A Close Call for Ellery Queen ** (1942, William Gargan, Margaret Lindsay, Charley Grapewin, James Burke) – Classic Movie Review 10,505

William Gargan who played fictional detectives Ellery Queen, Martin Kane and Barrie Craig was one of the very few actors to have played private eyes who had actually been one. 

Director James P Hogan’s 1942 mystery thriller A Close Call for Ellery Queen stars William Gargan, who takes over as Ellery for the first of three final series entries from Larry Darmour Productions, releasing through Columbia Pictures.

Gargan is a decent choice, with his distinctive voice and ideal look, though he is no better than his predecessor, Ralph Bellamy. But the strong mystery story about vanished heirs leads it to success, and the more serious tone works better and has dated better too.

Written by Eric Taylor and Gertrude Purcell, it is based on the 1939 novel The Dragon’s Teeth: A Problem in Deduction by Ellery Queen.

A Close Call for Ellery Queen also stars series regulars Margaret Lindsay as Nikki Porter, Charley Grapewin as Inspector Queen and James Burke as Police Sgt. Velle.

Also in the cast are Ralph Morgan, Kay Linaker, Edward Norris, Charles Judels, Andrew Tombes, Claire Du Brey, Micheline Cheirel, Ben Welden, Milton Parsons and Addison Richards.

Columbia Pictures released the film on 29 January 1942.

It is followed by A Desperate Chance for Ellery Queen (1942) and Enemy Agents Meet Ellery Queen [The Lido Mystery] (1942), both with William Gargan.

It follows Ellery Queen and the Murder Ring (1941) with Ralph Bellamy.

William Gargan played fictional detectives Ellery Queen, Martin Kane in the radio and TV series Martin Kane Private Eye, and Barrie Craig in the radio series Barrie Craig Confidential Investigator (1951-1955), and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for They Knew What They Wanted (1940). He was one of the very few actors to have played private eyes who had actually been one. For several years before he was a private investigator for a New York City detective agency.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,505

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com