CTVA
The Classic TV Archive - US Crime Series
The Most Deadly Game (1970-71)
Episode Guide compiled by The Classic TV Archive
with contributions by: Rina Fox
references:
TV Guide / Library of Congress (telnet://locis.loc.gov)
Internet Movie Database (https://us.imdb.com)
UCLA Film and Television Archive
--------------------
THE MOST DEADLY GAME
--------------------
Aaron Spelling production
for
ABC (Saturdays 9:30 PM EST)
Created by Executive Producers David Fine and Mort Friedkin
Produced by Joan Harrison

US Crime Drama series 1970-71 12 episodes x 60 min color
(10Oct70-16Jan71)
Starring:
Ralph Bellamy as Ethan Arcane
Yvette Mimieux as Vanessa Smith
George Maharis as Jonathan Croft

Opening Narration:
"Murder is the most deadly game. These three criminologists play it."

Premise
The exploits of master criminologist Ethan Arcane and his proteges
Venessa and Jonathan as they attempt to solve crimes of the most
deadly nature - murder!

Writers:
Burton Wohl, Stephen Kandel, Gilbert Ralston, Jack Miller, Leonard B. Kaufman,
Andy White,John McGreevey, Bernard C. Schoenfeld, Shimon Wincelberg, Mort Fine
David Friedkin, Marion Hargrove
Directors:
David Friedkin, Gene Nelson

############ The Most Deadly Game ############
############### unaired pilot ################
##############################################

PILOT: ZIG ZAG (1970) *unaired* [UCLA]
Most deadly game--promotional film. Presentation.
Intended for broadcast on ABC.
Aaron Spelling Productions, Inc. Prod. no. 32004-800.
executive producer, Aaron Spelling
created by Mort Fine, David Friedkin
producers, David Friedkin, Mort Fine, Joan Harrison ;
director, David Friedkin
writers, Mort Fine, David Friedkin.
Starring:
George Maharis, Inger Stevens, Ralph Bellamy.
Summary:
Presentation reel for proposed series which eventually became "The
Most Deadly Game" (ABC, 1970-1971), starring Maharis, Bellamy and Yvette
Mimieux--who replaced Stevens following her April, 1970 suicide. Murder
mystery in which Bellamy (as Etan Arcane), teams with Maharis and Stevens
to solve strange and unusual murders. [UCLA]

Note: Due to Inger Stevens' suicide the role in the series went to
Yvette Mimieux.

############ The Most Deadly Game ############
############### season 1970-71 ###############
##############################################
ABC Saturdays 9:30 PM Eastern (10Oct70-16Jan71)

1.01 The Most Deadly Game: LITTLE DAVID
Prod. No. 009
10Oct1970 ABC Sat
Guest cast:
Roger Davis ................... Tod Masters
Marj Dusay .................... Henley Gilliat
Louise Troy ................... Mrs. Granger
Christine Schmidtmer .......... Bettina
Bob Random .................... David Fairburn
Cathleen Cordell .............. Mrs. Gillat
Ben Wright .................... Schaeffer
George Robertson .............. Scarboro
Jack Naughton ................. Gordon Granger
Jack Mather ................... Janitor
Synopsis:
A trio of criminologists consider the case of one Robert Gilliat,
found dead in the window of his swank sporting goods store with a
rather large hole in his head - but not from a bullet. [RF]

1.02 The Most Deadly Game: WITCHES' SABBATH
Prod. No. 007
17Oct1970 ABC Sat
Guest cast:
Jill Haworth .................. Lydia Grey
Barry Atwater ................. Harold Byers
Michael Baseleon .............. Milosz Patecky
Richard Mulligan .............. Jordan
Herb Armstrong ................ Dr. Halder
Martin Braddock ............... Ben Waterson
Jennie Blackton ............... Angie
Sue Taylor .................... Gloria
Melora Conway ................. Mrs. Bridges
Barbara Leigh ................. Karen

1.03 The Most Deadly Game: GABRIELLE
Prod. No. 004
24Oct1970 ABC Sat
Guest cast:
Diana Ewing .................. Gabrielle
Quinn Redeker ................ Randall
Robert Viharo ................ Arthur
Vince Howard ................. Joe Beckwith
Kenneth Scott ................ Haggerty
Roy E. Glenn Sr............... Mack Beckwith
Charles Lampkin .............. Griggs
Patrick Waltz ................ Mike Lavery
Synopsis:
Criminologist Jonathan Croft finds a former military intelligence buddy
murdered. The only clue, a cryptic poem, sends Jonathan sifting through
the ashes of his recent past to solve the mystery of $500,000 that
disappeared during the dead man's last mission. [RF]

