The Adventure of the Mad Tea Party

Episode 8, "The Adventure of the Mad Tea Party," was apparently the only entry to be based on an actual Ellery Queen story. Ellery travels to Long Island for a weekend with Spencer Lockridge (Edward Andrews), who wants to finalize a deal to turn the Queen story "The Adventure of the Alabaster Apple" into a stage play starring his young protégé, Emmy Reinhart (Julie Sommars). Upon arrival, the author finds the entire household doing a rehearsal of Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland," as a birthday tribute to Spencer's nephew Johnny (George Janek). Emmy comes on to Ellery, in a failed attempt to 'discuss' her part in the upcoming play. Still costumed as The Mad Hatter, Spencer disappears during the night, and everyone fears kidnapping and ransom. Larry Hagman plays the architect, Paul Gardner, who has been having an affair with Spencer's wife, Laura (Rhonda Fleming), apparently with the consent of Mrs. Gardner (Patricia Smith). Laura's mother, Mrs. Leticia Allingham (Carmen Mathews), complains bitterly about Spencer's extravagance with her money. The great Jim Backus plays Howard Biggers, who accompanies Ellery on the train trip, spooking the frightened conductor (Olan Soule) with their talk of murder, and Julius W. Harris ("Live and Let Die") shows up as the fearsome butler Doyle. David Wayne makes only a brief appearance as Inspector Queen, ditto Tom Reese as Sergeant Velie and Nina Roman (unbilled) as secretary Grace. Incidentally, David Wayne himself played The Mad Hatter in four half hour episodes of the 60s BATMAN series.

Theatrical producer Spencer Lockridge is producing a play based on one of Ellery's books and has invited Ellery down to his mansion for the week-end. Upon arriving at the Lockridge home, Ellery finds his host dressed as the Mad Hatter and the host's wife and guests are dressed as other characters from Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass. They are rehearsing a play to amuse Lockridge's young nephew for his birthday the following day. In the night, Spencer Lockridge disappears - did he leave on his own, was he kidnapped or was he murdered? Great guest cast especially Jim Backus, Rhonda Fleming, and Larry Hagman. But the episode falls a bit flat and it has an annoying kid in it. For one thing, David Wayne as Inspector Queen is just in a couple of scenes and Tom Reese as Sgt. Velie has only about one line at the end of the show. Jim Hutton is just not engaging enough to carry the show by himself - he needs Wayne and to a lesser extent, Reese. Also, this show doesn't have s sufficient late 1940s feel to it as do other episodes such as the ones with radio show backgrounds or set in a comic book office. Still entertaining but not one of the best episodes.

When a wealthy backer of Ellery's play (Edward Andrews) disappears, Ellery Queen (Jim Hutton) has to determine if he's dead or alive.

This is possibly the best episode of the series, coming as it does fron a genuine Ellery Queen story.

On a personal note, it's the first episode of the series I saw, finding it by accident when it first aired. So I do have a special affection for this episode that may be corrupting my judgment. But it's a solid mystery with a star-studded cast. And a literary subtext that tickles my fancy. And a shocking moment in the climax.

One disappointment: one of the joys of this series is Hutton's chemistry with David Wayne, playing his no-nonsense father. Unfortunately, Wayne is tardy about showing up for this episode.