Tales of the Unexpected (TV Series) Who's Got the Lady? (1982) User Reviews

Oh the days before CCTV.....

[Sleepin_Dragon · 6/10 · 17 February 2016]

A priceless work of Art 'The Patrician Lady,' is being loaned to an upmarket London Art gallery 'Parnell's' from France. Naturally security is very high, but someone has a particular interest in it.

Richard Johnson's such a fun, charismatic actor, with that sensational speaking voice. Overall I'd class the episode as a well acted, imaginative plodder. Not really one for the great fans of mystery and suspense, but it's an intriguing an clever little story, with a few good points.

I'm all painted out...... How true......

6/10

Average Tales of the Unexpected episode.

[poolandrews · 5/10 · 12 February 2008]

Tales of the Unexpected: Who's Got the Lady? is set in a London art gallery where the owner Parnell (Richard Johnson) is preparing for the arrival of the priceless The Patrician Lady painting from France in order for it to be exhibited to the general British public. However at the grand unveiling an explosion causes confusion but the painting seems fine, then Parnell notices a modern art-shop stamp on the back of the canvas which points to it being a fake. What happened? Did someone switch the paintings & if so how?

This Tales of the Unexpected story was episode 17 from season 5 & originally aired here in the UK during August 1982, the second of five Tales of the Unexpected episodes to be directed by Peter Hammond this is an average episode with a decent premise but not much else. The story by Jack Ritchie was dramatised by Jeremy Paul & is your typical routine clever crime that baffles everyone story. When you actually sit down & think about Who's Got the Lady? it's highly implausible & you need to suspend your disbelief if your going to enjoy it, I mean I'm not being funny here but wouldn't there be CCTV security cameras in the gallery? Even back in 1982 I suspect there would have been. Also there's no real twist at the end, the whole twenty five minutes revolves around two people carrying out their clever plan & succeeding with a rather limp ending on a Caribbean beach. I just thought it played out rather predictably & there's nothing unexpected about the ending at all, I finished watching it & though 'is that it?' waiting for some sort of twist which obviously never came.

Entirely studio bound this one like most Tales of the Unexpected isn't much to look at. The cast here includes Richard Johnson in the last of his three Tales of the Unexpected appearances & Who's Got the Lady? is the probably the worst of his three episodes.

Who's Got the Lady? is an OK crime caper type story with a clever premise although I doubt it would work in reality & where's the twist at the end?

"You, uh, look as if you mean business."

[classicsoncall · 6/10 · 28 November 2021]

I'm a little surprised that "Tales of the Unexpected" would offer a story with the same basic plot as a third season episode titled 'A Picture of a Place'. That one also relied on paintings passed off as original but foisted on unsuspecting buyers who thought they were getting the real thing. The effort required in this story was a lot more intricate of course, as the main story revolves around a complex heist at an art gallery that couldn't have been pulled off without help from the inside. What boggles my mind even more though, was how a frumpy gallery owner like Parnell (Richard Johnson) managed to hook up with a leggy stunner like Bernice (Victoria Tennant), but I guess the prospect of making huge scores with nothing more than five fake paintings was enough to seal that deal. The authorities probably should have been able to solve this case handily enough, but then you wouldn't have had the expected twist.

A Bit Noisy at Times, but Great Yarn

[aramis-112-804880 · 8/10 · 24 February 2023]

Richard Johnson and a particularly lovely young Victoria Tennant intend to steal a famous French painting. Or do they?

Johnson is an art expert who gets paid for verifying (or otherwise) questionable paintings. Tennant is a painter who, like all young painters, loves copying old masters.

But what is the point of the stamp? And though they may find a way to break in, how do they intend to actually get the real painting out? And how do they make money from a painting everyone in the world is looking for?

Well-acted episode, with an ending I disn't see coming. Writers, like magicians, work best by misdirection.