Orson Welles' Great Mysteries (1973)
Orson Welles’ Great Mysteries is a British television anthology series produced by Anglia Television for the ITV network and broadcast between 1973 and 1974. The series presents standalone adaptations of classic mystery, crime, and supernatural stories drawn from literary sources including Dickens, Conan Doyle, Wilkie Collins, Balzac, Maugham, O. Henry, and others. Each episode is framed by original introductory and closing sequences performed by Orson Welles, who serves as the series’ host and sole recurring on-screen presence. These segments, written and directed by Welles (uncredited), function as stylized narrative framing devices rather than dramatic participation in the stories themselves. The dramatic content of each episode is performed by separate casts and directors, with no continuing characters or serialized narrative, establishing the series as a unified television anthology rather than a collection of standalone films.
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Episode 1 - The Ingenious Reporter
Release Date: 1973-11-17Reporter Harry Langley pretends to be the murderer of unidentified women to boost sales with a special report from prison. But once arrested, the authorities seem to be convinced that he is indeed the killer.
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Episode 2 - Death Of An Old-Fashioned Girl
Release Date: 1973-11-24 -
Episode 3 - For Sale - Silence
Release Date: 1973-12-01Businessman Pennington is bribed by a Mr. Briggs due to an extramarital affair. But it seems that Briggs has underestimated his opponent and the tables might be turning.
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Episode 4 - The Inspiration Of Mr. Budd
Release Date: 1973-12-08How did Mr. Budd become a top-class West End hairdresser after such humble origins in a suburban barbershop? Well, one day, a stranger came in for a shave and a haircut.
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Episode 5 - An Affair of Honour
Release Date: 1973-12-15India: After secret plans for the defence of a harbour are secretly copied, British General Sanderson tasks officers Bruce and Rolfe with convincing the apparent traitor Fanshaw to "save his honour" by committing suicide.
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Episode 6 - Farewell To The Faulkners
Release Date: 1973-12-22The masquerade is over when a murdered man turns up alive in the guise of his wife.
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Episode 7 - The Power of Fear
Release Date: 1973-12-29A handyman, finding that a number of middle-aged housewives require him for rather more than his professional services, turns to blackmail.
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Episode 8 - Where There's A Will
Release Date: 1974-01-05A letter opened in error provides rather dangerous knowledge concerning a murder case.
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Episode 9 - A Time To Remember
Release Date: 1974-01-12Zigorin, a top Russian spy, has defected to the West. But is he really Zigorin or an impostor?
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Episode 10 - Ice Storm
Release Date: 1974-01-19An "Ice Storm" traps a woman with a potential thief masquerading as one of three experts invited to view a collection of valuable manuscripts.
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Episode 11 - Come Into My Parlour
Release Date: 1974-01-26 -
Episode 12 - Compliments Of The Season
Release Date: 1974-02-03A penniless man tries to claim a reward from a millionaire at Christmas, and finds it's not as easy as he thought it would be.
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Episode 13 - Under Suspicion
Release Date: 1974-02-10A pianist on an international tour is forced to spy for the secret police to avoid being detained.