The Mind of Mr. J.G. Reeder (1969–1971) User Reviews

The Color is there- but only in 2!!

[zebulonguy · 8/10 · 16 December 2009]

The Mind of Mr.J.G.Reeder was a unique British series. Based on the Edgar Wallace novels it features Hugh Burden as the mild, meek and seemingly bumbling investigator. Of course in reality he is highly efficient, he always gets his man! Burden is quite brilliant and the series has an evocative atmosphere that lingers in the mind. Willoughby Goddard is also superb as his arrogant, doubting boss, he is quite happy to take the credit for Reeder's successfully solved cases. One of the running gags is that there is a different secretary in every episode. Presumably the boss is too much for them. There were only 16 episodes, two are in colour. At the time colour TV was in it's infancy on British TV. We can assume that either only 2 episodes were filmed in colour or that the colour prints for the rest of the series no longer exist and only survive in black and white. However we are presented with a thoroughly enjoyable series that really does capture the flavour of Wallace's books. Reeder investigates all aspects of crime ranging from murder, through blackmail to burglary.Sit back, relax and enjoy.

It's a great series. The criminal mind of Reeder.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 9/10 · 20 February 2020]

Mr JG Reeder is not your average crime fighter, he's not a Policeman, nor a Private Detective, he's a Civil Servant, more accurately and employee of The Department of Public Prosecutions.

Hugh Burden is wonderful in the role, Reeder is unassuming, mild mannered, and quite literally The Perfect English Gentleman, but underneath his politeness he's brave, with a razor sharp mind and an unshakable desire for justice.

Others have commented on their disappointment that only two episodes were made in colour, I would personally say I favour the black and white episodes, the tone somehow works a little better, I also feel that colour exposes a few of the sets as being very obviously sets, the black and white filming masks such issues.

The acting is generally very good, Burden is wonderful, Willoughby Goddard is just wonderful as his overbearing boss, Sir Jason Toovey, a performance and charisma larger than his frame, his facial expressions are a joy, very funny.

The episodes are generally of a very high standard, though my personal favourite is The Green Mamba, it's excellent. I cannot comment on the accuracy of the stories as I haven't read the books, I should.

Well worth your time. 9/10

Reason for only 2 colour episodes

[trevorhorn · 8/10 · 14 September 2021]

Series one of this programme was made before July 1969 and as ITV (in this case Thames Television) and BBC1 only transmitted in black and white it was produced in monochrome.

Series 2 was made in 1971. At this time ITV had a technician strike regarding working the new colour cameras. As such many programmes were recorded in Black and White until the dispute was resolved. Upstairs Downstairs was similarly affected. (London Weekend Television).

An unusual sleuth

[vaughan-birbeck · 14 July 2004]

Mr JG Reeder is the diametric opposite of Sam Spade, Philip Marlow and Mike Hammer. He is a shabbily dressed, diffident civil servant who prefers a cup of tea and a slice of seed cake to a shot of something stronger.

Despite his outward appearance - of course - Reeder is a master detective with a razor sharp brain. In fact his mind gives him great cause for sorrow. He has, he claims, a criminal mind which allows him insight into motive and method denied to other men.

These stories were well-presented (sadly in black and white) and Hugh Burden had the part of a life-time as Reeder, well supported by Willoughby Goddard as his expansive (in more ways than one) chief, Jason Toovey.

Worth a video release for nostalgia buffs.

Superb series!

[Lucy-Lastic · 10/10 · 18 June 2011]

Just finished watching the entire series (one each Saturday night), and it was absolutely superb!! Excellent video quality, although only two episodes were in colour owing to the ITV strike. Hugh Burden perfect in the part and Willoughby Goddard was brilliant - very funny.

Can't think of anything else to say about this really. (10 lines of text is the rule!?!) Go out and buy it!!

So, I'll just copy and paste........

Just finished watching the entire series (one each Saturday night), and it was absolutely superb!! Excellent video quality, although only two episodes were in colour owing to the ITV strike. Hugh Burden perfect in the part and Willoughby Goddard was brilliant - very funny.

A Historical Work

[roysyboy · 10/10 · 17 December 2020]

I think this late 1960s series captures the feeling of the 1920s depicted. Of course, it may misreprent history, but it creates a convincing account that is great entertainment.

Feared by Criminals, Laughed at by Police and Respected by his Peers: London's Most Unlikely Lawman.

[hammondjh-00479 · 10/10 · 11 April 2021]

Edgar Wallace never fails to absorb me into his crime stories, but The Mind of J G Reeder is the ultimate crime mystery detective. To those who don't know him, he looks like he's yet to really step into the 1920's (the era in which the stories are set), is henpecked by his overbearing housekeeper, Mrs Houchin (played with Celtic gusto by Mona Bruce) and arrogant boss, Sir Jason Toovey (played to a tee by the inimitable Willoughby Goddard) and lives only for his work, with the occasional break for tea, gardening and theatre. Yet this humble man strikes fear into every London criminal be they Dockland thug or Aristocratic Conman, because Reeder has a criminal mind and thus sees evil in everything. It's this trait which gets him his quarry each time. Although Hugh Burden as the titular character is superb, the acting by many of the supporting cast is amateurish to say the least. Aside from this, the series represents quality absorbing entertainment from an era long since dead. If you love crime murder mystery at its finest, go out, buy the set, and be thrilled.

Rather insipid and lacking imagination.

[alexanderdavies-99382 · 5/10 · 31 January 2019]

I find most episodes to be dull, slow-moving and with hardly a spark of imagination or intrigue. It is little wonder to me that the programme is barely remembered in today's world. In all, I tolerated 2 episodes but none of the others. A series that's based upon Edgar Wallace stories, could have been better made than this one. The only reason I remotely remember this production, is Hugh Burden. He is a great casting choice and fits into the leading role effectively. He plays J.G Reeder with the right balance of insight, intelligence and low key gritty determination.

Now available

[billtkd · 27 June 2009]

All episodes of this series are now available on DVD from Network (www.networkdvd.net). (Region 2/PAL only.) Some are even in colour.

This seems to be definitely worth buying. However, I don't have a copy yet so I can't comment on the quality. This is the first time it has been released on any home video format so I hope it hasn't been rushed out from duff masters.

The role of Reeder's boss (Sir Jason Toovey, played by the wonderfully named Willoughby Goddard) is a bit of cliché these day because, as I recall, he was always raising objections to Reeder theories or methods Strangely, IMDb states that the series is in colour but Vaughan Birbeck's comment suggests B&W.