Product Details

• Actors: David Janssen, Barbara Bain, Roxane Brooks, Russ Conway, Bartlett Robinson
• Directors: Hollingsworth Morse, Ted Post
• Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Passport
• DVD Release Date: March 7, 2006
• Run Time: 85 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000CSUNPC
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #75,335 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Richard Diamond, Private Eye: Picture of Fear/The Chess Player" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

RICHARD DIAMOND - PRIVATE EYE

David Janssen stars as the title character in "Richard Diamond - Private Eye," the acclaimed mystery series from the 1950s that would set the standard for many of the TV detectives that were to follow. The series was created by movie star Dick Powell, the Hollywood song-and-dance man who turned to film noir, and who both produced and starred in the original radio drama. Deciding he was too busy (and maybe too old) to play Diamond in the TV version, Powell cast an up-and-coming actor named David Meyer for the lead role. At Powell's suggestion, Meyer changed his name to Janssen. The ex-cop turned private detective Richard Diamond took on the tough cases, occasionally aided by his pal still on the force, Lt. Dennis "Mac" McGough (Regis Toomey).

Two seasons later, Diamond would move to Los Angeles and get a glamorous girlfriend and a leggy receptionist. But here for the first time on DVD are two episodes from the gritty first season with Diamond walking the mean streets of New York. In the 1960s, Janssen would star the phenomenal television series "The Fugitive" and in the 1970s he would also return to the TV detective drama in the well-received "Harry O."

"Picture of Fear" (first airdate 07-29-57) Guest stars: Judith Braun, George Neise, James Nolan, Robert J. Nelson

While vacationing in the mountains, Diamond helps a woman being chased by criminals who think that she took some incriminating photos.

"The Chess Player" (first airdate 08-19-57) Guest stars: Catherine McLeod, Vaughn Taylor, Ross Elliott, Jonathan Hole, Larry Dobkin, Madeline Holmes, George Baxter

A woman hires Diamond to protect her husband, a businessman who doesn't take seriously threats made against his life. Diamond must act as bodyguard without the man knowing it.

Bonus: Hollywood Remembers David Janssen A look at the life and career of actor David Janssen through his movie and television appearances.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Richard Diamond Private Eye, November 28, 2007

By	Heller (jacksonville fl) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

The DVD transfer is awful. Stay away from this DVD it shouldnt even be available, even the maxwell house coffee ads are still intertwined....

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Hard to watch, February 10, 2008

By	Brad Lloyd "Noir nut" (Tulsa, Oklahoma) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

As a big David Janssen fan I was looking forward to seeing something new and fresh even before The Fugitive came out.
The quality of this DVD is very poor and makes it hard to watch.

Someone should take this entire series and digitally remaster it!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brought to you by Maxwell House, October 13, 2007

By	miel22 "miel22" (UK) - See all my reviews

My only complaint about this dvd is that there are only 2 episodes from the series on it. Both episodes excellent.Good story-lines. David Janssen in top form. An extra perk was the amusing Maxwell House presents intros.I had flashes of Jack Lemmon sitting in front of TV in The Apartment trying to find something to watch & only be able to find all the promo stuff :)
BTW on this DVD is HOLLYWOOD REMEMBERS DAVID JANSSEN which is a great, all be it concise, profile of David Janssen, which I personally thoroughly enjoyed.