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87th Precinct (TV series)

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87th Precinct
Complete Series DVD cover
GenreCrime drama
Created byEvan Hunter
StarringRobert Lansing
Gena Rowlands
Ron Harper
Gregory Walcott
Norman Fell
Theme music composerMorton Stevens
ComposerPete Rugolo
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes30
Production
Executive producerHubbell Robinson
ProducerWinston Miller
CinematographyWilliam Margulies
Camera setupSingle-camera
Running time48-50 minutes
Production companyHubbell Robinson Productions
Original release
NetworkNBC
ReleaseSeptember 25, 1961 (1961-09-25) –
April 30, 1962 (1962-04-30)

87th Precinct is an American crime drama starring Robert Lansing, Gena Rowlands, Ron Harper, Gregory Walcott and Norman Fell, which aired on NBC on Monday evenings during the 1961–1962 television season.

Synopsis

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The characters appeared in a series of novels and short stories written by Ed McBain.[1] Lansing portrayed Detective Steve Carella, who worked in Manhattan's 87th precinct.[2]

The 87th Precinct TV series differs from the books in that the series is explicitly set in New York. As well, the character of Roger Havilland in the books is violent, corrupt, and thoroughly disliked by the other members of the squad; for the TV series, he was transformed into an honest and respected veteran officer.

87th Precinct premiered on September 25, 1961 and ended on September 10, 1962.[3]

Cast

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Recurring

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  • Gena Rowlands appeared in 4 episodes as Steve's wife Teddy Carella, and was featured in the opening credits in those episodes in which she did appear.
  • Paul Genge appeared in 5 episodes as Lt. Byrnes, the detectives' immediate superior officer.
  • Ruth Storey appeared in 5 episodes as Meyer's wife, Sarah Meyer.
  • Del McKinnon appeared in 7 episodes as medical examiner Dr. Blaney.

Episodes

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No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
1"The Floater"Herschel DaughertyTeleplay by : Winston Miller
Based on a novel by : Ed McBain[nb 1]
September 25, 1961 (1961-09-25)
2"Lady in Waiting"Alan Crosland Jr.Teleplay by : Ed McBain
Based on his novel : Killer's Wedge
October 2, 1961 (1961-10-02)
3"Lady Killer"Dick ModerTeleplay by : John Hawkins
Based on the novel by : Ed McBain
October 9, 1961 (1961-10-09)
4"The Modus Man"James Wong HoweFinlay McDermidOctober 16, 1961 (1961-10-16)
5"Line of Duty"Don WeisEd McBainOctober 23, 1961 (1961-10-23)
6"Occupation, Citizen"Alan Crosland Jr.Winston MillerOctober 30, 1961 (1961-10-30)
7"Killer's Payoff"John BrahmTeleplay by : Norman Katkov
Based on the novel by : Ed McBain
November 6, 1961 (1961-11-06)
8"The Guilt"William D. FarallaDavid LangNovember 13, 1961 (1961-11-13)
9"Empty Hours"Sidney LanfieldTeleplay by : Richard Collins
Based on the novel by : Ed McBain[nb 2]
November 20, 1961 (1961-11-20)
10"My Friend, My Enemy"Don WeisAnne Howard BaileyNovember 27, 1961 (1961-11-27)
11"The Very Hard Sell"Paul StewartHelen Nielsen
from her short story
December 4, 1961 (1961-12-04)
12"Til Death"Alan Crosland Jr.Teleplay by : Norman Katkov
Based on the novel by : Ed McBain
December 11, 1961 (1961-12-11)
13"The Heckler"Dick ModerTeleplay by : Richard Collins
Based on the novel by : Ed McBain
December 18, 1961 (1961-12-18)
14"Run, Rabbit, Run"Tay GarnettDonn MullallyDecember 25, 1961 (1961-12-25)
15"Main Event"Herman HoffmanWilliam FayJanuary 1, 1962 (1962-01-01)
16"Man in a Jam"James SheldonDonn MullallyJanuary 8, 1962 (1962-01-08)
17"Give the Boys a Great Big Hand"Don WeisTeleplay by : Shimon Wincelberg
Based on the novel by : Ed McBain
January 15, 1962 (1962-01-15)
18"Out of Order"Dick ModerJonathan LatimerJanuary 22, 1962 (1962-01-22)
19"The Pigeon"Don WeisStory by : Rik Vollaerts
Teleplay by : Rik Vollaerts & Raphael Hayes
January 29, 1962 (1962-01-29)
20"A Bullet for Katie"Herman HoffmanStory by : James Bloodworth
Teleplay by : Richard Collins & James Bloodworth
February 12, 1962 (1962-02-12)
21"King's Ransom"James SheldonEd McBain
Based on the novel by : Ed McBain
February 19, 1962 (1962-02-19)
22"Feel of the Trigger"Maurice GeraghtyJohn Hawkins
Based on the short story by : Donald E. Westlake
February 26, 1962 (1962-02-26)
23"Killer's Choice"Don WeisTeleplay by : Luther Davis & Richard Collins
Based on the novel by : Ed McBain
March 5, 1962 (1962-03-05)
24"Square Cop"James SheldonRobert Hardy AndrewsMarch 12, 1962 (1962-03-12)
25"Step Forward"James SheldonNorman KatkovMarch 26, 1962 (1962-03-26)
26"Idol in the Dust"Don TaylorDonn MullallyApril 2, 1962 (1962-04-02)
27"Ramon"Maurice GeraghtyDavid LangApril 9, 1962 (1962-04-09)
28"New Man in the Precinct"Don TaylorTeleplay by : Robert O'Brien & James Gunn
Based on a novel by : Ed McBain[nb 3]
April 16, 1962 (1962-04-16)
29"The Last Stop"Maurice GeraghtyDonn MullallyApril 23, 1962 (1962-04-23)
30"Girl in the Case"Herschel DaughertyRichard CollinsApril 30, 1962 (1962-04-30)

Home media

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Timeless Media Group released the complete series on DVD in Region 1 in August 2012.[4]

Notes

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  1. ^ Though not identified by name in the credits, the novel in question was The Con Man.
  2. ^ This was the on-screen credit, although "The Empty Hours" (not simply "Empty Hours") was actually a novella, and the title story of the 87th Precinct story collection The Empty Hours.
  3. ^ Though not identified by name in the credits, the novel in question was Killer's Choice. It was the second episode of the series to be adapted from this novel, but the two episodes are focused on very different plots that occurred separately (but concurrently) in the original novel.

References

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  1. ^ Jenner, Mareike (4 February 2016). American TV Detective Dramas: Serial Investigations. Springer. pp. 84–85. ISBN 978-1-137-42566-9. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  2. ^ Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle (1999). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present (7th ed.). New York: The Ballentine Publishing Group. p. 303. ISBN 0-345-42923-0.
  3. ^ McNeil, Alex (1996). Total Television (4th ed.). New York, New York: Penguin Books USA, Inc. p. 254. ISBN 0-14-02-4916-8.
  4. ^ "87th Precinct - 'The Complete Series' with Norman Fell (Before He Was 'Mr. Roper'!)". TVShowsOnDVD.com. Archived from the original on April 25, 2012. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
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