"Richard Diamond, Private Detective" (1957) TV series 1957-1960

Director:

Hollingsworth Morse

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Release Date:

1 July 1957 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama

Plot:

Richard Diamond is a suave private eye who, at first, walks the mean streets of New York, then later packs up and moves to Los Angeles...

Plot Keywords:

Private Detective | Detective | Based On Radio Series | Character Name In Title

Cast

David Janssen

...

Richard Diamond (77 episodes, 1957-1960)

Series Directed by
Thomas Carr		(8 episodes, 1957-1960)
Don McDougall		(5 episodes, 1957-1959)
Tom Gries		(4 episodes, 1957-1958)
Mark Sandrich Jr.		(3 episodes, 1957-1959)
Roy Del Ruth		(3 episodes, 1957-1958)
Oscar Rudolph		(3 episodes, 1957)
Leigh Jason		(3 episodes, 1958)
Alvin Ganzer		(2 episodes, 1959)
Hollingsworth Morse		(unknown episodes)

Series Writing credits
Blake Edwards		(77 episodes, 1957-1960)
John Robinson		(7 episodes, 1957-1959)
Ed Adamson		(6 episodes, 1957-1959)
Ellis Kadison		(6 episodes, 1957-1958)
David T. Chantler		(5 episodes, 1957-1958)
Donn Mullally		(5 episodes, 1958-1959)
Richard Carr		(4 episodes, 1957-1959)
Ellis Marcus		(2 episodes, 1957-1958)
Edmund Morris		(2 episodes, 1957-1958)

Series Produced by
Mark Sandrich Jr.	....	producer / associate producer (14 episodes, 1957-1958)
David Heilweil	....	producer (6 episodes, 1957-1959)
Vincent M. Fennelly	....	producer (3 episodes, 1959)
Walter Blake	....	associate producer (2 episodes, 1957)
Richard Carr	....	producer (2 episodes, 1957)

Series Original Music by
Richard Shores		(3 episodes, 1959)

Series Cinematography by
George E. Diskant		(5 episodes, 1957-1959)
Carl E. Guthrie		(3 episodes, 1959)
Charles Burke		(2 episodes, 1957)
Guy Roe		(2 episodes, 1957)
Joseph F. Biroc		(2 episodes, 1958-1959)
Russell Harlan		(2 episodes, 1958)
William V. Skall		(2 episodes, 1958)

Series Film Editing by
Arthur Hilton		(5 episodes, 1957-1959)
Chandler House		(4 episodes, 1957-1958)
Desmond Marquette		(2 episodes, 1958-1959)
Lester Orlebeck		(2 episodes, 1958-1959)

Series Casting by
Marjory McKay		(37 episodes, 1958-1960)
Walter Whaley		(2 episodes, 1958)

Series Art Direction by
Bill Ross		(72 episodes, 1957-1960)
Frank T. Smith		(6 episodes, 1958)
Louis Siegel		(2 episodes, 1959)
Jan Van Tamelen		(2 episodes, 1959)

Series Set Decoration by
Budd Friend		(12 episodes, 1957-1959)
Armor E. Goetten		(2 episodes, 1957)
Chester L. Bayhi		(2 episodes, 1959)
Robert C. Bradfield		(2 episodes, 1959)
Mowbray Berkeley		(unknown episodes)

Series Makeup Department
Karl Herlinger	....	makeup artist (8 episodes, 1957-1959)
Carlie Taylor	....	makeup artist (3 episodes, 1959)
Al Bonner	....	makeup artist (2 episodes, 1958)
Harry King	....	makeup supervisor (2 episodes, 1958)
Stanley Smith	....	makeup artist (2 episodes, 1958)

Series Production Management
Jack Sonntag	....	production supervisor / production manager / ... (7 episodes, 1957-1959)
Frank Baur	....	production executive (3 episodes, 1957-1958)
Norman S. Powell	....	production manager (3 episodes, 1959)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jack Sonntag	....	assistant director (6 episodes, 1957-1958)
William D. Faralla	....	assistant director (3 episodes, 1957-1959)
Barry Crane	....	assistant director (2 episodes, 1957)
Grayson Rogers	....	assistant director (2 episodes, 1958)

Series Sound Department
Stephen Bass	....	sound (3 episodes, 1959)
Virgil Smith	....	sound (2 episodes, 1958)
Earl Cooper	....	sound effects editor (2 episodes, 1959)

Series Stunts
Sol Gorss	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Charles Horvath	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Carey Loftin	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Troy Melton	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Gil Perkins	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
George Robotham	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Ronnie Rondell Jr.	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Dale Van Sickel	....	stunts (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Marjory McKay	....	casting (1 episode, 1958)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Robert B. Harris	....	wardrobe (6 episodes, 1958-1959)

Series Editorial Department
Bernard W. Burton	....	editorial supervisor (18 episodes, 1957-1959)

Series Music Department
Pete Rugolo	....	composer: theme music / conductor (65 episodes, 1958-1960)
Frank De Vol	....	composer: theme music / music supervisor (12 episodes, 1957)
Harry King	....	music supervisor (6 episodes, 1957-1958)
Herschel Burke Gilbert	....	music supervisor (3 episodes, 1959)
Aubrey C. Lind	....	music editor (3 episodes, 1959)

Series Other crew
Coles Trapnell	....	story editor (11 episodes, 1957-1958)
Frank Baur	....	production executive (10 episodes, 1957-1959)
Albert G. Ruben	....	assistant to producer (2 episodes, 1959)
Blake Edwards	....	character (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Four Star Productions

Distributors

• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1957-1959) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1959-1960) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Koch Vision (????) (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

"Call Mr. 'D'" - USA (syndication title)

Runtime:

USA:30 min (77 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Company:

Four Star Productions

Trivia:

Sam (Mary Tyler Moore) the switchboard operator's legs and hands were all that were ever seen of her on-camera during this series. Moore's voice was heard on the soundtrack but her face was never revealed

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Jeopardy!: Episode #1.1" (1984)

Dick Powell Hands Over To David Janssen

Richard Diamond premiered on radio in 1949 and ran for three seasons in that medium. The part of the hardboiled detective was a natural for Dick Powell who had made over his apple-cheeked crooner image from the Thirties to one of film-land's premier tough guys. On the radio show Powell was a former NYPD detective who also served in the OSS in World War II. He who essayed the part of Philip Marlowe so well in Murder My Sweet had no trouble in making Richard Diamond a hit on radio when that venue was losing audiences and sponsors to television.

In 1957 he was offered the part to do again on television. But Powell who was a practical businessman as well as talented actor felt at this point the role demanded a younger man. Like John Wayne who recommended James Arness for Gunsmoke, another radio series transitioning to television, Powell hired David Janssen, a young contract player with Universal for Diamond. I did say 'hire' because it was Powell's Four Star Production Company that produced the show for television.

Janssen was also an inspired choice. I don't recall if the OSS part of his background was kept for television as it was a younger Diamond Powell wanted, but what was added was the legs and hands of Mary Tyler Moore as Sam the message center operator. We never saw her face, we were saved that for The Dick Van Dyke Show, but her legs were a thing of beauty indeed. And that sultry voice, YOIKES.

Moore was the only other real regular on the series, Janssen played a lone hand. Richard Diamond was a throwback to the Raymond Chandler/ Dashiell Hammett school of fiction detectives. He was a tough guy with a biting wit and his adventures were accompanied by a nice Man With A Golden Arm type jazz score.

Richard Diamond ran for three seasons and Janssen went on to his biggest success in The Fugitive. Still there are some who consider Diamond his best television work and I'd love for TV Land channel to dig up those episodes so a new generation can find out.