The Mind of Mr. J.G. Reeder

Mr JG Reeder is not your average crime fighter, he's not a Policeman, nor a Private Detective, he's a Civil Servant, more accurately and employee of The Department of Public Prosecutions.

Hugh Burden is wonderful in the role, Reeder is unassuming, mild mannered, and quite literally The Perfect English Gentleman, but underneath his politeness he's brave, with a razor sharp mind and an unshakable desire for justice.

Others have commented on their disappointment that only two episodes were made in colour, I would personally say I favour the black and white episodes, the tone somehow works a little better, I also feel that colour exposes a few of the sets as being very obviously sets, the black and white filming masks such issues.

The acting is generally very good, Burden is wonderful, Willoughby Goddard is just wonderful as his overbearing boss, Sir Jason Toovey, a performance and charisma larger than his frame, his facial expressions are a joy, very funny.

The episodes are generally of a very high standard, though my personal favourite is The Green Mamba, it's excellent. I cannot comment on the accuracy of the stories as I haven't read the books, I should.

Well worth your time. 9/10

I find most episodes to be dull, slow-moving and with hardly a spark of imagination or intrigue. It is little wonder to me that the programme is barely remembered in today's world. In all, I tolerated 2 episodes but none of the others. A series that's based upon Edgar Wallace stories, could have been better made than this one. The only reason I remotely remember this production, is Hugh Burden. He is a great casting choice and fits into the leading role effectively. He plays J.G Reeder with the right balance of insight, intelligence and low key gritty determination.

I think this late 1960s series captures the feeling of the 1920s depicted. Of course, it may misreprent history, but it creates a convincing account that is great entertainment.

The Mind of Mr.J.G.Reeder was a unique British series. Based on the Edgar Wallace novels it features Hugh Burden as the mild, meek and seemingly bumbling investigator. Of course in reality he is highly efficient, he always gets his man! Burden is quite brilliant and the series has an evocative atmosphere that lingers in the mind. Willoughby Goddard is also superb as his arrogant, doubting boss, he is quite happy to take the credit for Reeder's successfully solved cases. One of the running gags is that there is a different secretary in every episode. Presumably the boss is too much for them. There were only 16 episodes, two are in colour. At the time colour TV was in it's infancy on British TV. We can assume that either only 2 episodes were filmed in colour or that the colour prints for the rest of the series no longer exist and only survive in black and white. However we are presented with a thoroughly enjoyable series that really does capture the flavour of Wallace's books. Reeder investigates all aspects of crime ranging from murder, through blackmail to burglary.Sit back, relax and enjoy.

Edgar Wallace never fails to absorb me into his crime stories, but The Mind of J G Reeder is the ultimate crime mystery detective. To those who don't know him, he looks like he's yet to really step into the 1920's (the era in which the stories are set), is henpecked by his overbearing housekeeper, Mrs Houchin (played with Celtic gusto by Mona Bruce) and arrogant boss, Sir Jason Toovey (played to a tee by the inimitable Willoughby Goddard) and lives only for his work, with the occasional break for tea, gardening and theatre. Yet this humble man strikes fear into every London criminal be they Dockland thug or Aristocratic Conman, because Reeder has a criminal mind and thus sees evil in everything. It's this trait which gets him his quarry each time. Although Hugh Burden as the titular character is superb, the acting by many of the supporting cast is amateurish to say the least. Aside from this, the series represents quality absorbing entertainment from an era long since dead. If you love crime murder mystery at its finest, go out, buy the set, and be thrilled.