The seven-episode second season closes out on a high note, or should I say it wins "by a nose"? That's the name of the prize racehorse owned by Sally's adopted Uncle Cyrus, the old Scot cheapskate any number of likely suspects want to bump off for reasons unknown.
The premise may not sound especially interesting or promising, but the episode never lacks for suspense and intrigue. Or charm. William Demarest, veteran film star beloved as Uncle Charley on MY THREE SONS plays Uncle Cyrus, a curmudgeonly old codger whom Sally befriended at age seven when she was caught swiping apples from his tree. Demarest really shines here, playing to his strengths, and he and St. James share an easy chemistry.
Another veteran film star and beloved sixties sitcom character in the cast is Jackie Coogan as Howard Sparks the trainer. It was great fun seeing old pros Coogan and Demarest bantering and bickering. The third primary player is Murray Matheson, on loan from another spoke of the NBC Mystery Movie wheel, BANACEK. The natty and dandy Matheson plays Demarest's spendthrift brother Angus.
Mildred only gets one short scene this time around. And she's all dolled up, does no housekeeping, but instead joins Mac and Sally for martinis and shares some jumbled plots and titles from her Inspector Gerard murder mystery novels. Nancy Walker was missed, but her absence is made up for by John Astin's forensic scientist Sykes enjoying a larger than usual presence. Wait, Astin and Coogan together again? Alas, fellow ADDAMS FAMILY aficionados will be disappointed the two actors share no scenes together.
Also in the cast are a few second-string seventies stars. Rafael Campos plays an atheist jockey who nonetheless crosses himself and wears a St. Christopher medal. His earnestness when being questioned by Mac and Enright makes for a memorable scene and character. Later this same year Campos appeared in the proto-CHARLIE'S ANGELS cult flick THE DOLL SQUAD. A couple other actors best known for their later work include Robert Donner a few years shy of finding fame as Exidor on MORK AND MINDY, and Lou Wagner, who landed a regular gig as master mechanic and inventor Harlan Arliss on CHIPS.
But where's the glamor? Susan St. James provides her trademarked brand of sophisticated beauty in a variety of outfits, from an all-white ensemble with a wide-brimmed hat to a three-piece grey men's business suit that set the stage for ANNIE HALL's trendsetting look four years later. Of course best of all is Sally's knee-length red football jersey, which makes a welcome cameo. Aiding and abetting St. James in setting men's meters running, to cite Sykes, is the bountifully bosomed Barbara Rhoades as the vertically gifted wife of diminutive jockey Willie Marshak. Rhoades is under-utilized, however, and gets only a handful of scenes, and those with her arm in a sling.
There are a couple death trap scenes that are suspenseful, even if the outcome of each assuredly wouldn't be death. This is a psychological mystery, trying to figure out who and why would anyone want to dispatch Cyrus to the glue factory in the sky. But the plot was secondary to enjoying the cast at work, Demarest especially. The actor was almost 81 when this filmed, although his character is 72 (and he bluffs being 69). An episode worth seeing as another adventure by McMillan and wife, but even more as a special treat for Demarest fans.
PS: Demarest ain't done yet: He'll return for the fifth season opener, "Deadly Inheritance." This was Jackie Coogan's second appearance on the series, and he'll return one more time--as the character he played here, Howard Sparks--in the third season finale "Cross and Double Cross." I'll be curious to see that one!
