They Call It Murder - Erle Stanley Gardner creation w/ Jim Hutton, Leslie Nielsen

Erle Stanley Gardner, most famous as the author of the Perry Mason books, wrote several books featuring Doug Selby, a district attorney. This film is based on the plot for "The D.A. Draws a Circle" written in 1939. Over 30 years later, he hoped to finally launch a TV series with Jim Hutton as Selby. Maybe he said, "I'll get this pilot done if it's the last thing I ever do," because it was the last thing he ever did. He died in March of 1970. This pilot episode TV Movie (1971) features a charmingly smiley Leslie Nielsen (trying out an Irish accent), surly Lloyd Bochner as a high priced lawyer, plus Vic Tayback and Ed Asner. Jessica Walter and Jo Ann Pflug are the female leads. 1971, directed by Walter Grauman. Script by Sam Rolfe (best known for episodes of Have Gun Will Travel and The Man from UNCLE).