The Monk

This attempt to give George Maharis a series starring as Gus Monk, an unlicensed private investigator based loosely in San Francisco, falls flat due to its inordinate predictability and silly clichéd script, served up with the customary sprinkling of "guest stars" (Carl Betz, Janet Leigh) while being hindered by shoddy direction and a most critical factor: Maharis is not much of an actor. Undervalued cinematographer Fleet Southcott creates some interesting moments, and there are capable performances from William Smithers and Rick Jason as unsavoury types, but poor Maharis is the lead and when he is attempting a reaction to important plot elements, may they be dead bodies, or women involved in the goings-on, it is curtains for this effort.