In my opinion, this is the best Naked City episode of all. It's really the start of the one hour revamped version and everything and everyone clicks, particularly Paul Burke, Horace McMahon, and Eli Wallach. Even Peter Falk's role at the very beginning, is memorable. One of the all time great police dramas, with everything in synch; acting, writing, casting. Crooked cops are difficult to portray and the scriptwriter (Stirling Sillaphant) does a marvelous job. Even the wonderful black and white photography comes across so well, it adds to the mood and aura of suspicion. The producers really hit a home run by replacing James Franciscus with Paul Burke; the quintessential intellectual lawman. Wish they made TV like this today.
6 Reviews
"Double Yoiur Cop Show, Double Its View, From 30 to 60 Minutes Anew!" * (Boy, am I a regular George M. Cohan, or what?)
redryan6430 May 2008
Warning: Spoilers
IN this inaugural episode for the second season of NAKED CITY a sort of vest pocket film noir thriller was presented as a .300 hitting Lead-Off Man. A large cast for a TV Drama was employed; which even included a recreation of a Prize Fight at New York's famous St. Nicholas Arena, with a large viewing audience. It was really filmed for the TV Series; instead of making use of inter-cut stock footage, sound effects, ringside sounds and even the "smells" of the Arena, to create the proper ambiance needed.
THERE was indeed a very good reason for stacking up the armaments heavy; for the series itself had been in hiatus for a whole year and was in need of a new beginning. After its first year of 1958-59 on the ABC TV Network's primetime schedule, the then Half-Hour NAKED CITY Series was dropped. Either as a voluntarily self-imposed exile or as the result of an edict from "the Suits" who ruled ABC; the end result was the same. The James Franciscus starring vehicle was history; at least temporarily.
SO then in the Autumn of 1960, while the season of the Kennedy-Nixon Debates were highlighting the Presidential Election Campaign, the new improved 'Biggie Sized' NYC Police Drama made its appearance. This now Hour-Long episode of the program has all of the appearances of a sort of second Pilot,which it in a sense is. From top to bottom, it's just chuck full of extra guest-starring Actors.
FIRST of all we see a 'pre-COLOMBO' Peter Faulk in an uncredited role. Main guest-star, Eli Wallach gets top billing over Series Lead, Det. Ben Flint (Paul Burke), Lt. Mike Parker (Horace McMahon),Libby (Nancy Malone), Det.Frank Arcaro (Harry Bellaver) and the others appearing. Others making appearances are: George Maharis, Godfrey Cambridge, Clifton James, and many others.
OUR STORY...(in the Proverbial Nutshell)........We open up with Det. Flint (Mr. Burke) and Det. