable time.
Ronald Lewis is here rather underwhelming but competent as Dagobert Trostler as he doesn't seem able to rise above the flowery script more than once or twice. Lewis was a reliable, if again unremarkable, actor who sadly took his own life at the age of 53; he appeared in BILLY BUDD, SCREAM OF FEAR, MR. SARDONICUS, STOP ME BEFORE I KILL! and THE PRISONER with Alec Guinness. Nicola Pagett probably gives the best performance here as the vulnerable Countess Nadja who conveys her sense of unworthiness to have married above her social class perfectly and you feel for her at times. Pagett appeared in the TV workhorse UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS as well as in FRANKENSTEIN: THE TRUE STORY and Hammer's THE VIKING QUEEN. The proud and pompous Archduke who still truly loves his wife is played by reliable Michael Aldridge (CHIMES AT MIDNIGHT, CLOCKWISE) and Carolyn Jones (no not THAT Carolyn Jones) as Countess Tildi has appeared in Z CARS, THE SWEENEY, CROSSROADS and EASTENDERS on telly as well as playing a nurse in Clive Barker's NIGHTBREED. An OK episode.
S02E09 - THE MOABITE CYPHER ★★★★
Our detective this time around is Dr. John Thorndyke from the works of R. Austen Freeman. Dr. Thorndyke and his friend Dr. Jervis are out and about when a man is suddenly kicked by a policeman's horse and quickly dies in an alley. He is carrying a package wrapped in paper and a message written in some sort of secret code. Is the parcel a bomb and was the man, who is possibly an anarchist, trying the assassinate the Austrian Archduke on a state visit?!? Soon after, Alfred Barton consults Thorndyke because his brother is being poisoned by someone unknown; he's brings a sample of food which contains a buttload of poison. As every moment counts because the brother is near death, Thorndyke and Jervis rush to the countryside on the last train out. Does all this somehow tie together?!?
Thorndyke is played by Barrie Ingham (DAY OF THE JACKAL, A CHALLENGE FOR ROBIN HOOD and 2 DOCTOR WHO creds for THE MYTH MAKERS and the Peter Cushing film DR. WHO AND THE DALEKS) appropriately prim and acidic while Dr. Jervis is marvelously played by Peter Sallis (LAST OF THE SUMMER WINE, TASTE THE BLOOD OF DRACULA, WALLACE & GROMIT). Barton is played by the equally wonderful Julian Glover (QUATERMASS AND THE PIT, THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE, the fantastic but impossible-to-find Granada TV film INVASION as Alexander Dubcek, and 2 DOCTOR WHO creds for THE CRUSADES and CITY OF DEATH) who is always fantastic. Derek Smith is back once again (after THE ASSYRIAN REJUVENATOR) this time as the wonderfully-named Prof. Poppelbaum and George Innes (THE ITALIAN JOB, SWEENEY 2, THE ODD JOB) appears as Adolph Schoenberg.
S02E10 - THE SECRET OF THE FOXHUNTER ★★★
This time the detective is William Drew from the works of William le Queux. There's a fox hunting do at an English country house and a couple spies from Russia and Germany are among the guests so William Drew comes along to find out what's what. Drew is aided by Miss Baines who is undercover working as a governess for the German spy Count Krempelstein. Also in attendance is Beatrice Graham, the lovely fiance of Drew's friend in the foreign service. But she's acting kinda twitchy. Can she and her far-away fiance be mixed up in foreign intrigue?
William Drew is played by the redoubtable Derek Jacobi who really needs no introduction; from I, CLAUDIUS and DOCTOR WHO to his many Shakespearean roles, Jacobi is a national treasure. Lisa Harrow apparently makes her TV debut here; she is probably best known for her eponymous role in TV's NANCY ASTOR as well as appearing in the film THE FINAL CONFLICT aka THE OMEN III. Denise Coffey steals the episode with her portrayal of the no-nonsense Miss Baines. On telly, she appeared in the proto-Python series DO NOT ADJUST YOUR SET as well as the film GEORGY GIRL.
S02E11 - THE LOOTING OF THE SPECIE ROOM ★★★
Our amateur detective this time is Mr. Horrocks from the works of C.J. Cutcliffe Hyne. The luxury liner RMS Oceanic is carrying a fortune in gold; it is also attempting to set a speed record crossing the Atlantic. Protecting the gold is the responsibility of Chief Purser Horrocks. When the ship docks in Liverpool, it's discovered the gold has been stolen. Ship-owner Lord Altington gives Horrocks until they dock in Southampton to recover the gold and find the thief or else!
Mr. Horrocks Pursor is wonderfully played by Ronald Fraser; he can be found in such films as THE WHISPERERS, SEBASTIAN, THE BED SITTING ROOM and ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS as well as telly appearances in DANGER MAN, THE AVENGERS, THE SWEENEY, LOVEJOY and a DOCTOR WHO cred for THE HAPPINESS PATROL. Also in the cast is the wonderful Jean Marsh known for her Emmy-winning role in UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS as well as such films as CLEOPATRA (1963), UNEARTHLY STRANGER, Hitchcock's FRENZY, DARK PLACES with Christopher Lee, THE EAGLE HAS LANDED, THE CHANGELING, RETURN TO OZ as well as her DOCTOR WHO creds for THE CRUSADE, THE DALEKS' MASTER PLAN and BATTLEGROUND as Morgaine Le Fey.
