Peter Gunn (TV Series) The Feathered Doll (1959) User Reviews

The Feathered Doll

[Prismark10 · 6/10 · 24 April 2022]

An undercover policeman is knifed in the back.

Fairground employee Ed Wilkens is battered when he gives a feathered doll away as a prize in the shooting gallery.

The ones on the top which he was told never to give under any circumstances.

Ed goes to Peter Gunn for help as he fears for his life. Ed later disappears.

Both Peter Gunn and Lieutenant Jacoby have an interest in the fairground. There must be something inside those dolls.

A good episode with twists and double crosses. Peter Gunn manages to stay one step ahead as he finds a drugs being smuggled from Mexico.

There is a nice noir feel to this episode. John Marley is a good sinister presence.

Sharp looking episode!

[gordonl56 · 9/10 · 12 October 2013]

PETER GUNN –The Feathered Doll – 1959

This is episode 45 of the 1958 to 1961 P.I. series, PETER GUNN. Craig Stevens headlines as the hard as nails detective who is always dressed with style. Regulars in the series are Minerva Urecal as the owner of, MOTHER'S jazz club, and Lola Albright as Stevens' squeeze, Edie Hart. Albright is also the club singer at, MOTHER'S.

In this one, P.I. Peter Gunn (Craig Stevens) is called in to look into a possible smuggling crew working out of shooting gallery. The gallery is located on a waterfront amusement pier. Matters grow complicated when a Police undercover Detective is stabbed to death. Now both Stevens and his friend, Police Lt Herschel Bernardi, are on the case.

The crew, led by John Marley move heroin into the country in special cupie dolls brought in from Mexico. The "special" dolls are given out as prizes in the shooting gallery. The ones with the dope of course go to the mob contact in town.

One of the shooting gallery employees, Eddie Firestone had lifted one of the special dolls for himself. Inside was $100,000 is heroin. This is what started the whole series of events that unfold. The undercover is killed, one of the mob guys gets the same treatment and Firestone is likewise ventilated. Gang leader Marley gets a nice vacation up river on the State's dime.

Also in the mix in this episode are, Peggy Maley as Firestone's girl and Emile Meyers. Meyers does a great guest bit as one of Stevens' underworld informants. Myers delivers one of the best lines in the episode. He is an ex-forger who got jail time for trying to pass fake $17,000 bills. "Math was never my strong suit" Meyer tells Stevens.

This is a well done bit of entertainment, with plenty of violence, snappy dialogue, great music and outstanding black and white cinematography.

Before "Perchance to Deam" ...

[tforbes-2 · 9/10 · 13 November 2016]

"The Twilight Zone" episode "Perchance to Dream," which aired in late November 1959, was set in a carnival. But earlier this month, we find Peter Gunn investigating a series of murders that take place at a carnival.

This seems to be a pretty popular place!

Like its Twilight Zone counterpart, this is a top-notch episode that has outstanding dialogue and a great twist ending. Look for a pre- "Godfather" John Marley, as well as the usual cast, of course.

What makes the show stand out is its level of sophistication while maintaining a sense of simple production values. Great writing and a great jazz score help immensely!

Anyway, another great outing!

Barbie It Ain't

[dougdoepke · 17 October 2017]

So what's with those ugly feathered dolls. Seems like some guys are just dying to get hold of one. Superior Gunn, with all the series strengths, including imaginative camera set-ups and a grisly wax museum. Love that hook that tours us through such compelling folks as Jack the Ripper, Lizzie Borden, and other headline grabbers. But stay away from the forest of upraised knives and hatchets. Still, I wish they'd let us in to watch the carnival belly dancer who really does fill out what there is of a costume. Pete's really slicked up for this half-hour. Too bad he's neglecting Edie, especially after her cool jazz number, but then he does have a story to work out. Anyhow, watch for such familiar TV stalwarts as Meyer, Firestone, and Marley, adding their usual brand of colorful support. And catch Peggy Maley, the babe from The Wild One (1954). Good twist ending I didn't see coming. It may not be too plausible, but I'm not watching for reasons of logic. All in all, it's A- grade Gunn, at least in my little book.