Awhile back, I put the first season of the old mystery series "Burke's Law" on my Netflix account.
Surprising, there was a long wait. Either Netflix miscalculated how many people were interested in the campy series, or it had a cult following.
I remembered it from early childhood days and decided to relive some memories. As I suspected, it proved to be a hoot.
Gene Barry played handsome, millionaire Capt. Amos Burke, chief of homicide. Two years earlier, the dashing Barry ended a three-year run as “Bat Masterson.”
The basic story was the same each week and followed a premise set earlier by”Perry Mason” and copied later by “Ellery Queen,” “Murder She Wrote” and others. Someone would be murdered and the show's star would discover the murderer before the hour (including commercials) was up.
"Burke's Law" was a highly stylized version. The show would open with a random scene in America. One time, we see workers crunching debris at a dumpsite. On another, a friendly worker, complete with bowtie, pulls a switch so lots of screaming kids can enjoy a merry-go-round ride.
But inevitably, somebody yells and screams, because a body has been found.
Switch to Burke, who is a millionaire thanks to his daddy. So he enjoys the fruits and females of those efforts while working in homicide.
An early Aaron Spelling effort, other regulars included the boyish Gary Conway as Detective Tim Wilson, the scruffy Regis Toomey as Detective Les Hart and Leon Lontoc as Asian chauffeur Henry.
The series under this structure lasted from 1963 to 1965. Then cold-war secret agent programs because the craze, thanks to “The Man from UNCLE,” so Burke became a secret agent, the rest of the cast was dispatched and the series died a quick death.
Each episode for the first two years was called “Who Killed (fill in name)”?
Once the body was discovered, the point of view switched to the Burke character, usually in a tuxedo, hosting a party and adoring women, or enjoying a champagne-steeped interlude with one shapely female, but still clothed in a tuxedo.
He would get a phone call and signal to Henry to chauffeur him to the latest crime scene. There he would examine the crime scene, get updated on what happen and meet a series of lovely suspects, all willing to get to know Burke better.
One of the biggest draws of the series is the who's who of stars at the time who appeared, from William (”Life of Riley”) Bendix to Paul Lynde to both Gabor sisters in separate episodes (Zsa Zsa and Eva) to Elizabeth Montgomery, Juliet Prowst, Jay C. Flippen, Jim Backus and former silent screen star Gloria Swanson.
Some of the plots were pretty ingenius but there was always an air of comedy and fun.
The “law” part comes from witty sayings tossed about by Burke during the show.
He would say, “Beauties make the best suspects.” Then he’d smile and add, “Burke's Law.” Or “Murder is the only game you can never win.”
The first discs include vintage commercials. Lots of cigarette commercials. Also a comparison between the old and digitally remastered versions.
“Burke's Law” was revived for 13 episodes in 1994 with Barry still playing Amos Burke and Peter Barton as his son. I can't comment because I never saw it, but understand some episodes were recycled.
The original “Burke's Law” is a fun bit of nostalgia and camp. But then, all of you renting this series and kept me from getting the discs from Netflix until now, already know that.
WEEKENDER / Entertainment
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‘Burke’s Law’ stylized mystery series
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