DOWN THESE MEAN STREETS: Accounts of alternate crime, mystery & thriller adaptations.🕵️‍♂️

[WhovianHolmesianChap]

Nero Wolfe (2007-08)
A Fox series
(1 season, 22 episodes)
Based on characters created by Rex Stout

CAST:

• Nero Wolfe (David Ogden Stiers)
• Archie Goodwin (Chris O'Donnell)
• Inspector Cramer (CCH Pounder)
• Lt. Purley Stebbins (Joe Pantoliano)
• Lily Rowan (Lana Parilla)
• Fritz Brenner (Saul Rubinek)

A modernised adaptation of the classic Rex Stout stories, courtesy of Fox. The contemporary setting and sub-par plots received criticism, but praise was given to the biting dialogue and strong central performances (specifically Stiers and Pounder).

 

[Driftless]

Nero Wolfe (2007-08)
A Fox series
(1 season, 22 episodes)
Based on characters created by Rex Stout

CAST:

• Nero Wolfe (David Ogden Stiers)
• Archie Goodwin (Chris O'Donnell)
• Inspector Cramer (CCH Pounder)
• Lt. Purley Stebbins (Joe Pantoliano)
• Lily Rowan (Lana Parilla)
• Fritz Brenner (Saul Rubinek)

A modernised adaptation of the classic Rex Stout stories, courtesy of Fox. The contemporary setting and sub-par plots received criticism, but praise was given to the biting dialogue and strong central performances (specifically Stiers and Pounder).

Love the casting! Stiers would have made a fine Wolfe, and Pounder could have gone verbal toe-to-toe with him. Cigar chewing/mashing as well? The shift of Rubinek to playing Fritz is a nice touch too.

 

[Driftless]

I haven't a firm idea of how flesh out this notion, but Oliver Platt might work as a Wolfe portrayer. No thoughts yet on the other regulars or time frame and format. Maybe a PBS type limited run series?

 

[WhovianHolmesianChap]

Ooooo

 

[Driftless]

2006-2007 Nero Wolfe

PBS short run series - 12 episodes over three seasons. (Using the British produced Poirot/Marple hour long episodes as the model)

These episodes were fairly faithful takes on Rex Stout's works, mostly condensed to fit an hour long time slot. The idea was to have some "home grown" mystery content in addition to the high quality British imports of Agatha Christie tales. These tales were representative of Stout's 1930s-prewar 1940s works. The snappy dialog between Wolfe, Goodwin, Inspector Cramer, and even Fritz was a popular highlight of the series.

Regular Cast:

• Nero Wolfe - Alfred Molina (Molina can play astute and blustering with ease - feed him a few extra cheeseburgers and some padding to flesh him out)
• Archie Goodwin - Chris Pine (during his "salad days" as an actor)
• Inspector Cramer - Dan Ackroyd
• Sgt Purley Stebbins - Art LaFleur
• Fritz Brenner - Joel Gray ( A bit of a personality twist from the books. Gray would apply some subtle and passive-aggressive sarcasm to his interplay with the other characters)
• Saul Panzer - Steven Root
• Lily Rowan - Amy Smart

 

[WhovianHolmesianChap]

Some wonderful casting choices there.

 

[The Banker]

What if these were the endings for certain popular American crime and social thrillers? (See my signature for source of image)

 

[WhovianHolmesianChap]

What if these were the endings for certain popular American crime and social thrillers? (See my signature for source of image)

Could you repost the image? It's not coming through.

 

[The Banker]

Could you repost the image? It's not coming through.

 

[WhovianHolmesianChap]

Still no luck, sorry.

 

[WhovianHolmesianChap]

The Dr. Thorndyke Mysteries (1978-1979)
A BBC series
(2 series, 16 episodes)
Based on characters created by R. Austin Freeman

MAIN CAST:

• Dr. John Evelyn Thorndyke (Paul Eddington)
• Dr. Christopher Jervis (George Sewell)
• Nathaniel Polton (Michael Sheard)
• Superintendent Miller (Joss Ackland)

A well received BBC series starring Paul Eddington as the affable forensic detective.

