Richard Diamond, Private Detective (TV Series) Design for Murder (1959) User Reviews

"I've never been more hurt in my entire life"

[MissClassicTV · 7/10 · 16 January 2016]

David Janssen's very good in this 3rd season episode. This time it's not all style although it's still a good-looking show. There's also quite a bit of substance.

Richard Diamond shows languid charm but not insouciance. He shows toughness but also kindness. As he reconnects with a past love who's being blackmailed, he's drawn in and helps her. His life is threatened. A bullet is fired at him. He investigates and as usual is able to uncover the truth through his contacts and tenacity. And in the end he shows hurt and sadness.

There's a lot going on in this half hour episode. David Janssen gets a little more to do than usual. Certainly, there's the usual athleticism, the fights. But he also gets to show a range of emotions since the script calls for a little more personal involvement than the typical private detective/client relationship. Janssen is up to the task and puts in a fine performance.

Up close and personal

[XhcnoirX · 7/10 · 29 November 2016]

David 'Richard Diamond' Janssen is hired by old flame Laurie Mitchell to retrieve some scandalous letters her sister wrote, as someone's gotten hold of them and is blackmailing them. As he leaves her apartment the blackmailer, Edmund Hashim, steps into his car and tells him at gunpoint to walk away from the case. To make a statement, later that evening someone takes a shot at him, barely missing him. Janssen's now determined to find the letters. He soon finds out that the case involves tattoos as well as a double-cross.

A solid episode, that stands out for two reasons... It shows ordinary women with tattoos, and not just sailors or shady people. Something that was still quite uncommon for late 50s TV shows. And the DoP was George Diskant, who lensed some beautiful noirs like 'On Dangeround Ground' and 'The Narrow Margin'. He also knew how to shoot for TV as this episode shows. Aside from that it has the usual fast-paced plot, Diamond's hard-boiled lines and a bittersweet ending. It's hard to go wrong with Richard Diamond.