PETER GUNN – The Portrait – 1959
This is episode 38 from the 1958 to 1961 P.I. series, PETER GUNN. Craig Stevens headlines as the hard as nails detective who always dresses with style. Regulars in the series are Hope Emerson as the owner of, MOTHER'S jazz club. Lola Albright plays Stevens' squeeze, Edie Hart, who is the club singer at, MOTHER'S.
Two men, Richard Benedict and William Gordon break into a house. The walls are covered with paintings. They find the one they want and grab it. They are then interrupted by the home owner. Benedict pulls out a .38 and pumps a pair of rounds into the man. Gordon and Benedict then quickly exit with the painting.
The next day, Stevens is paid a visit by Hanna Landy. Landy is the wife of a high power political type. Landy would like Stevens to find the stolen picture. It is a rather risqué painting done some years before. She is sure it will be used against her husband by his enemies.
Stevens agrees to look into the matter. He puts out word that he is looking for the picture. He is soon contacted by several snitches. The two, Herb Ellis and Billy Barty, send him in the direction of Benedict and Gordon. He finds the two at a seedy warehouse and offers to buy back the painting. The two slime-balls offer instead to involve Stevens in an auction for said painting. There is someone else interested in the painting.
The someone else, turns out to be construction type, Frank Behrens, who wants to use the painting for blackmail. He wants the politician to steer big construction contracts his way. Behrens, however is not happy with there being another bidder. Blue steel is pulled, and he guns down Gordon and Benedict, grabs the painting, and flees.
Stevens, who just barely escaped being gunned down as well, gives chase. He jumps into Behrens' convertible as Behrens roars off. A few solid punches to the side of Behren's head soon ends the matter. The police show and take the man into custody. Stevens rolls up the painting to return to Landy. That is, after he sneaks a quick look first. Case closed.
Always interesting to see Richard Benedict pop up in roles. The actor had roles in quite a few noir etc. He always seemed to play a thug type. His film noir work included, SOMEWHERE IN THE NIGHT, BACKLASH, CROSSFIRE, RACE STREET, SMART GIRLS DON'T TALK, HOMICIDE, SHOCKPROOF, THE WINDOW, SCENE OF THE CRIME, POST OFFICE INVESTIGATOR, STATE PEN, INSIDE THE WALLS OF FOLSOM PRISON, ACE IN THE HOLE, HOODLUM EMPIRE, THE BIG TIP OFF, WIRETAPPER and THE MAN IS ARMED. .
This is episode 38 from the 1958 to 1961 P.I. series, PETER GUNN. Craig Stevens headlines as the hard as nails detective who always dresses with style. Regulars in the series are Hope Emerson as the owner of, MOTHER'S jazz club. Lola Albright plays Stevens' squeeze, Edie Hart, who is the club singer at, MOTHER'S.
Two men, Richard Benedict and William Gordon break into a house. The walls are covered with paintings. They find the one they want and grab it. They are then interrupted by the home owner. Benedict pulls out a .38 and pumps a pair of rounds into the man. Gordon and Benedict then quickly exit with the painting.
The next day, Stevens is paid a visit by Hanna Landy. Landy is the wife of a high power political type. Landy would like Stevens to find the stolen picture. It is a rather risqué painting done some years before. She is sure it will be used against her husband by his enemies.
Stevens agrees to look into the matter. He puts out word that he is looking for the picture. He is soon contacted by several snitches. The two, Herb Ellis and Billy Barty, send him in the direction of Benedict and Gordon. He finds the two at a seedy warehouse and offers to buy back the painting. The two slime-balls offer instead to involve Stevens in an auction for said painting. There is someone else interested in the painting.
The someone else, turns out to be construction type, Frank Behrens, who wants to use the painting for blackmail. He wants the politician to steer big construction contracts his way. Behrens, however is not happy with there being another bidder. Blue steel is pulled, and he guns down Gordon and Benedict, grabs the painting, and flees.
Stevens, who just barely escaped being gunned down as well, gives chase. He jumps into Behrens' convertible as Behrens roars off. A few solid punches to the side of Behren's head soon ends the matter. The police show and take the man into custody. Stevens rolls up the painting to return to Landy. That is, after he sneaks a quick look first. Case closed.
Always interesting to see Richard Benedict pop up in roles. The actor had roles in quite a few noir etc. He always seemed to play a thug type. His film noir work included, SOMEWHERE IN THE NIGHT, BACKLASH, CROSSFIRE, RACE STREET, SMART GIRLS DON'T TALK, HOMICIDE, SHOCKPROOF, THE WINDOW, SCENE OF THE CRIME, POST OFFICE INVESTIGATOR, STATE PEN, INSIDE THE WALLS OF FOLSOM PRISON, ACE IN THE HOLE, HOODLUM EMPIRE, THE BIG TIP OFF, WIRETAPPER and THE MAN IS ARMED. .