Cannon (TV Series) Murder by the Numbers (1973) User Reviews

Dabney is dead....and only his wife seems to care.

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 31 October 2020]

When the show begins, Dabney Calloway is doing what he's good at doing...blackmailing a couple guys. However, in this case, the blackmailer didn't read his clients right...he pushed the wrong guys and they kill the dirty crook. A short time later, Cannon is visited by Mrs. Calloway. She has no idea what's happened to her husband...nor does she have any idea what a dirty character he was. Cannon gets to the bottom of this...and quickly sizes up Dabney for what he was. Oddly, however, Mrs. Calloway's reaction when Cannon discusses this with her is unusual to say the least....and there's definitely more to the story.

This is a pretty mundane episode of "Cannon"...not bad but also not particularly memorable. Much of it is because the dead man was a jerk...and it was hard to care about the guy. But still...a mundane episode of the series is still quite good.

THE FINK WHO REALLY, REALLY DESERVED IT....

[tcchelsey · 10/10 · 4 October 2022]

This episode marked the only appearance of Dina Merrill (as Doris), and she is memorable, playing a woman of means who is unfortunately engaged to a phony who gets himself killed. The big loser (played by soap opera star Quinn Redeker) gets what's coming to him, but Cannon has to piece it all together.

Love the scene where he pulls up in a Rolls Royce and criticizes the attendant for spilling gas on the car. Wouldn't you love to see the guy kick his butt! Redeker plays a real deal heel.

There's more. Enter a Swiss woman named Gretchen (played by British actress Jane Merrow) who knocks at Cannon's door and claims the creep is HER husband, though he was a nice guy? What? This is an interesting story, written by Robert Blees, who wrote the dark comedy for Vincent Price, DR. PHIBES RISES AGAIN, a man who knew how to create villains.

Burr DeBanning plays Bill and Glenn Corbett (who always reminded me of Robert Conrad) plays Bob, a couple of fun guys who like to mess around with steam shovels and bury bodies? This idea may have been lifted from a COLUMBO episode, produced around the same time.

The cast here is fabulous, including two other veterans; Oscar Bergeri (as a bank manager) a favorite in European roles, good and bad, and Ben Wright (as a car leasing agent) who also specialized in international types. If you are a movie buff, he resembled 30s movie star Paul Lukas.

Dina Merrill at the time was appearing in scores of tv shows, however she made her mark (achieving cult status) as gun toting Calamity Jan on BATMAN! Catch clips on YOUTUBE. A very popular and fun actress, and Dina gets to model some beautiful clothes here.

The boat scenes were more than likely filmed on one of Bill Conrad's big fishing boats out at Marina Del Rey, and just ring for cocktails.

Veteran George McCowan returned to direct, previously associated with MOD SQUAD, later STARSKY AND HUTCH.

By the way... the hotel Cannon meets Gretchen is the same one Mannix paid a visit to and got run over in the adjacent parking lot. Jane Merrow is remembered for her many appearances in cult British tv shows, such as the AVENGERS and the SAINT. Prior to this episode she co-starred in an updated tv version of the HOUND OF TNE BASKERVILLES.

Not to be missed with this stellar cast. 10 Stars.

Recommended. The closing scene at the airport is fun.

SEASON 3 EPISODE 13 remastered CBS color dvd box set. 5 dvds (in blue). 2012.

Average but diverting enough

[coltras35 · 6/10 · 11 July 2022]

Gretchen Calloway (played by Jane Merrow ), a beautiful Swiss woman, hires Cannon to find her missing husband. The search reveals an ingenious blackmail operation. A well-paced drama with Cannon doing what he does best. Average but diverting enough.