Episode 7, "The Adventure of Colonel Nivin's Memoirs," is one of the few entries to feature a love interest for Ellery (Jim Hutton), in the form of Jenny O'Brien (Gretchen Corbett), an attractive publicist whose most recent client, Colonel Alec Nivin (Lloyd Bochner), has just finished an autobiography that exposes recent war crimes (the series is set in 1947). Attending a book-signing in New York City, the Colonel is delighted to see all 2000 copies sell out in just 2 hours (due mostly to Jenny's expertise), and coaxes her into joining him for a celebration at his private club. Unfortunately, the girl discovers Nivin stabbed to death and herself a prime suspect caught by the doorman (Pernell Roberts). Ellery finds evidence that the wife of a Soviet diplomat (Robert Loggia) was another visitor in the Colonel's room, while other suspects include two men whose wartime activities were exposed in unsavory fashion in Nivin's book: British counter-spy Colin Esterbrook (Peter Bromilow), and French photographer Marcel Fourchet (Rene Auberjonois), who was forced to reveal the names of his fellow freedom fighters after 3 days enduring Nazi tortures. Auberjonois stands out with a believable, sympathetic performance, and it's a shame that Gretchen Corbett never returned as Jenny (nor did any other actress who supplied a love interest), as she is pretty and sexy, her determination helping Ellery find the one vital clue that shatters the killer's alibi. For the record, there were only 3 other females that were involved with Ellery, Karen Machon as Kitty McBride in episode 1, "The Adventure of Auld Lang Syne," Nancy Belle Fuller as Margie Coopersmith in episode 10, "The Adventure of the Pharaoh's Curse," and Ann Reinking as Lorelei Farnsworth in episode 14, "The Adventure of the Eccentric Engineer," none of whom were as endearing or well-written as Jenny O'Brien. Of course, Gretchen Corbett was concurrently appearing in another NBC series, THE ROCKFORD FILES, for which she seems to be best remembered (33 episodes).
Ellery Queen (TV Series)
The Adventure of Colonel Nivin's Memoirs (1975)
User Reviews
Review this title6 Reviews
A Clever Mystery
Gislef7 November 2021
Warning: Spoilers
The murder and solving is kinda clever. I'm not sure what the nylons had to do with Ellery solving the mystery, but the clue was laid out in advance for the viewers to see. If nothing else, the murderer was kinda dumb leaving it out instead of destroying it immediately. Not to mention wasn't Jenny at the bookstore the entire day? Wouldn't she have seen the murderer and be able to place him there, or at least see him come in and talk to Nivin?
I could have also lived without Pernell Roberts jumping from the Rosh Kalle to Barney Groves to Major Pearson identities. He's not at all convincing in dark-skin makeup and a bad accent as Kalle. They kinda explain in the story why he's wearing a disguise, but... why didn't the OSS just send in an agent who looked the part? Rather than rely on an American in a bad disguise? It also doesn't say much for Ellery that he doesn't see through "Kalle"'s disguise right away.
So the fake aliases (Esterbrook says his name is 'Smithers' at one point) is a bit distracting. And the blatant nature of the clue being left out for Ellery to see. Hint to future killers: don't put out a book about your victim. I don't care when you bought it, it's a bad idea in general.
The rest of the episode is okay. Ellery's absent-mindedness is annoying but at least it's an established character trait. Richard is still irascible, so actor David Wayne is playing to his strengths. I wouldn't have minded Gretchen Corbett's Jenny O'Brien returning as Ellery's gal pal and romantic interest. But not is such to be. Even though she's a long-time sufferer, tolerating Ellery never showing up for their first dinner date. She also serves a role that Simon Brimmer was already serving: a bright person who goes after the wrong suspect. Corbett is easier on the eyes than John Hillerman, but it's a thankless role and I could see why Corbett didn't come back.
The guest cast is okay. Bochner is suitably lecherous in his brief bit as the victim-of-the-week, even though the writer didn't have him yell anything about a cookbook. :) Rene Auberjonois comes across as sympathetic, so I'm not sure his Marcel is quite the killer-type that writer Robert E. Swanson wants us to think. Being tortured into giving up one's comrades, and doing the dirty to the man who threatened to reveal his dark secret, seems like the kind of thing a jury would find him innocent of.
