This American detective series starred Gene Barry as the millionaire captain Amos Burke of the LAPD’s homicide division, who is chauffeured around in his 1962 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II as he solves various crimes.
Gene Barry’s character and dialog fits every pattern of early 60s sexism and fails amusingly at creating the mix of James Bond and Hugh Hefner it is so transparently gunning for, instead producing a bargain basement version of its own vision.
Gene Barry as Amos Burke irresponsibly firing a gun for no apparent reason.
Extremely formulaic the show drops a body within the first five minutes of every episode, finds our hero dressed to the nines in tuxes or ascots, often in the company of a sexy babe, whom he promptly leaves behind to jump in his Rolls and take off to investigate the heinous crime while a husky voice from the off purrs “It’s Burke’s Law!” over the ensuing credits. Every episode’s title starts with “Who killed…”, which, I presume, is fair enough, given that the main character is captain of the homicide division.
As always, almost-but-not-quite-James-Bond, captain of the LAPD homicide division and millionaire Amos Burke must leave a beautiful woman and hop into his waiting Rolls Royce to investigate a terrible crime. In this case the beautiful woman is Maria McClay in the role of a Japanese girl who left a message for Amos in lipstick on a mirror, signed “Madam Butterfly” and then another, signed “Amiko”.
Gene Barry (Cpt. Amos Burke), Gary Conway (Det. Tim Tilson), Regis Toomey (Sergeant Les Hart), Leon Lontoc (Chauffeur Henry), Michael Ansara (Big Bwana Smith), Jim Backus (Pork Pie Hannigan), Fernando Lamas (El Greco), Diana Lynn (Marion Van Martin), William Shatner (Arthur Reynolds), Joanie Sommers (Pee Wee Wilson), Fred Barry (Robert), Percy Helton (Hudkins), Amzie Strickland (Woman), Michael Fox (Coroner), Diana Birk (Annabelle), James Secrest (Jennings), Bill Catching (Keeler), Maria Tsien McClay (Madam Butterfly/Amiko, a Japanese girl), Lou Byrne (Woman)
Maria McClay as Japanese girl Amiko aka “Madam Butterfly” just before Amos Burke (Gene Barry) must leave in his Rolls to investigate another murder.
Carrie Cornell, singer and model, is found murdered on a beach. A photograph of her in “Girlicue” magazine links her to sleazy millionaire Martin Van Martin and he has disappeared.
As always, almost-but-not-quite-James-Bond, captain of the LAPD homicide division and millionaire Amos Burke must leave a beautiful woman and hop into his waiting Rolls Royce to investigate a terrible crime. In this case the beautiful woman is Maria McClay in the role of a Japanese girl who left a message for Amos in lipstick on a mirror, signed “Madam Butterfly” and then another, signed “Amiko”.
Maria had played alongside Gene Barry 5 years earlier, in 1959, in the episode “To The Manner Born” of the Western television series “Bat Masterson”, in which Gene played the main character of the same name. Here her scene culminates in the exchange “You’re flitting away like butterfly?” – “I have to. Butterfly have short mating season.” “If it got any shorter butterflies will become extinct!”.
Other notable appearances in this episode include Diana Lynn as drunk millionaire’s wife Marion van Martin, trying to use one of those strange Walton Belt Vibrator machines that were supposed to shake loose and disappear body fat. And a strange beatnik folk performance in a dark club with everybody wearing sunglasses. And also William Shatner (yes, that William Shatner) as crazy artist and sculptor Arthur Reynolds.
Scenes Featuring Maria
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