Barnaby Jones – “See Some Evil . . . Do Some Evil”

by Linda Kay

Original Air Date: April 8, 1973

Directed by: Lawrence Dobkin

Cat Out of the Bag Alert! This review contains spoilers for this episode!

Synopsis: Private detective Barnaby Jones (Buddy Ebsen) hopes to discover the identity of the person who killed one of his clients, but most of the potential suspects have good reasons for not being the killer, especially blind pianist Stanley Lambert (Roddy McDowall)

Cat Burglar (Scene Stealer): Lambert performs as a lounge pianist in a local bar which Jones visits several times during his investigation. For some reason which is never explained a longhair white cat has a special place on a pillow set upon the piano. Cocktail waitress Gloria (Beverly Powers) brings a glass of milk and pours some out for the kitty.

Barnaby Jones - See Some Evil, Do Some Evil - Gloria Beverly Powers giving milk to longhair white cat on piano played by Stanley Lambert Roddy McDowall as Buddy Ebsen approaches

When Gloria asks Jones if he’ll have anything he answers, “Milk.” “Another pussycat,” she sighs.

Barnaby Jones - See Some Evil, Do Some Evil - Gloria Beverly Powers and white cat on piano played by Stanley Lambert Roddy McDowall with Buddy Ebsen

Another suspect is Ginny Lind (Marlyn Mason), a guitarist and singer who performs with Lambert.

Barnaby Jones - See Some Evil, Do Some Evil - longhair white cat on piano played by Stanley Lambert Roddy McDowall with Ginny Lind Marlyn Mason

As Jones talks to Lind, Lambert listens in while petting the cat.

Barnaby Jones - See Some Evil, Do Some Evil - longhair white cat on piano petted by Stanley Lambert Roddy McDowall

Later in the episode Jones again visits the lounge. This time he pauses to pet the cat on the piano.

Barnaby Jones - See Some Evil, Do Some Evil - longhair white cat on piano played by Stanley Lambert Roddy McDowall
Barnaby Jones - See Some Evil, Do Some Evil - longhair white cat on piano petted by Buddy Ebsen

Lambert appears to be attached to the cat but is not the cat’s owner, as we never see the cat in his home. On the contrary, the cat appears to be a resident of the bar.

Barnaby Jones - See Some Evil, Do Some Evil - longhair white cat on piano played by Stanley Lambert Roddy McDowall
Barnaby Jones - See Some Evil, Do Some Evil - longhair white cat on piano with Stanley Lambert Roddy McDowall
Barnaby Jones - See Some Evil, Do Some Evil - longhair white cat on piano with Stanley Lambert Roddy McDowall and Buddy Ebsen

This is clear in the final scene when Jones is in the club for the last time and pours some milk for the cat.

Barnaby Jones - See Some Evil, Do Some Evil - longhair white cat having milk poured by Buddy Ebsen
Barnaby Jones - See Some Evil, Do Some Evil - longhair white cat with Buddy Ebsen in bar
Barnaby Jones - See Some Evil, Do Some Evil - longhair white cat having milk poured by Buddy Ebsen in bar animated gif

Final Mewsings: Could this have been a modest precursor of the cat cafe?

Many thanks to Nick Wale for letting us know about the cat in this episode.

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