Barnaby Jones (TV Series) The Damocles Gun (1977) User Reviews

What happened to Neal?!

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 29 July 2021]

Peggy has just returned from living in Paris and is having a nice dinner out with her brother, Neal. As they're leaving the restaurant, Neal is struck by a hit and run driver....and Peggy goes to get help. Oddly, however, when she returns with help, he's gone! So, it's up to Barnaby Jones to piece together what REALLY happened.

This is a very good episode...exciting, well written and with a neat finale. My only gripe is minor, as in one scene, Barnaby and Jedediah go to see Lt. Biddle...and Biddle is on the firing range. The problem? Neither Barnaby nor Jedediah are wearing ear protection...and there is no way they'd allow that! But again...it's a minor glitch in an otherwise good episode.

NOW YOU SEE 'EM, NOW YA' DON'T!

[tcchelsey · 9/10 · 6 March 2024]

If you're a Barnaby fan, you'll know right off the bat this is a story that usually happens to Betty.

They changed it a bit, though it's still worth a look, and what a cast.

To tell you the truth, if you didn't know which show you were watching, you'd swear it was an episode of CANNON! There's many actors here from that show, including director Leo Penn, Sean Penn's famous dad, one of the all time tv greats.

Lee Purcell, a dynamic actress, plays a young woman called Peggy whose brother, Neal (Ed Power) is the victim of a hit and run driver in front of her eyes.

When she runs for help --he disappears! The only logical explanation is he's mixed up with some clever and diabolical folks, as you will see.

To spice things up, noneother than Frank Marth returns, playing Paul, a terrific dramatic actor and villain, also future tv star Robert Pine. Power, who passed in 2021, was best known for the soap opera, LOVE IS A MANY SPLENDERED THING, also ANOTHER WORLD.

The resturant scene was filmed in Los Feliz, perhaps producer Quinn Martin taking a hint from the producers of MANNIX, where a ton of episodes were filmed. By the way, veteran Maurice Marsac plays Michel, who spent a long career playing restaurant maitre d's, waiters, hosts and many professionals with a French accent.

A solid whodunit, and you really feel sorry for Lee Purcell in this one. Acting 101. Also note, the different style of directing from Leo Penn as compared to series regular Walter Grauman. That said, wait for the ending. I give it 9 Stars.

The title Damocles obviously lifted from the ancient tale of Sword of Damocles, the sword hanging by a single hair over its victim! Terrific trivia question.

SEASON 6 EPISODE 5 remastered color/CBS.

Good Story

[zombiemockingbird · 8/10 · 27 July 2023]

This was an interesting story, a little different than the normal plot lines. The disappearing body is an old cliche but it played out well this time. I always enjoy a good normal guy assassin story.

The acting was fairly good. Robert Pine (Jim Rhodes) was good as always; he makes a great bad guy and Frank Marth (Paul Buchanan) was good as his boss. Edward Power (Neal Giroux) did a pretty good job as the brother. The weakest link was Lee Purcell (Peggy Giroux) she overacted quite a bit; her histrionics were way over done. Overall a good, enjoyable watch.

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