"Man in a Suitcase" Blind Spot (1968)

Director:

Jeremy Summers

Writers:

Victor Canning (writer)
Richard Harris (creator)

TV Series:

"Man in a Suitcase" (1967)

Original Air Date:

7 February 1968 (Season 1, Episode 20)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Detective

Cast

Richard Bradford	...	McGill
Marius Goring	...	Henri Thibaud
Felicity Kendal	...	Marcelle
Derek Newark	...	Maurice
William Dexter	...	Inspector Banard
Inigo Jackson	...	Stephane
Michael Bates	...	Delacroix
Keith Marsh	...	Leon
Gillian Lind	...	Madame Robart
Nina Huby	...	Arlette
Constantine Gregory	...	Jeweller (as Constantin de Goguel)
Frank Maher	...	1st Thug
Terry Yorke	...	2nd Thug (as Terence York)

The Man With The Deadly Stick

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

This episode gave British viewers an early sighting of Felicity Kendal ( billed as 'Kendall' ), then aged 20. As one of the millions of males who lusted after her when she scrubbed fireplaces in 'The Good Life', I have no hesitation in listing this among my favourite 'Suitcase' adventures, and not just because of her.

It was penned by Victor Canning, author of spy thrillers such as 'The Limbo Line' and 'Castle Minerva'. Kendal plays 'Marcelle Robart', a young, blind Frenchwoman, something of a recluse. In the teaser, she reads aloud from a Braille book, before hearing heavy footsteps on the stairs. The parrots shriek in their cages. An unknown intruder murders her stepmother ( Gillian Lind ), and makes off with her jewellery.

Noticing an ad in a local paper requesting information about the murder, McGill offers to take on the case. He is warned off by both the police and Henri Thibaud ( Marius Goring ).

Marcelle's only contact with the outside world comes with the special concerts she holds for her blind friends each month. Presents are given out. What she does not know is that they contain not soap, tobacco or chocolates but narcotics...

As the blind girl, Felicity is terrific, both innocent and attractive. Marcelle's initial distrust of McGill soon turns to something resembling affection, though it is never overtly stated whether or not it has progressed beyond the platonic. Marius Goring, a marvellous character actor, played 'The Expert' in the B.B.C. series of that name ( a British version of 'Quincey M.E.' ), and makes a suitably flamboyant villain, equipped with a cane that doubles as a shotgun. Keith Marsh, who plays 'Leon', is best known for comedy roles such as 'Jacko' in 'Love Thy Neighbour'. Michael Bates, future star 'Last Of The Summer Wine' and 'It Ain't Half Hot Mum' pops up briefly as 'Delacroix'.

Jeremy Summers, the director, worked on 'The Saint' and 'The Baron', and directed a number of movies, including the Tony Hancock classic 'The Punch & Judy Man'.

If it strikes you as odd that Madame Robart's murderer chooses not to eliminate Marcelle also ( though blind, she is still capable of identifying the culprit, albeit by his footsteps ) bear in mind that she was crucial to the criminals' operation. Without her, there would have been no special concerts.

In the final scene, she is so horrified at having been exploited by drug dealers she contemplates a return to a life of solitude, but McGill urges her to live life to the full. In contrast to the series' usual downbeat endings, this one offers hopeful optimism.