STAGE 7 – The Long Count – 1955

This is the 9th episode of the one season run of the anthology series, STAGE 7. The series ran for 25 episodes during 1955. The headliner in this film noir-like episode is Frank Lovejoy.

Frank Lovejoy plays a Private Eye in this one who goes by the name of McGraw. Lovejoy is hired by mobbed-up boxing promoters (Ted de Corcia, Mel Welles). His job is to keep an eye on boxer Biff Elliot for a few days before his title shot. Elliot has eyes for the ladies, and it might get him in a bit of trouble. He has a thing for De Corcia's girl (Joan Vohs).

Lovejoy and Elliot are put up in a hotel so Lovejoy can keep him quiet and "alone." That night however, Elliot leaves through the window and hotfoots it into the dark. He has a date with Miss Vohs.

The next morning, Nestor Pavia, Elliot's manager, shows up to collect Elliot for the pre-fight medical. Needless to say, Lovejoy, or anyone else is happy that Elliot had taken off.

Lovejoy pays a visit to Vohs' apartment--but no joy there. Elliot never made it to her place for their horizontal cha-cha meeting. It turns out that Elliot managed to get himself killed in a hit and run accident!

Now everyone is really annoyed at Lovejoy. Lovejoy pays a visit to the doctor's to get the info on Elliot's death. It seems that he had an underlying heart problem and most likely would not have passed the physical.

Lovejoy has a chat with his Police buddies and they do a check of various cars. They soon find out that Miss Vohs' car had been used to run down Elliot. However, the car was filled with promoter Welles' fingerprints.

A bit of 3rd degree soon has things settled. Welles knew about the heart problem and decided to bump Elliot off before the medical. Welles would then make a large score off all the insurance he'd accrued in case of a cancelled fight.





Not great, but by no means a stinker. The look of the episode is excellent with veteran film noir cinematographer Harry J. Wild at the controls. Wild's big screen work includes JOHNNY ANGEL, CORNERED, NOCTURNE, THEY WON'T BELIEVE ME, PITFALL, THE BIG STEAL, THE THREAT, HIS KIND OF WOMAN, MACAO and MURDER MY SWEET.

This episode was the second pilot for the series MEET MCGRAW. The series, with Lovejoy in the title role, ran for 42 episodes in 1957-58.