Somebody Just Walked Over My Grave
Encyclopedia
Somebody Just Walked Over My Grave is the seventeenth episode
of the popular 1969 ITC
British
television series Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)
starring Mike Pratt, Kenneth Cope
and Annette Andre
. The episode was first broadcast on 9 January 1970 on the ITV
. Directed by Cyril Frankel
.
. He sends Jeff to investigate the cemetery and in doing so is knocked unconscious several times by a masked 18th century axe
wielder. Telling Jeannie of his experiences and visiting a doctor (Cyril Shaps
) to treat his wounds concerned it may have affected his judgement, Jeff unintentionally manages to convince the doctor he is a madman and contacts the police
as he escapes. Lying low and suspecting the gardener at the cemetery anyway, Jeff accepts a job with Mandrake, the wealthy owner in the nearby mansion, and stumbles on an intricate plot to steal his insane agoraphobic son through an underground tunnel
pretending to hold him to ransom
. It is all part of a plot to inherit his father's fortune but when he marries his young housekeeper the plan is demised.
to watch a football
match between Germany
and England
. Watching from inside the commentary box (also housing the commentator Fawlty Towers
's Andrew Sachs
) he learns that he is able to control the game and blows a ball over the cross bar and a German player shoots at an open goal. Mandrake's mad hippie son Harry also brings up some issues, parodying cannabis
smoking of the era and suffering from agoraphobia. His extreme hair and his obsession for indoor paint throwing is also of amusing note.
Jeff flirted outrageously with Martha, Mandrake's housekeeper and later wife (Patricia Haines
)
Episode
An episode is a part of a dramatic work such as a serial television or radio program. An episode is a part of a sequence of a body of work, akin to a chapter of a book. The term sometimes applies to works based on other forms of mass media as well, as in Star Wars...
of the popular 1969 ITC
ITC Entertainment
The Incorporated Television Company was a British television company largely involved in production and distribution. It was founded by Lew Grade.-History:...
British
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
television series Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)
Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)
Randall and Hopkirk , first transmitted during 1969-70, is a British private detective television series starring Mike Pratt and Kenneth Cope as the private detectives Jeff Randall and Marty Hopkirk, respectively. The series was originally created by Dennis Spooner and produced by Monty Berman...
starring Mike Pratt, Kenneth Cope
Kenneth Cope
Kenneth Cope is an English actor. He is most famous for his roles as Marty Hopkirk in Randall and Hopkirk , Jed Stone in Coronation Street and Ray Hilton in Brookside.- Career :...
and Annette Andre
Annette Andre
Annette Andre is an Australian actress best known for her work on British television throughout the 1960s and 1970s. She was educated at Brigidine College, Sydney. Her father was an upholsterer....
. The episode was first broadcast on 9 January 1970 on the ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
. Directed by Cyril Frankel
Cyril Frankel
Cyril Frankel is a British film and television director, now retired. His career in television began in 1953 and he directed for over 30 TV programmes until 1990....
.
Synopsis
Marty finds somebody digging around his graveGrave (burial)
A grave is a location where a dead body is buried. Graves are usually located in special areas set aside for the purpose of burial, such as graveyards or cemeteries....
. He sends Jeff to investigate the cemetery and in doing so is knocked unconscious several times by a masked 18th century axe
Axe
The axe, or ax, is an implement that has been used for millennia to shape, split and cut wood; to harvest timber; as a weapon; and as a ceremonial or heraldic symbol...
wielder. Telling Jeannie of his experiences and visiting a doctor (Cyril Shaps
Cyril Shaps
-Biography:Shaps was born in Highbury, London; he was of Polish ancestry and his father was a tailor.He was a child broadcaster, providing voices for radio commercials at the age of 12. After grammar school and Army service he trained at RADA and then worked for two years as an announcer, producer...
) to treat his wounds concerned it may have affected his judgement, Jeff unintentionally manages to convince the doctor he is a madman and contacts the police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
as he escapes. Lying low and suspecting the gardener at the cemetery anyway, Jeff accepts a job with Mandrake, the wealthy owner in the nearby mansion, and stumbles on an intricate plot to steal his insane agoraphobic son through an underground tunnel
Tunnel
A tunnel is an underground passageway, completely enclosed except for openings for egress, commonly at each end.A tunnel may be for foot or vehicular road traffic, for rail traffic, or for a canal. Some tunnels are aqueducts to supply water for consumption or for hydroelectric stations or are sewers...
pretending to hold him to ransom
Ransom
Ransom is the practice of holding a prisoner or item to extort money or property to secure their release, or it can refer to the sum of money involved.In an early German law, a similar concept was called bad influence...