Robert Loggia does... Robert Loggia. Like I said, Pernell Roberts isn't convincing except as the rather bland Pearson at the end. The rest of the cast is okay. Overall, 'Memoirs' is a decent episode. It dives deeply into the post-World War II era with its focus on exposing the dark secrets of people who were secret Nazi collaborators. It's got a decent "you viewers at home" mystery-solving bit, although it could have done without the first clue about the ship, and focusing on the significance of the second clue.
But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong. What do you think?
I could have also lived without Pernell Roberts jumping from the Rosh Kalle to Barney Groves to Major Pearson identities. He's not at all convincing in dark-skin makeup and a bad accent as Kalle. They kinda explain in the story why he's wearing a disguise, but... why didn't the OSS just send in an agent who looked the part? Rather than rely on an American in a bad disguise? It also doesn't say much for Ellery that he doesn't see through "Kalle"'s disguise right away.
So the fake aliases (Esterbrook says his name is 'Smithers' at one point) is a bit distracting. And the blatant nature of the clue being left out for Ellery to see. Hint to future killers: don't put out a book about your victim. I don't care when you bought it, it's a bad idea in general.
The rest of the episode is okay. Ellery's absent-mindedness is annoying but at least it's an established character trait. Richard is still irascible, so actor David Wayne is playing to his strengths. I wouldn't have minded Gretchen Corbett's Jenny O'Brien returning as Ellery's gal pal and romantic interest. But not is such to be. Even though she's a long-time sufferer, tolerating Ellery never showing up for their first dinner date. She also serves a role that Simon Brimmer was already serving: a bright person who goes after the wrong suspect. Corbett is easier on the eyes than John Hillerman, but it's a thankless role and I could see why Corbett didn't come back.
The guest cast is okay. Bochner is suitably lecherous in his brief bit as the victim-of-the-week, even though the writer didn't have him yell anything about a cookbook. :) Rene Auberjonois comes across as sympathetic, so I'm not sure his Marcel is quite the killer-type that writer Robert E. Swanson wants us to think. Being tortured into giving up one's comrades, and doing the dirty to the man who threatened to reveal his dark secret, seems like the kind of thing a jury would find him innocent of.
Robert Loggia does... Robert Loggia. Like I said, Pernell Roberts isn't convincing except as the rather bland Pearson at the end. The rest of the cast is okay. Overall, 'Memoirs' is a decent episode. It dives deeply into the post-World War II era with its focus on exposing the dark secrets of people who were secret Nazi collaborators. It's got a decent "you viewers at home" mystery-solving bit, although it could have done without the first clue about the ship, and focusing on the significance of the second clue.
But that's just my opinion, I could be wrong. What do you think?
Oh, How Our Memory Can Fool us
KinoLiebe14 January 2011
Oh dear. I loved "Ellery Queen" and Jim Hutton when I was a teen-ager. But now I'm re-watching them 35 years later on the new DVD set. And boy some of these shows are just plain awful.
I cannot disagree more with the single review for this episode. It's beyond me how anyone can find this one good. This has to be the absolute worst episode in the "Ellery Queen" series starring Jim Hutton. The story is a boring cliché repeatedly overused in 1970s TV crime shows (the tell all book written by a nasty blackmailing author who ends up murdered). In this case it's the secret of ex-Nazis or Nazi sympathizers who end up in the book. The script is dreadful. Those Nancy Drew-like shenanigans from Jenny and Ellery! Ugh. Gretchen Corbett turns in a performance that reminded me of a high school drama student so terribly wanting to impress and utterly failing. I was embarrassed for Robert Loggia and his phony Russian accent. Bookmarks left behind marking the pages naming the victim's of the author's smears. Please! And the solution hinges on a brief line of dialog that was delivered by a minor character. Bad!
Sadly, this episode -- truly the worst of the 23 episodes -- is exemplary of the rest of the series. Less than half of these are well written, engaging, and well acted episodes. Most are just messes with stupid plots, lots of tired antiquated gag comedy, and strident acting.
The more I watch these episodes on DVD the more I notice how bored David Wayne was with his thankless role as Inspector Queen; how mediocre of an actor Jim Hutton was (although he was damn good looking at the time); and overall how much of the writing was just horrid. The only episodes worth watching are those written by Peter S. Fischer. And why oh why weren't more of the real Ellery Queen stories adapted for TV? There was only one legitimate Queen story out of 23. Not surprisingly it was written by Fischer ("The Adventure of the Mad Tea Party").
