'70s TV: Daschell Hammet's The Dain Curse (Part 2 of 3)

 Another week and we get to look at Part 2.
In my defense, these Shows didn't usually run night-to-night-to-night, now did they?

Let's see what happens in the second Episode of...

To recap, a simple investigation into missing diamonds led to Hamilton Nash (James Coburn) working the case.

It eventually lead to him proving that the death of the man that reported the robbery was murder and tied to the alleged 'Dain Curse.'

Trying to protect the Daughter, he is gassed and finds her with a bloody knife, ending Part 1.

***

Nash realizes that she didn't really kill anybody.  No blood is on her- just the knife.

They find the big staging area for the Cult and see that the blade was once on the pedestal and the blood matched.

Things take a turn when they hide and see the Leader preparing to make a sacrifice.

The rich lady from earlier is going to be killed until they intercede, with Nash shooting the man.

In the aftermath, they must break the programming on those in the group.

In the aftermath, they confront the man behind the curtain (as it were).

It is Brent Spiner!

Basically, he was gassing and manipulating the people at the Leader's command.

In the ensuing time, the Daughter and Maid recovered from the programming.

The former ended up marrying the Cop who helped Nash on the case.

Love was in the air!

So why did he telegram Nash on his honeymoon?

What was so important?

...and why was he now dead, lying on the beach?

He works the case, looking for the missing Bride.
Is she the Killer?

He works it with the Local Authorities, led by Hector Elizondo.  
Look at how brown his hair is!

During this, he consults with his friend (Miller) who's done some research on the titular Dain Curse.

He says that it goes back about 100 years, involving strange and accidental deaths in the family line, which arguably includes the Father from Episode 1 now.

Nash doesn't deny it outright, but also says that he's not going to mention to the Police...for obvious reasons.

Suddenly a ransom note appears for the Dain girl.

Did they kill the Husband?

Why does none of this seem to add up though?

It turns out that the most obvious culprit is- shock of all shocks- is not the guilty party.

A Red Herring- you say?!?

The local Sheriff knew that his Wife was cheating on him with the guy, so he tried to pin it on him to get revenge.

In the End, they do find her on an inlet and she warns Nash that the Dain Curse will take him too.  

To be concluded...

An Episode that raises many questions and delivers a few answers.

It is interesting to see how the Cult stuff didn't amount to much in the end.  Maybe it will come back around in Episode 3.

The mystery aspect takes a nice turn though, as it goes from a murder mystery to a missing person's case.  It was also nice to take Nash out of the City- just to keep things fresh.

As always, Coburn is great here.  He's strong and firm, but can only show vulnerability.  It is a tricky thing to do when playing a Dime Store Detective (or some equivalent).  Can you be a hard case, but also show more emotion and be vulnerable?  Are you just going to be a cliche?

Elizondo is a nice, grounding influence in the Story.  I hope they keep him around for the next Episode.
Oh and Brent Spiner, but I somehow doubt it.

I can't wait to see how this thing ends and if Data here makes a comeback.

Next up, I'll search the pile for something appropriate for February.  If not, more random stuff for you to enjoy.  Stay tuned...

'70s TV: Daschell Hammett's The Dain Curse (Part 1 of 3)

 *** This DVD is going to finally get its due after sitting on a shelf for like 2 years.  In my defense, the Box tells me that the Feature is 5 hours long.

Thankfully, upon further inspection, it is a TV Mini-Series broken into 3 Parts.  This way I can break into said Parts and not lose- let's be honest- about half of my day on this Film.  ***

This is 1978's The Dain Curse, based on a Story by Daschell Hammett.  I feel like that name doesn't hold the same gravitas in 2024 as it did back when this was made.  That's a shame.

He created The Thin Man- a very popular Series in its day- and, oh yeah, wrote The Maltese Falcon.  Too bad he was blacklisted for 'being a Communist.'  Damn!

The Plot involves Hamilton Nash- who's not the Lead in the Book- trying to solve a case of robbery that turns into murder and so much more.

The Cast includes James Coburn as Nash, as well as Jason Miller, Hector Elizando, Beatrice Straight and Jean Simmons.  It's very '70s and I love it.

How does it start?  Let's find out...

Hamilton Nash- Coburn- is a Private Detective who works for an Agency.

He just broke a big case, but will get no credit.
If you think that this Plot Point matters, you're wrong.

He's hired to look into the theft of some Diamonds at a Scientist's House.  The Insurance Company just wants him to sign off on it, but he's not that easy to fool.

He finds a diamond on the lawn, realizing that this is a setup...but for what?

Working the case leads to the Daughter- who's viewed as very eccentric- going missing.

She's found at, well, a Cult.

They're...clearly up to no good.

He brings her home, but right in time to find out that her Father was dead!

They claim that it is suicide and she's...happy?

Oh boy- exposition dump time....

The Scientist leaves behind a note admitting to killing his Wife (and the Mother of his Daughter) long ago and being in trouble.

However, Nash believes that this was not a suicide.

Stepmom says that the Daughter killed her Mom due to The Dain Curse.

When accused of the murder...

She grabs a gun and tries to get away.

She accidentally shoots herself and dies.

The Daughter ends up back with the Cult a bit later and Nash is hired to watch her.

While there, the Leader is conspiring in some way with a rich lady.

Meanwhile, someone gasses Nash, explaining this face.

He's able to stay away from too much gas (tee hee), but is still affected quite a bit.

One of the Cops shows up and, along with Nash, finds the Daughter with a knife and she's confessing to murder!

The End...of Part 1.

A good start, even if it does have to do all of the boring stuff that the beginnings of Trilogies do.

Imagine being able to just begin a Trilogy with the action.  No Story to worry about it.  It would make no sense, but it would be exciting!

The Story here is good and it really nails the feel of a Hammett Story.  Even though Nash is a composite character (and designed to look like the Author), he just feels right.

He's just smart and sly enough for realism, but also able to be surprised by the facts as they unfold.  Making a smart, but vulnerable Hero in these is hard to do.  

Make things too surprising or uneven and they look like a dope.  Make them too prepared and there's no drama.

Coburn, as you could guess, is great in the role.  He's not alone, as everyone does a pretty darn good job here.  You've got '70s Character Actors coming out of the woodwork, so you'd hope that it would be great.

Casting-wise, it is fun as a Horror Fan to see Jason Miller post-The Exorcist and Beatrice Straight Pre-Poltergeist.  It's just a sweet spot timing-wise.

I will say that the Title does not play too much into the Plot so far, but would it shock you to learn that it matters a whole lot in Parts 2 and 3?

I guess so.

Anyways, keep an eye out for Part 2 soon...