. It is all part of a plot to inherit his father's fortune but when he marries his young housekeeper the plan is demised.
Overview
In this episode Marty also departs Jeff and travels to GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
to watch a football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
match between Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Watching from inside the commentary box (also housing the commentator Fawlty Towers
Fawlty Towers
Fawlty Towers is a British sitcom produced by BBC Television and first broadcast on BBC2 in 1975. Twelve television program episodes were produced . The show was written by John Cleese and his then wife Connie Booth, both of whom played major characters...
's Andrew Sachs
Andrew Sachs
Andrew Sachs is a German-born British actor. He made his name on British television and is best known for his portrayals of Manuel in Fawlty Towers, a role for which he was BAFTA-nominated, and Ramsay Clegg in Coronation Street.-Early life:Sachs was born in Berlin, Germany, the son of Katharina , a...
) he learns that he is able to control the game and blows a ball over the cross bar and a German player shoots at an open goal. Mandrake's mad hippie son Harry also brings up some issues, parodying cannabis
Cannabis
Cannabis is a genus of flowering plants that includes three putative species, Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. These three taxa are indigenous to Central Asia, and South Asia. Cannabis has long been used for fibre , for seed and seed oils, for medicinal purposes, and as a...
smoking of the era and suffering from agoraphobia. His extreme hair and his obsession for indoor paint throwing is also of amusing note.
Jeff flirted outrageously with Martha, Mandrake's housekeeper and later wife (Patricia Haines
Patricia Haines
Patricia Haines was an English actress.Born in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, Haines is best known for her television work...
)
Cast
- Mike Pratt as Jeff Randall
- Kenneth CopeKenneth CopeKenneth Cope is an English actor. He is most famous for his roles as Marty Hopkirk in Randall and Hopkirk , Jed Stone in Coronation Street and Ray Hilton in Brookside.- Career :...
as Marty Hopkirk - Annette AndreAnnette AndreAnnette Andre is an Australian actress best known for her work on British television throughout the 1960s and 1970s. She was educated at Brigidine College, Sydney. Her father was an upholsterer....
as Jeannie Hopkirk
- Patricia HainesPatricia HainesPatricia Haines was an English actress.Born in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, Haines is best known for her television work...
.... Martha - Geoffrey HughesGeoffrey HughesGeoffrey Hughes, DL is an English actor.As well as a wide range of TV and film appearances, Hughes is best known for a series of supporting roles in popular UK television dramas...
.... Harper - Bernard KayBernard KayBernard Kay is a British actor with an extensive theatre, television and film repertoire.Kay began his working life as a reporter on Bolton Evening News, and a stringer for The Manchester Guardian. He was conscripted in 1946 and started acting in the army...
.... Dighton - George MurcellGeorge MurcellGeorge Murcell was a British character actor. His first wife was Josephine Tweedy whom he married in 1953, and his second was the actress Elvi Hale whom he was married to from 1960 until his death....
.... Mandrake - Andrew SachsAndrew SachsAndrew Sachs is a German-born British actor. He made his name on British television and is best known for his portrayals of Manuel in Fawlty Towers, a role for which he was BAFTA-nominated, and Ramsay Clegg in Coronation Street.-Early life:Sachs was born in Berlin, Germany, the son of Katharina , a...
.... Commentator - Cyril ShapsCyril Shaps-Biography:Shaps was born in Highbury, London; he was of Polish ancestry and his father was a tailor.He was a child broadcaster, providing voices for radio commercials at the age of 12. After grammar school and Army service he trained at RADA and then worked for two years as an announcer, producer...
.... Dr. Cholmond - Michael SheardMichael SheardMichael Sheard was a Scottish actor who featured in a large number of films and television programmes.-Early life:...
.... German Commentator - Nigel TerryNigel TerryNigel Terry is an English stage and film actor probably best known by film audiences for his portrayal of King Arthur in John Boorman's Excalibur . However, he has had a long career in classical theatre....
.... Harry - Beverly Winn .... Valerie