Old time Hollywood star Richard Widmark had a big screen hit on his hands with Madigan, playing the role of a grizzled big city cop. Being killed in the Madigan movie didn't stop NBC execs green-lighting him for what turned out to be a single season on TV in 1972. Placing his new adventures on the "Mystery Movie" label, the network put Madigan in the same bracket as the likes of McCloud and Columbo. There wasn't much difference between him and other detectives, aside from a key and some could argue fatal distinction. For some reason producers thought taking him out of the Big Apple and placing him in various European urban centres was a great idea. So Madigan went to London, Naples and Lisbon as well as pounding his usual beat. Whilst more established snoopers undertook the odd vacation assignment, this "too much too soon" approach could well explain why Widmark's show only lasted six episodes. The star brushed off the failure, returning to the big screen with such culty outings as The Swarm and Who Dares Wins, as well as meatier fare like Against All Odds.
I am a journalist and comedian who enjoys American movies of the 70s, Amicus horror compendiums, Doctor Who, Twin Peaks, Naomi Watts and sitting down. My short fiction has been published as part of the Iris Wildthyme range from Obverse Books.
