Cold Case

World's End

Season 5, Episode 7, Aired 11/4/07

Episode Summary

When human remains are discovered at the bottom of a well, the team opens the 1938 case of a housewife who went missing the night of Orson Welles' radio broadcast of War of the Worlds.

8.5

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Cast & Crew

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Kathryn Morris

Lilly Rush
Danny Pino

Scotty Valens
John Finn

Lt. John Stillman

Fan Episode Reviews (12)

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Cold Case marks its 100th episode with the investigation of the murder of a suburban housewife on October 30, 1938. Coincidentally, the night of the infamous War of the Worlds radio broadcast starring Orson Welles.moreless

7.0

"Good"

By meathead704, Nov 03, 2011 Report Abuse

Being a fan of Orson Welles' excellent War of the Worlds radio broadcast, I did like this episode to a certain degree because it was neat listening to exceprts from the radio show. However, the loopholes in the plot are a major problem. They have been pretty much pointed out by other reviewers of this episode. The age of the characters from 1938 in the present day is one such flaw. John Finn's character vividly recalling the events of that day is a problem as well. That would make him close to 80. This episode misses the mark completely.moreless

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1 1
Very poor indeed.

1.1

"Abysmal"

By paulr37, Sep 26, 2010 Report Abuse

Where to start. First there was no mass panic about the broadcast of the War of the Worlds, it's an urban myth, largely spread by Orson Wells himself. [A little research by the writers would have uncovered this.] As stated by other contributers the ages of the actors was laughable - they should have been nearly 100.
So this women leaves her SON and husband (when she thinks the worlds's going to end), to be with a man who lied about his wife being dead. Little tramp, I think if I had been the husband I would have been mightly P.O. as well.
This show is normally excellent but this was laugh out loud appalling.moreless

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2 6
This was interesting but there is something, one line that really bothers me.

8.0

"Great"

By crbjc, Aug 25, 2010 Report Abuse

I always enjoy this show and the way it revisits the past and makes people review all the mistakes that they made long ago. Its use of music is astonishing and adds to the magic of the hour. They focus us on times long ago and the moments that make us all human. The depression was a time when pride went out the window and good people fell into the greatest despair imaginable. In ordinary times they would have known it was just a radio play but in those dark hours with news of Hitler invading Poland flashing into their minds all they could do was panic. However, one question needs to be asked How old is Lt. John Stillman? He says that he and his wife raced home to be with the kids... come on that would make him well over 80. Even as naive as I am I can not buy that.moreless

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6 1
An interesting story line, but with a serious flaw.

5.0

"Mediocre"

By drjgorman, Aug 25, 2010 Report Abuse

As the story developed, I started doing the math. I was born in 1939, which makes me 68 years old. This story begins in 1938, with the college graduate, middle class father of an 8 year old son. According to my (old, decrepit, and befuddled) calculations, the adult 1938 characters would probably range in age from 22 (young taxi dancer) to 32 (Dauber's father.) Fast forward to 2007, and you have people who's ages are 91 to 101. None of the characters appeared, even close to those ages. Even Dauber would have been 77. While it is possible that one or two of them could have aged "gracefully," it is very unlikely that all would.moreless

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4 0
I really enjoy the Cold Case episodes that go father back in time including this episode.

9.0

"Superb"

By orianaorange, Aug 25, 2010 Report Abuse

While I love almost all Cold Case episodes I really love the ones that take place several decades ago rather than ones from the last 20 years or so. When the show puts together music, costumes, sets, etc that really show a time period over 50 years so realistically I think that is when the show really shines. Now while I do agree that the chances of most of the people fetured in this episode still being alive is slim I still really enjoyed it. Also, 1938 was not 80 years ago it was 69 years ago unlike stated in other reviews but still the son looked much younger than 77.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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Trivia
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- Incorrectly Regarded as Goofs: At first glance, the handkerchief in the evidence bag that was found on the body seems to have the initials A.M.W. (and not A.W.M. for Audrey W. Metz). However, the middle letter, M, is the tallest of the three and represents the last name. The smaller initials on the right and left sides represent the first and middle names. Lilly even reads the initials out loud in the right order. Edit
- Audrey Metz died on October 30, 1938. Edit
Notes
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- International Airdates: - Denmark: January 23, 2008 on TV3 - The Netherlands: April 12, 2008 on Net 5 - Czech Republic: June 18, 2008 on TV Nova - Finland: June 24, 2008 on MTV3 - Germany: July 2, 2008 on Pro7 - Norway: July 16, 2008 on TVNorge - Slovakia: August 11, 2009 on Markiza - Turkey: October 20, 2009 on CNBC-e Edit
- Music Featured in This Episode:
  - Begin the Beguine by Artie Shaw
  - You Can't Pull the Wool Over My Eyes by Benny Goodman
  - Jumpin' at the Woodside by Count Basie
  - Always by Ralph Flanagan
  - It's Easy to Remember by Bing Crosby
  - Moonlight Serenade by Glenn Miller & His Orchestra
  - Always by Frank Sinatra
  Edit
- This marks the 100th episode of Cold Case, which is celebrated with a slew of guest stars and the return of a familiar face. 100 episodes is usually considered the point after which a series becomes viable for syndication. Edit
Quotes
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- Jeffries: Found torn movie ticket in Audrey's purse. The whole country's panicking, she goes to see the movies? Vera: Maybe the usher did it. Edit
- Vera: Anybody know it was a prank? Stillman: The power of radio in those days, Nick. It was the only live news source. Lilly: Back when the news wasn't about the latest starlet's drunk driving bust. Edit
- Audrey: (first time as a taxi dancer) Do we just stand and wait? Penny: You don't wait. (taking her bolero off) You advertise! Edit
Allusions
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- Lilly: We find Hoffa in this hole, boss? Jimmy Hoffa was a labor leader, who was convicted to imprisonment for bribing a grand juror in 1961. He was released from prison in 1971 on the condition that he not participate in union activities. He was planning on sue to invalidate the order when he suddenly disappeared on July 30, 1975. He is believed to be dead but the body has never been found. Rumors abound as to the final burial place of Jimmy Hoffa. Edit
- The War of the Worlds This episode relies heavily on Orson Welles' radio broadcast of The War of the Worlds. Based on H.G. Wells' scifi novel by the same name, the radio adaptation was performed as the Halloween special of the radio drama anthology series Mercury Theatre on the Air on October 30, 1938. According to urban legends, many people believed the radio play to be an actual news broadcast of the Martian invasion on Earth. Edit