"Richard Diamond, Private Detective" (1957) TV series 1957-1960

Directors:

Hollingsworth Morse
Ted Post

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Release Date:

1 July 1957 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama

Plot:

Richard Diamond is a suave private eye who, at first, walks the mean streets of New York, then later packs up and moves to Los Angeles...

Plot Keywords:

Private Detective | Detective | Based On Radio Series | Character Name In Title

Cast

David Janssen

...

Richard Diamond (77 episodes, 1957-1960)

Also Known As:

Call Mr. 'D' (USA) (syndication title)

Runtime:

USA:30 min (77 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Company:

Four Star Productions

Trivia:

This series was a very popular radio show that starred Dick Powell as the sexy sleuth. It ran for a few years in the early 1950s. When Powell was approached to do a TV series he felt he was too old but recommended a young actor named David Janssen.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Biography: Mary Tyler Moore: All American-Girl (1995)" (????)

One of the best Private Eye shows from the 1950s.

"Richard Diamond" was one of the all-time great private eye television shows from the late 1950's. The series starred the raspy-voiced David Janssen as the title character driving around in his Ford convertibles trading innuendos with Sam, the female operator for the Hi-Fi Answering Service, via his car phone as he solves all manner of cases. Janssen is tough and sexy and one can only wonder if he and Sam ever connected in real time. Sam is only shown in profile from the shoulders down seated in front of a switch board, in tight fitting dresses, legs crossed and usually dangling a stiletto-heeled shoe from her toe as she delivers Richard's messages in a breathy low husky voice. The show is fast, well acted, entertaining and shot in "glorious" black and white with a great jazz score. An original soundtrack album was released by Mercury records during the shows run on network television. It's great fun and well worth a look.