 

[unclepatrick]

The Peter Fischer shows
Peter Fischer was a writer and producer who worked on shows like Colombo . Ellery Queen , Eddie Capra Mysteries , Blacke Magic and Murder she wrote .

Senator Banner ; NBC 1986 20 episodes
Starting John Houseman as US Senator Brook U Banner , a US Senator , amateur magician and investigator of impossible murders in the 1950,s
Based on the stories of writer Joseph Comming .
The show feature adaptions of the short story’s as well as some original stories .
Short Stories writer Edward Hoch , wrote two stories for the show .
He became friends with Peter Fischer and would go on to allow two tv shows based on his shorts stories published in Ellery Queen Magazine .

The Sam Hawthorne mysteries CBS 1987
Based on the stories of Edward Hoch , set in 1920 New England .
Dr Sam Hawthorne played by Hal Holbrook investigated impossible mysteries .
Ran for three season for 70 episode .
Hoch wrote original stories 2 or three time each season

did a cross over story with Murder she wrote with Jessica Fletcher finding one of Hawthorne old diaries detailing a investigation and realizing the murder she was investigating was done in the same way.
The show flashed back and forth became the 20s and modern day .
It end with Jessica visiting Hawthorne Grave

The thefts of Nick Velvet. Starting Dirk Benedict . NBC 1988 .
A theft for hire , only steal worthless Items for 25000 a piece .
The show focused on two issues , How Nick does the Robbery and why some one would pay 25000 for something that worthless?
Based on the Character created by Edward Hoch , it also started Heidi Bohay as Nick girlfriend Gloria , David Ogden Steirs as Police Captain Jules Leopold and guest staring Gate McFadden as the red Queen A thief that competed with Nick in 8 episodes .
Ran for 42 episodes over two seasons , shoot in LA but placed in New York City , set in modern day .
Steirs was a semi regular in season one and a regular in season two .

Originally mean as a back door plot for a Captain Leopold series that never happen, the police captain was the nemesis of Nick .
In a second season episode , Leopold was Velvet employer hiring him to steal an object .
Hoch wrote an episode where Valvet was hired to steal Leopold police badge in season one where the two characters first meet .

In 1989 , David Ogden Steirs appeared as Leopold on an episode set in New York City for Murder she wrote Written by Hoch .
He would return the next season in an episode by Peter Fischer featuring Leopold
in one episode of the Thefts of Nick Velvet, the object that was stolen was a Brook Banner for Senate pin

 

[WhovianHolmesianChap]

The Saint (2022-present)
A BBC Radio 4 series
Dramatised from the books by Leslie Charteris

CAST:

• Simon Templar (Steve Toussaint)
• Patricia Holm (Michelle Ryan)
• Inspector Claud Eustace Teal (Toby Longworth)
• Inspector John Henry Fernack (Stuart Milligan)
• Hoppy Uniatz (Kerry Shale)

 

[Driftless]

I nominated this Thread in the Turtledoves - Pop Culture. A second is needed.

 

[Driftless]

1951 - Hec Ramsey - RKO

A bit of an oddity - a western whodunnit set in the early 1900's. The central character is a semi-retired Deputy US Marshall Hec Ramsey, who relies on science and deductive reasoning to solve a case of stolen bank cash, bonds, and property deeds. He is aided/hindered by his nominal superior the full US Marshall for the area, who's more interested in advancing his political career than justice. Ramsey IS aided by some of the locals, including a young small town sheriff. Notable for casting Victor McLaglen in a leading role, later in his career. There are also some comic relief moments at points, particularly the interaction between McLaglen and Natwick (later repeated in 1952s "The Quiet Man")

The movie proved popular, and spawned two sequels

Cast:

