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Ellery Queen

The Adventure of the Eccentric Engineer

  • Episode aired Jan 18, 1976
  • 48m
IMDb RATING
8.3/10
98
YOUR RATING
S1.E14
  • S1
  • E14
All episodes
All
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Ann Reinking in Ellery Queen (1975)
Ellery Queen: The Adventure Of The Eccentric Engineer
Play trailer1:55
1 Video
45 Photos
  • Crime
  • Drama
  • Family

Famous inventor Lamont Franklin suddenly withdraws from the world and starts holing up in his shed, playing incessantly with his toy trains. So why would someone kill him? A clue at the begi... Read allFamous inventor Lamont Franklin suddenly withdraws from the world and starts holing up in his shed, playing incessantly with his toy trains. So why would someone kill him? A clue at the beginning of the show: before the inventor answers the knock of his killer, he hides some secr... Read allFamous inventor Lamont Franklin suddenly withdraws from the world and starts holing up in his shed, playing incessantly with his toy trains. So why would someone kill him? A clue at the beginning of the show: before the inventor answers the knock of his killer, he hides some secret formulas in a secret - compartment desk drawer.

IMDb RATING
8.3/10
98
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Peter H. Hunt
  • Writers
    • Booker Bradshaw
    • Frederic Dannay(characters created by)
    • Manfred Lee(characters created by)
  • Stars
    • Jim Hutton
    • David Wayne
    • Arthur Godfrey
Top credits
  • Director
    • Peter H. Hunt
  • Writers
    • Booker Bradshaw
    • Frederic Dannay(characters created by)
    • Manfred Lee(characters created by)
  • Stars
    • Jim Hutton
    • David Wayne
    • Arthur Godfrey
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 2User reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Ellery Queen: The Adventure Of The Eccentric Engineer
    Trailer 1:55
    Ellery Queen: The Adventure Of The Eccentric Engineer

    Photos45

    Jim Hutton and Ann Reinking in Ellery Queen (1975)
    Jim Hutton and Ann Reinking in Ellery Queen (1975)
    David Wayne in Ellery Queen (1975)
    David Hedison in Ellery Queen (1975)
    Ellen Madison in Ellery Queen (1975)
    Ellery Queen (1975)
    Bobby Sherman in Ellery Queen (1975)
    Jim Hutton and Arthur Godfrey in Ellery Queen (1975)
    Jim Hutton and David Hedison in Ellery Queen (1975)
    Ellery Queen (1975)
    Dorothy Malone in Ellery Queen (1975)
    Bobby Sherman in Ellery Queen (1975)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jim Hutton
    Jim Hutton
    • Ellery Queenas Ellery Queen
    David Wayne
    David Wayne
    • Inspector Richard Queenas Inspector Richard Queen
    Arthur Godfrey
    Arthur Godfrey
    • Claude Sitwellas Claude Sitwell
    David Hedison
    David Hedison
    • Roger Woodsas Roger Woods
    Dorothy Malone
    Dorothy Malone
    • Carol Franklinas Carol Franklin
    Ed McMahon
    Ed McMahon
    • Lamont Franklinas Lamont Franklin
    Bobby Sherman
    Bobby Sherman
    • Doug Carmichaelas Doug Carmichael
    Tom Reese
    Tom Reese
    • Sgt. Thomas Velieas Sgt. Thomas Velie
    Dick Van Patten
    Dick Van Patten
    • Billy Geeteras Billy Geeter
    Ann Reinking
    Ann Reinking
    • Lorelie Farnsworthas Lorelie Farnsworth
    Ellen Madison
    • Emily Woodsas Emily Woods
    Patricia Wilson
    Patricia Wilson
    • Bridget, the maidas Bridget, the maid
    John Fujioka
    John Fujioka
    • Restaurant Manageras Restaurant Manager
    Art Balinger
    Art Balinger
    • Newscasteras Newscaster
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Peter H. Hunt
    • Writers
      • Booker Bradshaw
      • Frederic Dannay(characters created by)
      • Manfred Lee(characters created by)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

    Storyline

    Edit
    Famous inventor Lamont Franklin suddenly withdraws from the world and starts holing up in his shed, playing incessantly with his toy trains. So why would someone kill him? A clue at the beginning of the show: before the inventor answers the knock of his killer, he hides some secret formulas in a secret - compartment desk drawer. —Peter Harris
    • deciphering
    • code
    • notebook
    • false bottom
    • file cabinet
    • 19 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genres
      • Crime
      • Drama
      • Family
      • Mystery
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Ann Reinking's TV debut.
    • Goofs
      Velie tells Ellery that there's been a murder in Bayside, but later, a newscaster refers to the scene of the crime as being in the Bronx. Bayside is a neighborhood in Queens County (just west of Douglaston, which Ellery visited earlier in the series in The Adventure of the Mad Tea Party).
    • Quotes

      Claude Sitwell: [Inspector Queen has asked Sitwell to identify a card. Sitwell glances at it] Sorry: I can't help you.

      Inspector Richard Queen: Sorry: I don't believe you.

      Claude Sitwell: Inspector, I believe you're calling me a liar.

      Inspector Richard Queen: Maybe just deliberately forgetful.

    User reviews2

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    First TV role for Ann Reinking
    Episode 14, "The Adventure of the Eccentric Engineer," features TONIGHT SHOW sidekick Ed McMahon as Lamont Franklin, a brilliant inventor currently working on a special automated system using his elaborate train workshop located away from his house, who has led everyone around him to believe that he has regressed to the point of adolescence over the previous three months. Mrs. Franklin (Dorothy Malone) believed the ruse, but her brother, Doug Carmichael (Bobby Sherman), remained well aware of Lamont's continued financial wizardry. Roger Woods (David Hedison), Lamont's friend and associate, and his employer, Claude Sitwell (Arthur Godfrey), were kept informed on Lamont's progress on the new automation system, and both men stand to lose their high positions when Lamont returns to the company. One night, Roger sends a Broadway invitation by train to his reclusive engineer friend, only to have Lamont respond in the negative; Franklin is later found dead in his workshop, shot at close range by someone he knew, since only friends with a pass were allowed to gain access to his domain. Caught stealing a book of notes is Billy Geeter (Dick Van Patten), who aided the dead man in his designs before being fired months before. Art Balinger appears unbilled as a newscaster, and Ann Reinking ("All That Jazz", "Annie") debuts as Lorelie Farnsworth, an aspiring author hoping to get Ellery to help her write a love story, but ends up aiding his investigation. After trying to avoid her throughout the episode, Ellery is finally won over by her persistence, adding that he tried to write love stories, but that his heroines always got killed off!
    helpful•10
    0
    • kevinolzak
    • Oct 30, 2009

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 18, 1976 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Production companies
      • Fairmont/Foxcroft Productions
      • Universal Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      48 minutes
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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