In 1977, Thayer David and Tom Mason starred in the made-for-TV movie based on The Doorbell Rang, intended as the pilot episode for a television series. Very soon after the pilot was completed (see information below regarding the pilot) Thayer David died (July, 17, 1978). The show was first telecast on late night TV in December. In addition to Mr. David's untimely death hampering the telecast of the show, the plot of The Doorbell Rang was a controversial treatment of the FBI.
The photo (click to see an enlargement) is of the series' cast with Rebecca Stout (daughter of Rex & Pola). The series with William Conrad and Lee Horsley was eventually made rather quickly. The 14 episodes of the series ran from January through August, 1981 as a mid-season replacement.
The series was poorly received by many fans of the books
due to its lack of adherence to the book's plots (even in those instances when the episode name corresponded to a book title) and Mr. Conrad's lack of similarity to Mr. Wolfe in appearance and personality.
The pilot is considered a good adaptation of the book's plot and characters. The pilot with Thayer David plus the episdoes with William Conrad are now available from Amazon on DVD: https://www.amazon.com/Stouts-Nero-Wolfe-Complete-Episodes/dp/B072F3Z8TG/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=nero+wolfe+william+conrad&qid=1561132583&s=gateway&sr=8-3
- See IMDB for further details regarding:
- Nero Wolfe Movie (1979) is available on YouTube as of the date at the bottom of this page: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMGCF97jItw
- Series Theme Song with introductory scenes — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NJ-UEzG7dk
- Frank Cannon spoof (a later William Conrad Series) — http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgkukSvQtgA
- Full Episodes of the Series are regularly available (specific links come and go) on YouTube. Use the search string, in quotes, "nero wolfe william conrad full episode."
EPISODES (sequentially):
- The Golden Spiders
- Death on the Doorstep
- Before I Die
- Wolfe at the Door
- Might As Well Be Dead
- To Catch a Dead Man
- In the Best of Families
- Murder by the Book
- What Happened to April?
- Gambit
- Death and the Dolls
- The Murder in Question
- Blue Ribbon Hostage
- Sweet Revenge
TV SERIES CAST:
- William Conrad — Nero Wolfe
- Robert Coote — Theodore Horstmann
- Lee Horsley — Archie Goodwin
- Allan Miller — Inspector Cramer
- George Voskovec — Fritz Brenner
- George Wyner — Saul Panzer
PILOT
The Doorbell Rang (Thayer David) 1977 (aired 1979)
- Review of the Pilot — The New York Times review
- Google Images of Thayer David & Tom Mason
- Nero Wolfe Movie (1979) (the pilot) is available on YouTube as of the date at the bottom of this page: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMGCF97jItw
- Series Theme Song with introductory scenes — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NJ-UEzG7dk
Nero Wolfe Movie (Pilot) Cast:
Thayer David — Nero Wolfe - Tom Mason — Archie Goodwin
- Brooke Adams — Sarah Dacos
- Biff McGuire — Inspector Cramer
- John Randolph — Lon Cohen
- Anne Baxter — Mrs. Rachael Bruner
- David Hurst — Fritz Benner
- John O'Leary — Theodore Horstmann
- Lewis Charles — Saul Panzer
- Frank Campanella — Fred Durkin
