Ellery Queen: Don't Look Behind You is a 1971 TV film adaptation of Ellery Queen's novel Cat of Many Tails. It aired on NBC.
Production The film was intended to spawn a new television series like the earlier versions of the character (The Adventures of Ellery Queen). Richard Levinson and William Link authored the script but were so dismayed with the changes made during production that they took their names off and instead used a pseudonym, "Ted Leighton".
Notably, the character of Inspector Richard Queen is here portrayed as Ellery's uncle instead of his father, as in the original stories. Critics speculated that this change was made because Harry Morgan was only eight years older than Peter Lawford and because the two had different accents (American and British).
Cast Peter Lawford – Ellery Queen Harry Morgan – Inspector Richard Queen E.G. Marshall – Dr. Edward Cazalis Skye Aubrey – Christy Stefanie Powers – Celeste Phillips Coleen Gray – Mrs. Cazalis Morgan Sterne – Police Commissioner Bill Zuckert - Sgt. Thomas Velie Bob Hastings - Hal Hunter Than Wyenn - Registrar Buddy Lester - Policeman William Lucking - Lt. Summers Pat Delaney - Miss Price Tim Herbert Robin Raymond Victoria Hale Billy Sands as Adrian Abbott
Legacy While the film failed to generate a series, four years later Levinson and Link were given an opportunity to try again. 1975's Ellery Queen: Too Many Suspects led to Ellery Queen which starred Jim Hutton and David Wayne. The show lasted one season, but has remained a cult classic.
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