The Case of 'The Smiling Widow'

Two stalwarts of the SCOTLAND YARD series, Montgomery Tully and Russell Napier, combine in this tale of a suicide victim who isn't quite what it seems.

The body of artist Peter Adams is found dead in the home of art dealer Christopher Nicholls.

It looks like Adams gassed himself in the oven. Superintendent Duggan looks further into the case.

A policeman finds out from the servants that the Nicholls cat also died that day and there was trouble with the gas supply.

Duggan discovers that Adams was a forger. He was working on a painting from an old master called The Smiling Widow.

It might be Nicholls was selling the forgeries Adams produced or Adams was even blackmailing him.

If it was murder Duggan needs to figure how Adams was gassed and how did Nicholls managed to move the body. He is a polio victim who has trouble walking unaided.

It is another of these episode where the inspector needs to go abroad and stock footage gets an airing.

This time it is the turn of Rome and once again Roger Delgado pops up to help the police abroad.

There is a nice twist when it comes to the reveal of the actual murderer and the method they used. The dead cat was an important clue.

This instalment of Scotland Yard takes a while to heat up but it gets there at the end.

Artist Peter Adams is found dead at the home of art dealer Christopher Nicholls. Superintendent Duggan initially believes that Adams gassed himself using the oven, but a lump on the back of his head raises questions. Duggan also learns that the family cat recently died.

It's an interesting and enjoyable case, with Duggan having to rely on his gut instinct to look for a crime, when on the surface it appears to be suicide.

I really enjoyed the clue about the cat and eventual unveiling of the killer, it was nicely done, a definite surprise. This one definitely keeps you guessing, even Duggan was fooled for a time.

It clearly looks low budget, it's a basic production, it's pretty bog standard and formulaic, but that may not be a bad thing.

You have to hand it to Duggan, he knew how to travel, he was like the Judith Chalmers of the 1950's, imagine how much he clocked up in expenses.

It is always great to see Roger Delgado, he could definitely pass for an Italian.

7/10.