One of the few things worth watching for, however, amid most of these train wrecks are nicely done period homages from talented actors who are trying to duplicate the style and feel of the 1940s. Some of the best performances are Ross Martin with his arch manner of speaking and that crazy Van Dyke beard in "...The Pharaoh's Curse;" Geraldine Brooks with her mastery of rapid fire line delivery, odd physicality and colorful characterization in "...The Chinese Dog;" and Betty White as a bitchy P.R. Agent who seems to be channeling Rosalind Russell in "...Miss Aggie's Farewell Performance." The majority of the actors haven't a clue about style or atmosphere or anything. They're just parading around in period costumes (sometimes period, but often these so-called 40s clothes are actually garish 70 clothes!), slouching 1970s style, and slurring their pedestrian dialog like they were on any old sit-com of the time.
Pay close attention and watch how the real pros outshine the nobodies in these shows. How much better this show could have been had the directors really tried to capture the acting style of the late 1940s and demanded 100% commitment from everyone. Instead of serving up what could have been a delicious chocolate mousse we get bland Jell-O.
The series gets a 7. This episode gets a 1.
I cannot disagree more with the single review for this episode. It's beyond me how anyone can find this one good. This has to be the absolute worst episode in the "Ellery Queen" series starring Jim Hutton. The story is a boring cliché repeatedly overused in 1970s TV crime shows (the tell all book written by a nasty blackmailing author who ends up murdered). In this case it's the secret of ex-Nazis or Nazi sympathizers who end up in the book. The script is dreadful. Those Nancy Drew-like shenanigans from Jenny and Ellery! Ugh. Gretchen Corbett turns in a performance that reminded me of a high school drama student so terribly wanting to impress and utterly failing. I was embarrassed for Robert Loggia and his phony Russian accent. Bookmarks left behind marking the pages naming the victim's of the author's smears. Please! And the solution hinges on a brief line of dialog that was delivered by a minor character. Bad!
Sadly, this episode -- truly the worst of the 23 episodes -- is exemplary of the rest of the series. Less than half of these are well written, engaging, and well acted episodes. Most are just messes with stupid plots, lots of tired antiquated gag comedy, and strident acting.
The more I watch these episodes on DVD the more I notice how bored David Wayne was with his thankless role as Inspector Queen; how mediocre of an actor Jim Hutton was (although he was damn good looking at the time); and overall how much of the writing was just horrid. The only episodes worth watching are those written by Peter S. Fischer. And why oh why weren't more of the real Ellery Queen stories adapted for TV? There was only one legitimate Queen story out of 23. Not surprisingly it was written by Fischer ("The Adventure of the Mad Tea Party").
One of the few things worth watching for, however, amid most of these train wrecks are nicely done period homages from talented actors who are trying to duplicate the style and feel of the 1940s. Some of the best performances are Ross Martin with his arch manner of speaking and that crazy Van Dyke beard in "...The Pharaoh's Curse;" Geraldine Brooks with her mastery of rapid fire line delivery, odd physicality and colorful characterization in "...The Chinese Dog;" and Betty White as a bitchy P.R. Agent who seems to be channeling Rosalind Russell in "...Miss Aggie's Farewell Performance." The majority of the actors haven't a clue about style or atmosphere or anything. They're just parading around in period costumes (sometimes period, but often these so-called 40s clothes are actually garish 70 clothes!), slouching 1970s style, and slurring their pedestrian dialog like they were on any old sit-com of the time.
Pay close attention and watch how the real pros outshine the nobodies in these shows. How much better this show could have been had the directors really tried to capture the acting style of the late 1940s and demanded 100% commitment from everyone. Instead of serving up what could have been a delicious chocolate mousse we get bland Jell-O.
The series gets a 7. This episode gets a 1.
Gretchen Corbett To The Rescue
chashans15 March 2023
Warning: Spoilers
I would have rated this episode of Ellery Queen lower than 6 had it not been for the appearance of actress Gretchen Corbett as the lead's latest love interest. She's also Ellery's latest partner in the art of sleuthing. These two characters are terrific together, sharing a chemistry that immediately exudes a sizzling attraction which most certainly would entice viewers to tune in to all future episodes. She's never seen again.
The episode suffers a number of various problems. While the series delights in inviting the viewer to solve each week's mystery right alongside Ellery, "Colonel Nivin's Memoirs" keeps it's "Ultimate Clue" hidden in small print. Then there's Ellery's moment of inspiration somehow triggered by signage on a storefront. The link between that signage and the reveal of the big clue, remains itself a mystery to the viewing audience.
