Richard Diamond,
Private Eye (Passport)
Picture: C
Sound: C Extras: C Episodes: C+
Richard Diamond, Private Detective ran for
four seasons from 1957 to 1960. The 77
half hours served as the first of many hit TV series and project for the late
David Janssen. It is also known as the
show where an unknown Mary Tyler Moore was the secretary who only showed her
legs and was fired after asking for a raise.
Richard Diamond, Private Eye is a new DVD from Passport that
offers two solid first season episodes (sponsored by Maxwell House coffee with
the ads in tact) and the two episodes featured here hold up well.
Picture Of Fear was directed by Oscar Rudolph
and written by David T. Chantler. Producer
Mark Sandrich, Jr. directed The Chess Player (9/19/57, written by
Philip MacDonald) and both shows were shot by cinematographer Guy Roe, A.S.C.,
who did several Film Noirs before going to TV.
The Four Star Productions Company was behind this hit and would soon have
another with Honey West, which is inexplicably not out on DVD. At least these shows are and maybe we’’ see
the rest of this solid show soon.
The age of the prints used are old, with the 1.33 X 1
black and white image a bit tattered and Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono showing its
age. Otherwise, they are watchable,
though restored episodes need to be prepared for the inevitable digital High
Definition versions. The only extra is
a decent Hollywood Remembers segment on Janssen that makes this a
nice single DVD release.
- Nicholas Sheffo
