Death of a Monster... Birth of a Legend

Stewart, Sally and Mildred travel to Scotland for a MacmIllan family reunion at a Scottish mansion. Surprisingly it was filmed in Hollywood. Enright arrives later. Roddy McDowell is there as a family member. The show does try to make it seem like Scotland though even though it was filmed in Southern California. There is a mystery to solve when they arrive at the castle. Stewart or Mac spent his summers there in Scotland with relatives.

While as a kid of the early '70s, I knew of "McMillan & Wife" as one of the series part of the "NBC Sunday Mystery Movie" wheel, this was the first time I actually sat down and watched an ep after taping from Cozi TV. Mac and Sally along with maid Mildred are traveling to Mac's ancestral hometown in Scotland to visit his uncle. That uncle is already dead when they arrive. I'll stop there and just say this was quite funny and a little suspenseful and I love all the banter between Rock Hudson and Susan Saint James as well as John Schuck when his sergeant character also arrives. Nice guest star turns by familiar faces like Roddy McDowell and Roger C. Carmel. Oh, and Nancy Walker as Mildred was also a hoot! Good initial viewing of a "McMillan & Wife" ep.

This McMillan And Wife story takes us to Scotland where Rock Judson, Susan Saint James, Nancy Walker and John Schuck are going to the castle of the Clan McMillan. Hudson's uncle is the local laird.

But upon their arrival literally the laird is shot down while in a castle turret in the proverbial locked door mystery.

Family traditions are being threatened as well as the heir presumptive Roddy McDowall is looking to sell the place to a Donald Trump like hotel magnate Roger C. Carmel

It's up to Hudson to solve the murder and save the castle. There's also a buried treasure somewhere on the grounds.

All in all a perfect Scottish vacation.

I have to admit I watched this episode to see it's treatment of the loch monster part of the story similar to Nessie. Although this only plays a minor part I'm extremely pleased I sampled the McMillan and Wife series. As well as the loch monster theme there is tales of a castle ghost and a Scottish clan feud and a good old thunderstorm. McMillan arrives at his Uncle Michael's castle just as a gunshot rings out in the watch tower. Uncle Michael is found dead in the locked room of the tower with the gun by his side and his dog Bobby mournfully crouched over him. I think this may have been just a little nod to the famous Scottish legend of Greyfriars Bobby. The family cannot accept that Uncle Michael would have committed suicide so the story develops into a locked room murder mystery. I got so absorbed into how wondering how the murder was committed that I actually forgot to try and sleuth out the suspect. It certainly does turn out to be a very clever and elaborate way to commit a murder. Although filmed in California there is a good sense of Scottish romantic setting and Scottish jokes and Scottish traditions. I enjoyed the good cast of guest stars as well as the regulars so I shall be definitely dipping into more of the McMillan and Wife series in the future.