The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes Cell 13 (1971–1973) Online

This is the first time we see the eminent professor and this also happens to have been the first story written by Jacques Futrelle containing Van Dusen. This story ran as a series in a Sunday supplement for a number of weeks; with readers invited to send in the guesses to the solution before the last part was published. Amazingly enough one reader was able to determine the exact solution before it was published.

This adaptation is interesting as it is the first theatrical adaptation of the professor that I can determine. I do not believe he was seen in film (or videotape) before. Of note is that Wilmer portrayed Sherlock Holmes in other plays; in fact, there are a number of actors who portray a "rival" to Holmes who also portrayed the Baker Street detective in other venues. This episode is interesting in that it is, strictly speaking, not a criminal investigation nor a "whodunit" but more of a "howdidhedoit?" It is artfully carried out and well worth viewing.

This is /not/ the first TV adaptation of "The Problem of Cell 13". Kraft Mystery Theater did an adaptation titled "The Problem in Cell Block 13" in 1962. I remember watching it. I was particularly interested because I'd read a collection of several Futrelle works a few years earlier -- and was not impressed.

For those not familiar with Jacques Futrelle, he is arguably the worst mystery writer of all time. (Even his grandson agrees.) You cannot believe how trivial his mysteries are (most of them are what you would expect from an unimaginative high-school student), and how often he makes mistakes. "The Problem of Cell 13" is considered his masterpiece, likely because it's less bad than his other stories.

--MAJOR SPOILERS--

Which is not to say the basic /idea/ of "Cell 13" isn't a good one. Goaded by the police inspector, Professor Augustus S F X Van Dusen says he can /think/ his way out of a prison. Not by teleportation, but by using his mind -- "which is the same thing".

The inspector suggests that Van Dusen be immediately imprisoned, without any opportunity to prepare, just as a criminal taken hostage would be. Van Dusen accepts, asking only for a change of clothes, having his shoes polished, and being given $20 or so in bills -- which requests the inspector may grant or decline. As there is no obvious way these could help Van Dusen escape, the inspector reluctantly agrees. (Dummy!)

At this point, the story starts falling apart, because Van Dusen's fancy shirt, shined shoes, and ready cash are vital to Futrelle's plotting. Fiction is inherently arbitrary -- but it mustn't /seem/ so -- and the hand of the writer is all-too obvious here.

I won't tell you how this plays out, but it's fairly clever. At the end of the tale, the prison yard's arc light goes out, and one of the electricians who arrives to fix it is Van Dusen.

The problems with the story might have passed unnoticed, but Futrelle doesn't know to quit while he's ahead. The inspector asks Van Dusen "What if we hadn't given you the shirt, the shoes, and the cash?". Van Dusen cryptically replies "There were two other ways out." Well, either of /those/ would have made a better story, right?

Whoever wrote the Kraft adaptation was apparently aware of this, and changed the dialog to gloss over this point. (I don't remember exactly what he did -- it's been 51 years!) "Cell 13" is not unlike "My Cousin Vinnie". The author starts with the desired ending, then works backwards to force that ending. Many stories are written this way -- but a good writer tries to hide it. Jacques Futrelle was not a good writer.