S02E12 - THE MYSTERY OF THE AMBER BEADS ★★★½
Our amateur detective this time around is Hagar from the works of Fergus Hume. Rich old Mrs. Arryford is strangled with her favourite string of amber beads. Said beads shortly show up in a pawnshop run by a Romany woman named Hagar; pawned by a woman who cannot speak and keeps to the shadows. Later, Inspector Grubber happens by on his tour of local pawnshops to see if the beads have turned up there. Hagar tells him they have and goes along to Mrs. Arryford's residence to see if she can identify the speechless woman who pawned them. Hagar can't -- but Mrs. Arryford did have a maid who was dumb and happened to be in the vicinity of Hagar's pawnshop on an "errand" at the time the beads were pawned. And Rose has now disappeared.
Hagar is wonderfully played by Sara Kestelman who appeared in the films LADY JANE and ZARDOZ as well as on telly in DIXON OF DOCK GREEN, THE NEW AVENGERS, INVASION: EARTH and narrated HINDENBURG DISASTER: PROBABLE CAUSE. Superb actor Joss Ackland as Grubber has a long and distinguished career in films such as GHOST SHIP (1952) with Hazel Court, Hammer's RASPUTIN: THE MAD MONK, THE HOUSE THAT DRIPPED BLOOD, THE BLACK WINDMILL, the John Cleese short THE STRANGE
CASE OF THE END OF CIVILIZATION AS WE KNOW IT, WATERSHIP DOWN, the bizarre Cannon Films musical THE APPLE, the superb original TV movie of SHADOWLANDS as C.S. Lewis, reunited with Sara Kestelman in LADY JANE, LETHAL WEAPON 2, THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER, CITIZEN X as well as TV appearances in MYSTERY AND IMAGINATION, THE AVENGERS, Z-CARS, THE PERSUADERS, THE PROTECTORS, THE SWEENEY, TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY, TALES OF THE UNEXPECTED, an episode of the Jeremy Brett ADVENTURES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES in "THE COPPER BEECHES", SHAKESPEARE: THE ANIMATED TALES, and TESTAMENT: THE BIBLE IN ANIMATION. Unbelievably also in the cast is Kathleen Byron: famous as the mad nun in BLACK NARCISSUS as well as A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH, THE SMALL BACK ROOM, NIGHT OF THE EAGLE aka BURN WITCH BURN, Hammer Horror TWINS OF EVIL, CRAZE with Jack Palance, THE ELEPHANT MAN and SAVING PRIVATE RYAN. Also in the cast are Stephen Chase (CRY OF THE BANSHEE with Vincent Price, Polanski's MACBETH, as well as episodes of UFO andTHE PROTECTORS) and the delightfully slimy Philip Locke (THUNDERBALL, the film version of PORRIDGE, OTHELLO [1995] starring Laurence Fishburne as well as telly appearances on THE AVENGERS, THE OMEGA FACTOR, THE BOX OF DELIGHTS and his DOCTOR WHO cred for "FOUR TO DOOMSDAY").
S02E13 - THE MISSING Q.C.'s ★★★
The detective for this final installment of the series is Charles Dallas from the works of John Oxenham. Junior barrister Charles Dallas is taking part in the murder trial of George Wilson when first the barrister for the prosecution disappears . . . and then the barrister for the defense disappears. At first it's thought the defendant causes the prosecutor to disappear; but why would he then cause his own defense barrister to disappear as well?!? After the first season Carnacki episode with Donald Pleasence, this is probably the episode of RIVALS with the most horror elements. While the first half of the episode plays like the majority of episodes in this series, the second half veers sharply off into horror territory with a spooky old lunatic asylum and mad experiments in brain transferal. This is a very fun episode and enjoyable but, loathe as I am to say it, gets rather silly in the second half. The sudden introduction of the horror element makes for quite an interesting turn of events but tend to come across (at least the way the actors play it and the director directs it) as rather ridiculous Saturday afternoon serial-like in tone. It's still a good episode but rather tongue-in-cheek.
Charles Dallas is quite nicely played by Robin Ellis who appeared on telly on ELISABETH R, CALLAN (in the final series storyline "The Richmond File"), the FAWLTY TOWERS episode "A TOUCH OF CLASS" and POLDARK. Dallas' boss barrister Sir Revel Revell is played by the wonderful John Barron; best known 'round these here parts as Reggie's boss C.J. in the classic Britcom THE FALL AND RISE OF REGINALD PERRIN as well as for appearances in OUT OF THE UNKNOWN, THE AVENGERS, THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES (!), ACE OF WANDS, THE PROTECTORS, WODEHOUSE PLAYHOUSE, TO THE MANOR BORN, YES MINISTER, TERRY AND JUNE, YES PRIME MINISTER, BRUSH STROKES and THE LEGACY OF REGINALD PERRIN reprising his role as C.J. Dotty old Professor Dyne is played by veteran character actor John Phillips who had a long career in films such as Olivier's RICHARD III, VILLAGE OF THE DAMNED, BECKET, Hammer Horror THE MUMMY'S SHROUD, Amicus' TORTURE GARDEN and many genre telly appearances in DANGER MAN, ONE STEP BEYOND, MYSTERY AND IMAGINATION, THE AVENGERS, DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE, THE PERSUADERS, WODEHOUSE PLAYHOUSE and the Michael Palin/Terry Jones series RIPPING YARNS.
And so THE RIVALS OF SHERLOCK HOLMES ended. It's rather unusual and surprising that none of the characters introduced in this series were spun-off into their own series; as quite of few of them would have made fine television programmes on their own. But here we have two immensely enjoyable series with even the "worst" of them being very worthwhile.
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