Barnaby Jones (TV Series) Homecoming for a Dead Man (1979) User Reviews

"I think I just saw a ghost"

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 6 August 2021]

When Barnaby is at a gymnastics meet, he notices someone in the crowd that looks like a dead man...Richard Gibson. Gibson supposedly ran away with a fortune in stolen gold...but his plane crashed and he died...or did he?! Well, not surprisingly, Barnaby's instincts are right...and an old mystery is brought to light.

This is a pretty good story....and, like better ones, involved more Buddy Ebsen, not less. My only complaint and it's VERY minor is that guest star Ed Nelson's beard sure looked ridiculous and was very obviously fake.

DEAD MAN PLAYING HIDE AND SEEK!

[tcchelsey · 10/10 · 15 May 2024]

Tribute to director Bruce Kessler, who passed in April 2024 at age 88. Kessler headed a long list of tv shows, including MCCLOUD and HARDCASTLE AND MCCORMICK. He was a popular director, and does a super job in this nifty mystery. Kessler directed two episodes for the series.

This one is Barnaby's case. He's at a sporting event and happens to spot a man (Ed Nelson) who looks very familiar. Two amazing reasons. The man in question, called Gibson, was a suspected gold thief and supposedly killed in a plane crash.

True, if you're a cop show buff, spotting someone who is supposed to be dead is a familiar storyline, however, this is a very clever tale plus Kessler's excellent direction. Jack B. Sowards wrote the script, also working for producer Quinn Martin on the STREETS OF SAN FRANCISCO.

This is well cast; Ed Nelson always makes a memorable man in question? I do agree with the last reviewer, his fake beard is not one of the best, although it may have been done that way for obvious reasons. William Smithers and Jennifer Holmes guest star. Holmes is known for NEWHART. Popular actress Linda Cristal appears, who passed in 2020. TV western fans will remember her for HIGH CHAPARRAL. Look for veteran actress Patricia Smith, as Helen.

Barnaby's keen sense of detection is put to good use. SEASON 8 EPISODE 8 remastered color dvd box set. Released 2018.