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N.Y.P.D. {NYPD}: THE PEEP FREAK (TV)

Summary

One in this series of dramas shot on location in New York, and based on actual cases handled by the New York City police. In this episode, a woman is strangled in her apartment and Corso and Ward interview the neighbors, including a dance teacher, Edith. She immediately accuses the "pervert" across the alley, saying that he spies on his neighbors with binoculars. When they talk to the man in question, Fred Janney, he angrily denies everything, saying he is neither a murderer nor a Peeping Tom. The detectives find photos of the victim's many boyfriends, and Tom the landlord agrees that he has seen the various men visiting her. Corso and Ward inform Haines that Fred looks guilty, as he has no alibi and was seen talking to the victim despite claiming not to know her, and also because he served jail time for assault against a woman. Ward talks to Fred's psychiatrist, who refuses to divulge detailed information, but swears that Fred is over his "paranoid tendencies" and is no longer a danger. Fred tracks down Corso and tries to explain himself, swearing that he has mastered his issues and was not peeping on the night in question, though Corso is unconvinced.

Ward then learns from Tom that flowers have arrived for the victims, as they do every week, sent by one of her paramours, George Russell. Upon learning that George recently threatened the victim after she ended their relationship, the detectives decide to bring Fred in as a witness, assuming that he was indeed spying and might have seen the real killer. Elsewhere, Tom finds Edith moving out of her apartment, and she explains that she is unnerved at the thought of living close to murderers and "peep freaks," again stating her belief in Fred's guilt. Fred correctly identifies George in the lineup, but says only that he has seen him in the building, refusing to confirm that he saw him commit the murder, as that would mean admitting to spying. When he returns to his apartment, he is suddenly attacked by Tom, who attempted to strangle him. Corso arrives just in time and chases Tom out onto the roof, preventing him from falling to his death before arresting him. Later, Ward and Corso explain that Tom killed the victim when she refused his advances and then came after Fred upon learning of his peeping habit, believing that he might have witnessed the murder. Fred reiterates that he did not see the crime, but admits that he is unsure if he would have reported it if he had. Commercials deleted.

Details

  • NETWORK: ABC
  • DATE: December 3, 1968 9:30 PM
  • RUNNING TIME: 0:26:03
  • COLOR/B&W: Color
  • CATALOG ID: B:65445
  • GENRE: Drama, police/detective
  • SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, police/detective
  • SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1967-1969
  • COMMERCIALS: N/A

CREDITS

  • Daniel Melnick … Executive Producer
  • Bob Markell … Producer
  • George Goodman … Associate Producer
  • David Pressman … Director
  • David Susskind … Created by
  • Arnold Perl … Created by
  • Stanley H. Silverman … Writer
  • Charles Gross … Music by
  • Jack Warden … Cast, Lt. Mike Haines
  • Robert Hooks … Cast, Det. Jeff Ward
  • Frank Converse … Cast, Det. John Corso
  • Martin Sheen … Cast, Fred Janney
  • John Cazale … Cast, Tom Andrews
  • Janis Young … Cast, Edith Graham
  • Miriam Goldina … Cast, Dr. Radenko
  • April Shawhan … Cast, Jill Marlowe
  • Peter White … Cast, Russell
  • Raul Julia … Cast, The Patrolman