Here is one of the finest episodes in David Janssen's fourth TV series, where his whisky-stained voice is given double usage--in his usual clipped line delivery, and in a more nuanced set of voiceovers that reveal him as a 1970s variant of Philip Marlowe.

In "Shadows at Noon" Harry Orwell gets involved with a troubled young woman who claims to have been held against her will in a mental hospital. Forced to send her back against his will, he channels his "inner Peter Breck" and gets himself admitted to get to the bottom of things--but said "things" get quite harrowing when a "self-admitting" patient he sends on an errand turns up dead.

Diana Ewing is exceptionally good as Marilyn Sidwell, who may or may not be batsh*t crazy. It was her shining moment in a career that, sadly, never managed to take off.

The sure-handed Paul Wendkos (THE BURGLAR) turns in very solid work as director; Robert Dozier, who had an up-and-down career after his shot at feature films went sideways (he penned THE CARDINAL for Otto Preminger, and after he recovered from that experience he experienced some vicarious catharsis by writing THE BIG BOUNCE, a film that bears some resemblance to "Shadows at Noon" in terms of the purported stability of the lead female character.)

Dozier was executive story editor for most of HARRY O's run; "Shadows at Noon" was one of two teleplays he wrote for the show. It's a keeper.