This particular episode of "Ben Casey" involves a husband and wife who are shot - the man fatally, the woman (played by character actress Jeanette Nolan) is critically injured and requires surgery. Seems that their 18-year-old daughter Melanie (Tuesday Weld) came home from shopping to find this disturbing scene. Ben takes a special interest in the case, given that Melanie's father was not only a doctor but someone he knew and respected. He believes the version of events as told to him but the police detective on the case (Simon Oakland) is persistent in finding holes in Melanie and her mother's story. As time goes on, it becomes apparent that things are not what they seem and that the Gardner family held some dark and tortured secrets.
I was surprised to find that Tuesday Weld's role is quite similar to the one she would play in the cult classic "Pretty Poison" (1968) some six years later. While Melanie is more tormented than Sue Ann, she is just as devious. Yet, we feel sympathy for her. Vince Edwards, as usual, does a more than decent job as the hot-headed doctor who still has a heart for humanity, supported by the fantastic Sam Jaffe. Jeanette Nolan is as always, wonderful. Yet another reminder that the complete series of "Ben Casey" needs to be officially released on DVD.
I was surprised to find that Tuesday Weld's role is quite similar to the one she would play in the cult classic "Pretty Poison" (1968) some six years later. While Melanie is more tormented than Sue Ann, she is just as devious. Yet, we feel sympathy for her. Vince Edwards, as usual, does a more than decent job as the hot-headed doctor who still has a heart for humanity, supported by the fantastic Sam Jaffe. Jeanette Nolan is as always, wonderful. Yet another reminder that the complete series of "Ben Casey" needs to be officially released on DVD.
