YouTube Theatre: Ellery Queen: Don't Look Behind You (1971)

 Ellery Queen returned to television after nearly 2 decades away in 1971's "Don't Look Behind You". Peter Lawford (ex-The Thin Man) was not a fit as Queen, especially considering this film is set in more contemporary times.

Legendary writer-producers Richard Levinson & William Link, under the collaborative pseudonym Ted Leighton, wrote the script, and opted to use the Leighton handle after a producer had caused some issues. Harry Morgan, a year removed from Dragnet, is Inspector Richard Queen, but in this story, the elder Queen is Ellery's uncle instead of his father, due to a narrow age gap between Lawford & Morgan. E. G. Marshall (The Bold Ones) and Stefanie Powers are among the guests.

Producer Edward Montagne, Jr. brought in McHale's Navy vets Billy Sands and Bob Hastings in small roles. Hastings plays a TV news anchor.

Levinson & Link, as we know, would give Queen another try four years later, with Jim Hutton & David Wayne in a period piece that lasted one season.

No rating. Just a public service.