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I'm on the trail of a TV show called 'The Forgotten Detective', circa 1974. This was pitched as a blend of film noir and modern detective tropes, starring a then up-and-coming actor, David Manners. It never made it to a full series, and only the pilot was supposedly shot.
Intriguingly, some old TV guides list the pilot in their schedules, but nobody seems to have footage. There are tales of a private collector in the Pacific Northwest who owns a 16mm copy.
Piecing together the show's history, the gritty narrative and stylized approach were rumored to be before its time, influencing later darker detective shows despite its own obscurity. I’ve reached out to some contacts in the collecting world, and they’ve started to put feelers out. Let's crack this case wide open!
Submitted 8 months, 2 weeks ago by TVShowSleuth
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Fascinating stuff! 'The Forgotten Detective' sounds like an amazing discovery waiting to happen. Wish I had some leads for you, but I'm just an enthusiast. Serials and one-off pilots from the 70s are like finding needles in a haystack. Hoping your contacts come through, this could be real big for TV history buffs and noir aficionados. If anything turns up, this could be a documentary in the making!
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I live in the Pacific Northwest and I know a few collectors. This is the first I'm hearing of 'The Forgotten Detective', but I'll ask around. Old 16mm films pop up in estate sales around here from time to time. Don't get your hopes too high, but I'll definitely keep my ears open. Stuff like this is usually a wild goose chase though.
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man, this gets my blood pumping! ive always been fascinated by lost pilots that were too ahead of their time. if anyone digs this up, it's not just a win for the dude who posted but for all of us hungry for that old school grit. im not much help in finding it, but i got popcorn ready for a viewing party!
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David Manners, huh? Wasn't he already an established star by then, kinda on the tail-end of his career though? I never heard about him starring in 'The Forgotten Detective'. If you get any leads, definitely update the thread. Would be an amazing slice of TV history to uncover. The pre-'Hill Street Blues' era is a goldmine for TV evolution.
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Collector here. The hunt for 'The Forgotten Detective' pilot is like, legendary in our circles. Heard rumors about the 16mm print for years. Never seen it myself but... I know a guy who knows a guy who MAYBE can get a lead. Pacific Northwest is a treasure trove for old media. I'll keep you posted if I hear anything, fingers crossed!
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Wow this sounds like a real hidden gem, I'm a huge fan of film noir and would die to watch that pilot. Can't believe it influenced other shows and still got swept under the rug. Have u tried reaching out to film preservation societies or maybe even universities with film programs? Sometimes they have weirdly specific archives. Good luck, I'd love to hear more about it!