Classic Cannon, and thanks to writer Robert C. Dennis, the master behind Alfred Hitchcock's tv show. 10 Stars.
SO WHODUNIT? This starts like a MANNIX episode with the victim driving a classy Jaguar off a cliff. The old man who is killed here, definitely had frenemies and his heirs are all likely suspects. Enter Frank Cannon in one superior whodunit, and what a stellar cast. Another outstanding episode, everything clicks.
The man driving the car is Al Wyatt, Sr, famous Hollywood stuntman --who may have actually drove the car off the cliff! Wyatt appeared three times on the show, several times on BATMAN.
The season premier may have been the best of the entire series, HOWEVER this comes very close... The background music is fairly clever too, and with a harpsichord? Additionally, the dialogue is peppered with some smart one liners. Cannon's interaction with guest star Martin Sheen is fun.
It was about this time in Sheen's career he starred in BADLANDS, a film that brought him tremendous recognition.
Sheila Larkin (who was appearing on MEDICAL CENTER at the time) has a very good role here, playing the victim's distraught daughter. Another four star player is big and tall Robert Webber (as Barney, the victim's brother), an uncle with a drinking problem. I agree with the last reviewer, there are inferences of a gay relationship in the family, which truly was a rarity in 70s tv. Again, thanks to Robert C. Dennis. BARNABY JONES regular John Carter (Detective Biddle) plays a cop.
Cannon's fee' $25,000 dollars or close to 200,000 dollars today.
The opening scene with Cannon getting out of the elevator had to be a gag; watch it as it goes by fast. Long time Hollywood DJ and announcer Regis Cordic plays McPherson, who also popped up as a bad guy on Mannix. He replaced Bob Crane on KNX Radio when he got the job on HOGANS HEROES.
The ending with Sheila Larkin is poignant and not to be missed. Excellent on location shooting, and a winner by director Richard Donner. He did his job. Note: sometimes this is listed as EPISODE 3, although technically it is the SECOND episode of SEASON 3, because the premier episode was two hours in length.
CBS remastered dvd box set, released 2012. 6 dvd set in all. Some of the back cover pictures are from this episode.