Deputy US Marshall (semi-retired) Hec Ramsey - Victor McLaglen
US Marshall Oliver Stamp - Ronald Reagan
Doc Amos Coogan - Ward Bond
Miss Penelope Leeds - Mildred Natwick
Sheriff Dick Boone - Harry Morgan
Sgt Juan Mendoza - Pedro Armendariz
Constable Arne Tornquist - John Qualen
Constable Davey "Corncob" Watson - Hank Worden

 

[unclepatrick]

1951 - Hec Ramsey - RKO

A bit of an oddity - a western whodunnit set in the early 1900's. The central character is a semi-retired Deputy US Marshall Hec Ramsey, who relies on science and deductive reasoning to solve a case of stolen bank cash, bonds, and property deeds. He is aided/hindered by his nominal superior the full US Marshall for the area, who's more interested in advancing his political career than justice. Ramsey IS aided by some of the locals, including a young small town sheriff. Notable for casting Victor McGlaglen in a leading role, later in his career. There are also some comic relief moments at points, particularly the interaction between McGlaglen and Natwick (later repeated in 1952s "The Quiet Man")

The movie proved popular, and spawned two sequels

Cast:

Deputy US Marshall (semi-retired) Hec Ramsey - Victor McGlaglen
US Marshall Oliver Stamp - Ronald Reagan
Doc Amos Coogan - Ward Bond
Miss Penelope Leeds - Mildred Natwick
Sheriff Dick Boone - Harry Morgan
Sgt Juan Mendoza - Pedro Armendariz
Constable Arne Tornquist - John Qualen
Constable Davey "Corncob" Watson - Hank Worden

Do you mean Victor McLaglen ?

 

[Driftless]

Do you mean Victor McLaglen ?

Doh..... Correcting.

Thanks for the catch!

Earlier this evening, I'd seen a still photo from "The Quiet Man" of John Wayne and Victor McLaglen.... and that put the notion in my head. The TV version with the great Richard Boone as Ramsey was a pretty good, if short lived series. McLaglen was a versatile actor.

 

[WhovianHolmesianChap]

Murder in Mesopotamia (2024)
A BBC series
(3 episodes)
Adapted from the novel by Agatha Christie

CAST:

• Nurse Amy Leatheran (Charlotte Ritchie)
• Hercule Poirot (Lucian Msamati)
• Louise Leidner (Claire Skinner)
• Dr. Eric Leidner (Owen Teale)
• Richard Carey (Patrick Kennedy)
• Anne Johnson (Caroline Catz)
• Sheila Reilly (Anjli Mohindra)
• David Emmott (Nathan Stewart-Jarrett)
• Carl Reiter (Matthew Beard)
• Bill Coleman (Colin Ryan)
• Joseph Mercado (John Heffernan)
• Marie Mercado (Jessica Raine)
• Dr. Giles Reilly (Ramon Tikaram)
• Father Lavigny (Tim McMullan)
• Captain Maitland (Phil Davis)

 

[Driftless]

Innovative casting! I have to admit to not knowing most of the actors, which doesn't mean much of anything anymore. I had to google several for reference. The only one I recognized is Caroline Catz.

I also have to admit that its hard for me to picture any other actors for Poirot than David Suchet or Peter Ustinov. I never really warmed up to Albert Finney or Kenneth Brannagh as Poirot, though a great many people admire their interpretations. Lucian Msamati certainly has the CV for the part.

 

[Driftless]

Greenfield - 1980 CBS

Eddie Greenfield - Michael Keaton
Capt Wade Devereaux - Gerald McRaney

A critically well recieved spy/mystery/suspense - 1 hr drama mystery/suspense that ran 13 episodes. Just couldn't get enough viewer traction to gain a second season. Keaton and McRaney were mostly second tier supporting actors at that point in their careers, but the series provided useful exposure for both and boosted their careers.

The plots were (very) loosely based on the reported pre-war US Intelligence activities of actor Eddie Albert, but juiced up to add danger, sex, and suspense. (Albert was reportedly recruited by US Army Intelligence when Albert was working for a travelling circus in Mexico. His role was to photograph German U-Boats in Mexican harbors). Keaton had the Albert role and McRaney as his handler.