Some nice twists in this super story written by Robert W. Lenski, who was very much in demand on tv at the time. He wrote 16 episodes for BARNABY JONES, also many episodes for CANNON and MANNIX. To his credit, he wrote one of the best tv movies of all time, WHO IS THE BLACK DAHLIA (1975), which may have actually shed some new light on Hollywood's strangest murder case.
Tall, dark and menacing Carl Betz is perfect playing Marshall Briggs, who confronts a man he is certain is having an affair with his lovely, young wife, best played by Lynda Day George. The man denies everything, which only infuriates Briggs so he kills him. Done deal, and nobody is any the wiser, right?
But what happens if the victim was innocent, and there is yet another guy hanging around his wife?
Don't you love this stuff, and Lenski spins a really neat yarn here that will keep your attention.
Barnaby also makes use of his trusty laboratory once again. The whole idea may have been inspired by forensics used on HAWAII FIVE O, lead by Steve McGarrett, although Buddy Ebsen said in interviews there was an element and charm of CHARLIE CHAN at work here.
Only one debit. When Barnaby enters the house with the victim locked in the garage, Marshall clearly shoots at him and should have got Barnaby in the back. It is that CLOSE. What a lucky break!
Well worth staying up late for, especially for Carl Betz's over the top performance. SEASON 2 EPISODE 9 remastered CBS dvd box set.