1.04 The Most Deadly Game: BREAKDOWN
Prod. No. 010
31Oct1970 ABC Sat
Guest cast:
Jessica Walter ................ Leslie
Tom Bosley .................... George
Greg Mullavey ................. Tam
Sandy Kenyon .................. Dr. Fred Herbert
Joe Don Baker ................. Alan
Terry Carter .................. Purt

1.05 The Most Deadly Game: WHO KILLED KINDNESS?
Prod. No. 012
07Nov1970 ABC Sat
Guest cast:
Carol Lynley .................. Brooke
Sheree North .................. Lottie
Andrew Prine .................. Clint
Paul Richards ................. Davis (or Mac Ward?)
Robert J. Wilke ............... Roark

1.06 The Most Deadly Game: PHOTO FINISH
Prod. No. 005
14Nov1970 ABC Sat
Guest cast:
Marlyn Mason ................ Peggy
Stephen Young ............... Mike
Craig Littler ............... Steven Sanford
Eileen Brennan .............. Alice
John Ragin .................. Biff Porter
Ingeborg Kjeldsen ........... Carole
Synopsis:
A homicidal maniac is writing to Arcane, begging to be stopped from
committing his bizarre crimes. The notes contain prophetic photographs
of the victims - before they are murdered. [RF]

1.07 The Most Deadly Game: WAR GAMES
Prod. No. 006
28Nov1970 ABC Sat
written by Jack Miller
directed by Lee Madden
Guest cast:
Peter Brown ................ Scott Norton
Barbara Luna ............... Anna
Pat Harrington ............. Lt. Riverton
Billy Dee Williams ......... Carl (or Claude Miles?)
Dan Travanty ............... Roland King (later known as Daniel J. Travanti)
Frank Farmer ............... Jay Seevers
Synopsis:
When Croft's commanding officer in Vietnam is murdered after he had
visited him that afternoon, the deadly game begins to find the person
trying to set him up for the fall. [RF]

1.08 The Most Deadly Game: NIGHTBIRDS
12Dec1970 ABC Sat
Guest Cast:
Jeff Bridges .................. Hawk
Joanna Moore .................. Paula Winton
John Bakos .................... Benjy
Norman Lloyd .................. Norman
William Vint .................. Shorty

1.09 The Most Deadly Game: MODEL FOR MURDER
Prod. No. 002
19Dec1970 ABC Sat
Guest cast:
Frank Converse ................ Ben
Barbara Hale .................. Edith
Douglas Hume .................. Ken Arvey
William Smith ................. Miller
Lou Krugman ................... Berkowitz
Maggie Thrett ................. Lissa
Catherine McKeown ............. Mrs. Miller
Edward G. Robinson, Jr. ....... bartender
Roland Bob Harris ............. policeman
Russ Marin .................... waiter
Patti Heider .................. switchboard operator

1.10 The Most Deadly Game: THE CLASSIC BURIAL POSITION
Prod. No. 001
02Jan1971 ABC Sat
Guest Cast:
Skye Aubrey ................... Molly
Anjanette Comer ............... Gretchen
Hugh Beaumont ................. Dr. Dominick
Woodrow Parfrey ............... Hiram Walch
Carl Reindel .................. Jed
Jose de Vega .................. Carlos
Richard Forbes ................ Tom Calhoun
Pamela Hunt ................... Livia

1.11 The Most Deadly Game: THE LADY FROM PRAHA
Prod. No. 011
09Jan1971 ABC Sat
Guest cast:
Bert Convy .................... Tom Motley
May Britt ..................... Lili
Brenda Benet .................. Mindy
Hank Brandt ................... Brian Walker

1.12 The Most Deadly Game: I, SAID THE SPARROW (final episode)
16Jan1971 ABC Sat
Guest Cast:
Wilfrid Hyde-White ............ Verney
Mildred Natwick ............... Janet McLeod
John Fiedler .................. Alfred
Joan Huntington ............... Maggie
Dick Cavett ................... Dick Cavett as himself

############ The Most Deadly Game ############
################# the end ##################
##############################################

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