I gave it a 7.5 out of 10

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.

"Ellery Queen Mysteries" was a Detective television series that had a genuine sense of mystery about it, as the identity of the murderer wasn't revealed until the end. This worked to the shows favour. Wisely, the setting was that of the 1940s as that was when the Ellery Queen character first surfaced. Jim Hutton as the title character and his father played by David Wayne, would investigate various crimes of homicide. A group of suspects and red herrings would be assembled by the end of the episode, so that Queen could give his deliberations. The series only lasted one season which I think is a bit of a shame. There were 22 episodes altogether and whilst they are very good, I feel that more could have been made. Once again, "Universal" was the studio behind this show.

Why this show only lasted for 23 episodes is far beyond me. This was a very well done show. The acting was excellent, the casting was spot on. Jim Hutton as Ellery Queen plays a very absent minded mystery writer/detective who manages to over come this to actually solve cases, David Wayne (a very good character actor) plays the father who is also a police department inspector, and Tom Reese as the sergeant are a rare case of great casting. The plots are intriguing and well written. The guest stars are generally excellent and do a very good job in their roles. This series not only had the mysteries that come with this kind of a show but also had its moments of good humor.

I first watched this series after graduating from college. It was agonizing when Ellery turned and said "do you know who did it?" I'd scream NO! and quickly tear through my notes during the commercials to try to figure it out before the show returned. I recently bought the series on DVD and now, 35 years I am trying again to match wits with a little more success. This is the forerunner to Monk which repeated the concept of showing you all the clues and making you THINK instead of feeding you the answer. This is one of the most mind exercising series that has ever graced the tube. Too bad there were not dozens of episodes more than th one season. It was a jewel in what has been called a vast wasteland.

One of the great casting feats of series television, ranking with the original "Star Trek" crew, the Carol Burnett sidekick stable and the "Bonanza" Cartwrights. It's a shame there were so few episodes made; this is a prime candidate for reissue in whatever form. High quality mystery writing, and with a little more action than say, Miss Marple.