Whoever Heard of a Ghost Dying?

Infobox Television episode
Title = Whoever Heard of a Ghost Dying?
Series = Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)


Caption =
Season = 1
Episode = 8
Airdate = 9 November 1969
Production = 08
Writer = Tony Williamson
Director = Ray Austin
Guests = John Fraser
Robin John
Charles Lloyd Pack
Alexandra Bastedo
Episode list = List of "Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)" episodes
Prev = Murder Ain't What it Used to Be
Next = The House on Haunted Hill

Whoever Heard of a Ghost Dying? is the eighth episode of the popular 1969 ITC British television series "Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)" starring Mike Pratt, Kenneth Cope and Annette Andre. The episode was first broadcast on 9 November 1969 on the BBC. Directed by Ray Austin.

ynopsis

It appears that Jeff has been followed and filmed for weeks by a crime syndicate and captured on film talking to "himself"/Marty. Using a fictitious lure of £50,000 reward the syndicate, in disguise, ask Jeff to begin surveillance on a gang of criminals, knowing that he will send Marty… and that the gang of criminals are themselves.

Led by a David Hellingworth, he uses the ability of an elderly psychic gang member, Cecil Purley, to detect Marty's presence, and uses Marty to deliberately mislead Jeff and the police over the times of their robberies. Putting them on false scents, the gang manage to steal more than £100,000 in diamonds, £250,000 in mink and a Jade collection, all the time giving the police, via Jeff and Marty the incorrect times leading the Inspector to suspect Randall himself.

The group have also contacted Jeannie in order to exorcise Marty using Cecil Purley after their crime spree is over. Going under the guise of freeing Marty's spirit, they lure Jeannie to hand them Marty's watch and cufflinks, which they use to remove his spirit from the Earth. All the while though this episode Marty's health deteriorates and the psychic susses him out and he nearly disappears completely during the exorcism. However, making a last minute plea to Jeff to save him, Marty makes Jeff realise they'll go to Marty's grave stone to complete the exorcism. Jeff arrives in time to save Marty, only to face Hellingworth's gun… yet is rescued by Inspector Large, who has followed Jeff thinking he's part of the plot. The gang are arrested, with the police suspecting Purley is insane as he wildly points at the ghost Marty. Jeff is cleared of all charges but still faces financial difficulties.

Cast

*Mike Pratt as Jeff Randall
*Kenneth Cope as Marty Hopkirk
*Annette Andre as Jeannie Hopkirk
*Alexandra Bastedo .... Carol Latimer
*Richard Caldicot .... Doctor
*John Fraser .... Hellingworth
*Romo Gorrara .... Reg
*Peter Hughes .... Butler
*Robin John .... Constable
*Charles Lloyd Pack .... Cecil Purley
*Terence Plummer .... Pete (as Terry Plummer)
*John Richmond .... Lord Manning
*Paddy Ryan .... Larry

Video and DVD release

The episode was released on VHS and several times on dvd with differing special features.

Trivia

Trivia: Silent behind-the-scenes footage of this episode was included as an extra on the fourth region 2 DVD. Shot by a 2nd unit crew using stand-ins for the leads, the sequence ran to 1'06m.

External links

*http://www.anorakzone.com/randall/old/index.html
*http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0682613/