Nero Wolfe 1979 Based on The Doorbell Rang by Rex Stout, written and directed by Frank D Gilroy. A TV movie pilot that aired on ABC television two years after it was made. It's part of a DVD set with the 14 episodes of the 1981 TV series. It's got a different cast than the TV series. Originally Orson Welles was to play Nero but he bowed out and Gilroy found Thayer David, that's him on the left, the other fellow is Tom Mason, he's playing Archie Goodwin. Sadly, Thayer died before the movie aired.
It's a good adaption of the novel. Nero is asked by a rich lady to get the FBI off her back, she sent out hundreds of copies of a book that spoke badly about Edgar and his gang. Now the FBI are following her and she's pissed off. Nero eyes the massive fee and plunges right into to setting a trap for the FBI. The Bureau throws it's weight around but they're no match for Nero.
It's well written and plotted, the cast is good and they do a great job. Anne Baxter plays the rich lady and Brooke Adams plays Archie's romantic interest. I liked Lewis Charles as Saul Panzer. David Hurst plays Fritz, Biff McGuire plays Inspector Cramer with John Randolph, Frank Campanella and John Hoyt in smaller roles.
It's quite fun and it kept my interest up right to the end. Thayer and Tom have a good bit of chemistry together. There's a good sense of humor too. Worth seeing. I'll watch it again sometime.
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