KING OF DIAMONDS "Backlash" 1962
KING OF DIAMONDS was a one season private detective/crime drama with Broderick Crawford as a rough and tumble hard case. Crawford is also the head of security for a large diamond company. He goes anywhere in the world to combat jewel thieves and smugglers. He works with Ray Hamilton who does most of the leg work. The series ran for 38 episodes during 1961-62. This was Crawford's first big gig after his 1955-59 run on HIGHWAY PATROL.
In this episode, the 22nd of series, we have Crawford and Hamilton relaxing over drinks when they get a call. Someone has info on part of the missing German crown jewels. The collection had disappeared at the end of WW2 and is worth quite a large amount of long green. Crawford agrees to meet the person the next day.
The viewer now gets to see what caused the phone call. Two men, Philip Terry and James Coburn are having a chat. It seems the two had been in the same Army unit in WW2. The two men had "liberated" the German crown jewels. Terry had kept them hidden in a bank safety deposit box since 1945. Coburn figures they have waited long enough for the trail to cool. He wants the jewels sold so he can have a nice cut of the cash. Terry does not want anything to do with the jewels or cash. He has become a well thought of businessman who is about to run for office.
The two men have a "falling out" over the jewels and Terry calls Crawford and offers to turn them over. Off course by the time Crawford shows up the next day, Terry is no longer with the living. Coburn had helped Terry take a long fall down a flight of cement stairs.
Crawford and his helper, Hamilton, are soon hard at work digging up army records and interviewing various jewel fences. Mister Coburn is soon at the top of the suspect list. Using a female jewel fence, Lilyan Chauvin as bait, Crawford and company soon flush out Coburn. Coburn of course refuses to come quietly and pulls a gun. Heavy metal is exchanged and Coburn quickly has his access to oxygen removed.
This is a decent episode that moves along at a good clip. Of note here is the episode director, Skip Homeier. As an actor, Homeier made a career out of playing various thugs, killers and deranged types. This is one of only 3 directing assignments he did.
Also in the mix is Nancy Kulp as an Army file clerk. Kulp would become famous for her role of Jane Hathaway in the long running, 1962-1971 comedy, THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES. Philip Terry was the third husband of big time star, Joan Crawford.
KING OF DIAMONDS was a one season private detective/crime drama with Broderick Crawford as a rough and tumble hard case. Crawford is also the head of security for a large diamond company. He goes anywhere in the world to combat jewel thieves and smugglers. He works with Ray Hamilton who does most of the leg work. The series ran for 38 episodes during 1961-62. This was Crawford's first big gig after his 1955-59 run on HIGHWAY PATROL.
In this episode, the 22nd of series, we have Crawford and Hamilton relaxing over drinks when they get a call. Someone has info on part of the missing German crown jewels. The collection had disappeared at the end of WW2 and is worth quite a large amount of long green. Crawford agrees to meet the person the next day.
The viewer now gets to see what caused the phone call. Two men, Philip Terry and James Coburn are having a chat. It seems the two had been in the same Army unit in WW2. The two men had "liberated" the German crown jewels. Terry had kept them hidden in a bank safety deposit box since 1945. Coburn figures they have waited long enough for the trail to cool. He wants the jewels sold so he can have a nice cut of the cash. Terry does not want anything to do with the jewels or cash. He has become a well thought of businessman who is about to run for office.
The two men have a "falling out" over the jewels and Terry calls Crawford and offers to turn them over. Off course by the time Crawford shows up the next day, Terry is no longer with the living. Coburn had helped Terry take a long fall down a flight of cement stairs.
Crawford and his helper, Hamilton, are soon hard at work digging up army records and interviewing various jewel fences. Mister Coburn is soon at the top of the suspect list. Using a female jewel fence, Lilyan Chauvin as bait, Crawford and company soon flush out Coburn. Coburn of course refuses to come quietly and pulls a gun. Heavy metal is exchanged and Coburn quickly has his access to oxygen removed.
This is a decent episode that moves along at a good clip. Of note here is the episode director, Skip Homeier. As an actor, Homeier made a career out of playing various thugs, killers and deranged types. This is one of only 3 directing assignments he did.
Also in the mix is Nancy Kulp as an Army file clerk. Kulp would become famous for her role of Jane Hathaway in the long running, 1962-1971 comedy, THE BEVERLY HILLBILLIES. Philip Terry was the third husband of big time star, Joan Crawford.