Thriller: One Deadly Owner (ITV 1974, Donna Mills, Jeremy Brett)

In One Deadly Owner beautiful fashion model Helen Cook gives in to a whim and buys a vintage rolls royce for six thousand pounds, on her first trap out in it she hears a piercing scream from what seems to be inside the car itself, later she becomes convinced it is possessed and tracks down the previous owner whose wife was murdered in brutal circumstances.

One of the best remembered Thrillers, has all the trademark elements one associates with the series too, an American in the lead (Donna Mills looking very gorgeous here), strong support from the British contingent, Jeremy Brett is as always completely fabulous, a brilliant actor, very understated but very cool. A bizarre, possibly supernatural plot and brilliant costume and production design. Donna Mills and the fabulous Jeremy Brett.

A quintessential slice of 1970’s TV wonderfulness. The voice of Bob Holness (legendary host of TV quiz show Blockbusters) pops up as a radio announcer.

As is so often the case with Clemens, he was well on the mark with his ideas, surely the first possessed car story made and definitely a few years before Stephen King’s similar Christine!

production details
UK / ITV Network – ATV – ITC / 1×75 minute episode / Broadcast 16 February 1974

Writer: Brian Clemens / Production Design: Roger Allan / Director: Ian Fordyce

Series: Thriller / Season Two Episode Four

cast
DONNA MILLS as Helen Cook
JEREMY BRETT as Peter Tower
ROBERT MORRIS as Freddy Green
LAURENCE PAYNE as John Jacey
ERIC LANDER as Hans
MICHAEL BEINT as Hawkins
ANTHONY DAWES as Car Salesman
BOB HOLNESS as Announcer
RAY MARIONI as Waiter