Another of the various problems with the episode is mention in the concluding reveal of the killer having been in a certain location within certain timing. However, others who had been established as having been at that location and in that timing, surely should have seen and recognized the soon-to-be killer.
Then there's the character portrayed by actor Pernell Roberts. There are major problems going on here in both the role's characterization as well as how the production chose to present the part to the viewing audience. The actor certainly does the best he can with the part. Although this review is written with nearly 50 years hindsight, there probably should have been a decision made even in 1975 to reconsider the choices being made in the creation and realization of this character.
There are some interesting moments though. Ellery and his Inspector Father's home being ransacked is a bit of a shock. Both German and Russian intrigue is added to the mix. There's even a French artist who gets a moment to not hide his contempt for the "obviously beneath him" Ellery.
Yes, there are a few positives to be found here. However, shoddy plotting, out of place characters and a very weak "reveal" leave this as one of the lesser episodes of Ellery Queen.
The episode suffers a number of various problems. While the series delights in inviting the viewer to solve each week's mystery right alongside Ellery, "Colonel Nivin's Memoirs" keeps it's "Ultimate Clue" hidden in small print. Then there's Ellery's moment of inspiration somehow triggered by signage on a storefront. The link between that signage and the reveal of the big clue, remains itself a mystery to the viewing audience.
Another of the various problems with the episode is mention in the concluding reveal of the killer having been in a certain location within certain timing. However, others who had been established as having been at that location and in that timing, surely should have seen and recognized the soon-to-be killer.
Then there's the character portrayed by actor Pernell Roberts. There are major problems going on here in both the role's characterization as well as how the production chose to present the part to the viewing audience. The actor certainly does the best he can with the part. Although this review is written with nearly 50 years hindsight, there probably should have been a decision made even in 1975 to reconsider the choices being made in the creation and realization of this character.
There are some interesting moments though. Ellery and his Inspector Father's home being ransacked is a bit of a shock. Both German and Russian intrigue is added to the mix. There's even a French artist who gets a moment to not hide his contempt for the "obviously beneath him" Ellery.
Yes, there are a few positives to be found here. However, shoddy plotting, out of place characters and a very weak "reveal" leave this as one of the lesser episodes of Ellery Queen.
Second worst episode.
wkozak22110 November 2018
Warning: Spoilers
This is my revised review. The only thing I liked was Gretchen Corbett. Very funny and attractive. The cast is fairly well rounded. The story is ok. However, my biggest gripe? Pernell Roberts. Never liked him. So, why was he given 3 roles to play? Should have picked another actor.
Good cast, good mystery, good episode
aramis-112-80488017 April 2024
In the immediate post-war period an undercover operative writes a book of memoirs. He also uses his secret files to blackmail people. When he's murdered, Ellery Queen (Jim Hutton) has an international list of suspects to choose from, including a Soviet Diplomat, an English antiques dealer, a French photographer and an Indian club steward.
As usual, the chemistry and by-play between Ellery and his father (David Wayne) is lovely. It's usually the best part of the show. Another useful additive is Gretchen Corbett ("The Rockford Files") as Ellery's latest girl friend who is gung-ho to find the murderer . . . Since she, too, is a suspect and needs to clear herself. She's a ball of fire.
I know they like to keep providing Ellery a new love interest each week (he's so absent-minded they probably get fed up with him!) but Corbett's so good and plays so well with Hutton and Wayne they should've made her a regular.
This episode has a star-studded cast and a good mystery. In a voice contrary to so many reviewers, this is one of my favorite episodes, and Corbett is one of the reasons.
As usual, the chemistry and by-play between Ellery and his father (David Wayne) is lovely. It's usually the best part of the show. Another useful additive is Gretchen Corbett ("The Rockford Files") as Ellery's latest girl friend who is gung-ho to find the murderer . . . Since she, too, is a suspect and needs to clear herself. She's a ball of fire.
I know they like to keep providing Ellery a new love interest each week (he's so absent-minded they probably get fed up with him!) but Corbett's so good and plays so well with Hutton and Wayne they should've made her a regular.
This episode has a star-studded cast and a good mystery. In a voice contrary to so many reviewers, this is one of my favorite episodes, and Corbett is one of the reasons.
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