Excellent but underrated film

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

When TV first came to my mountain town in 1952, I never missed an installment. The Norths brought into my little livingroom a bright shining married couple that just about embodied 1950's styles and ideals. Nonetheless, seeing even a small sampling 65-years later still entertains. It's a personality series that depends heavily on the charisma of its two stars, which Denning and Britton supply, in spades. Looks like the four stories that I recently viewed were mainly ordinary, except for one "Reunion" that deals with nuclear holocaust in rather daring fashion. So the series may not be as airbrushed as the early 1950's suggests. Filming is done in conventional high-key lighting, with little hint of noir. At the same time, production values appear on the budget side, with outdoor studio sets substituting for the real thing. Still, Pam is well upholstered in styles of the day, that is, when women still wore fancy hats. But what I really like is the North's sign-off where they break the proverbial "fourth wall" and smile at the audience. It's like they're saying "We had a good time, hope you did too". I sure did, Pam and Jerry, and much thanks for then and now.

As a fan of old time radio, I've observed that early television was often simply radio drama with pictures slapped on. "Mr. & Mrs. North" follows that pattern. Richard Denning and Barbara Britton are charming in the lead roles and the mysteries themselves aren't bad. My major beef is the pacing of the show. It spends an inordinate amount of time on opening and closing credits, builds an intriguing mystery, and then because of the 30-minute length (reduced by the need to include commercials) hurriedly wraps things up in the last 30-60 seconds without a satisfying denouement. Somehow, many radio mysteries of the same length managed to be more complete. A solution might have been two-part episodes, but that innovation apparently was uncommon at the time "Mr. & Mrs. North" was made. Still, it's a pleasant and wholesome diversion, superior to many other early TV shows available on dollar DVD.

This was an entertaining if innocuous series along the lines of "The Thin Man" without the booze. Pam and Jerry North (played with enthusiasm by Barbara Britton and Richard Denning) were New Yorkers who lived in a tidy little apartment. Jerry owned a mystery magazine company. So even though the North's were not filthy rich the way Nora Charles' family was, they still had plenty of spare time to investigate murder and mayhem. Pam usually solved the murder mystery but gave the credit to her husband, Jerry, and to police Lt. Bill Weigand (Francis De Sales). At times the series got a bit racy for early television. In one episode, Bill Weigand is speaking to Jerry over the telephone. Jerry has just reported another murder. Weigand jokes with a glint in his eyes, "How do you and Pam do it?" The audience doesn't hear the answer over the phone, but Weigand begins to chuckle with an impish look on his face.The series began with a creepy introduction. The door bell rings in the dead of night. Pam and Jerry North awake and with flashlight in hand pick up a note that was just pushed under the door in a mysterious manner. The note is unfolded: It reads, "And now...Mr. and Mrs. North." This series also had a cute closing following the credits. Pam plants a kiss on Jerry's face. He shows how much he enjoys it by giving a special look towards the camera. This is followed by a cartoon of Pam and Jerry putting the cat out to the tune of "Shoo Fly Don't Bother Me" so they can get down to business.The episode I watched recently on DVD was called, "Million Dollar Coffin." The story was well written involving a bank robbery with the robbers hiding the money in the coffin of a recently deceased friend. The gang plains to stay in hiding for three years, then return and dig up the cold cash. Enter Pam and Jerry who are seeking to exhume one of Jerry's ancestors who played an important role in the Revolutionary War. There were important historical documents buried with the body. You guessed it. The coffin they wish to dig up is next to the one containing the stolen money. Adding to the fun and games, one of the robbers can't wait. He is determined to get all the money first. This all leads to one of the best episodes ever. There is a stellar cast of character actors including Edward Brophy, who is actually funny this go around, Olin Howland, who overacts outrageously, and Guy Wilkerson, Panhandle Perkins of B western fame.

"Mr & Mrs North" is, basically, a forerunner to shows like "Hart To Hart": a married couple ALWAYS finding murder and mayhem wherever they go, and just like on "Hart To Hart", there is an emphasis on a humorous undercurrent, so nothing can be taken TOO seriously. Barbara Britton and Richard Denning (Lucille Ball's hubby on radio's long-running "My Favorite Husband", the show that led to "I Love Lucy") play sophisticated inhabitants of Greenwich Village who are also amateur sleuths, with Britton taking the more aggressive lead to Denning's more-reluctant follower. Sure, the low-budget sets and often over-the-top supporting performances cause unintentional laughs, but it's also undeniably fun, thanks to its two lead performers and quick (just 30 minutes) and painless (no deep thoughts here; just relax and enjoy) running time. I found this on DVD in a local "dollar" store chain, featuring 3 episodes, and the picture quality is surprisingly good, considering its source's age. Definitely a fun show!