Peter Gunn is a private investigator in a nameless waterfront city who uses Mother's jazz club as his "office." He's modeled on Cary Grant and it shows. Suave and debonaire, he's also handy with a gun and can trade punches with the best of them. A spare case of regulars include the sultry jazz singer Edie as Gunn's girlfriend, tough but classy broad Mother, and cynical Lieutenant Jacoby as a friendly police contact.
My parents loved Peter Gunn and had the soundtrack by Henry Mancini. Indeed, you usually only hear this series mentioned because of Mancini (with Johnny Williams on piano) but the show is well worth watching for the half-hour bites of cool film noir. It was created and written by Blake Edwards in the days before his movie directing.
The excellent acting, interesting stories, creative camera angles and shadows, and snappy dialogue make each episode a pleasure. There's not a lot of time to develop intricate plots but the variety and atmosphere make it a pleasure.
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