Murder Once Removed

As basic entertainment, this is kind of fun. It's a nicely plotted film if you don't think too much. The plot involves a doctor who has psychotic tendencies and acts on them fairly frequently. Because he doesn't get caught, he feels vindicated. He applies this logic to other murderers as well. He is played pretty well by John Forsyth. He has a relationship with Barbara Bain from the Impossible Missions Force, and hopes to marry her. I'm surprised his last name isn't Bluebeard, because he seems to have a thing for trophies. The acting is credible in the made for TV venue. It's nicely done. As a previous writer said, it's a little like those Link/Levinson productions, ala Columbo. It moves along nicely and there are lots of surprises.

Now for the other part. There are so many coincidences and potential pitfalls that it would be really hard to make the plot work. Anything could mess it up. There's also the fact that the person murdered first knows about Forsyth's history and still allows him to perform surgery. He also baits him about his past. There had to be other avenues he could have taken, knowing what he knows. There's also a frame up that really would have to be so obvious to anyone with a shred of investigative insight.

The characterization is good. I really liked the nurse, Rita Shaw, who has a handle on everything. She is Forsyth's main adversary, and he doesn't even know it. She has always played those kinds of characters and, like people in her profession, she's the guts of the operation.

I would recommend this film if you aren't too picky. It will keep you involved.

Frank Manning (Richard Kiley) goes to his doctor, Ron Wellesley (John Forsythe) for a simple procedure. Frank has also come to Dr. Wellseley's office to inform him that he suspects him in a pair of murders. He also lets him know that he's aware that he's been sleeping with his wife (Barbara Bain).

Frank then tells Wellesley that if he doesn't leave town, he'll blab.

What could possibly go wrong?

MURDER ONCE REMOVED is an exceptional made-for-TV movie with a perfect twist ending! John Forsythe is particularly good in his eeevil, conniving role. Wellesley will stop at nothing to carry out his plan of vengeance and death!

Joseph Campanella is great as Sgt. Proctor, a mutual friend of Manning and Wellesley who must snoop around for clues.

Highly recommended for the lover of suspenseful thrillers...

Years ago, mysteries like "Murder Once Removed" were common TV fare, and frankly, I liked it that way.

This is a particularly neat one starring John Forsythe, Richard Kiley, Joe Campanella, Barbara Bain, and Reta Shaw. Forsythe plays Dr. Wellesley, who has a less than stellar past, which he's been reminded of by the husband of the woman (Bain) he's in love with (Kiley).

Wellesley plans to get rid of his competition and plans the perfect murder, framing a young Vietnam vet (Wendell Burton) whom he's weaning off of a heroin addiction. The camera has Forsythe in tight closeup most of the time, and with its hard lens, it's unforgiving.

Very entertaining, and it's nice to see all those old TV stars once again, including Forsythe, who didn't usually play someone evil, the terrific Kiley, the always reliable Reta Shaw as Dr. Wellesley's nurse and Barbara Bain as the very attractive object of the doc's affections. Now 84, Joseph Campanella was once a mainstay of prime time TV, and he still pops up occasionally.

Someone said the script was far-fetched -- maybe, but it's very intriguing. Enjoy.

It is a low budget flick that you kinda start watching because it's snowing out there nothing else better to do, then you feel getting pulled into the story, chained by continuing dialogs that amp from one scene to the next seamlessly. It is remarkably well cust, directed and shot. Enjoy!..

I thought it was great. If you like these old suspense classics, this one is worth watching. While it no Hitchcock, it was surprisingly good at keeping my short attention glued to the screen.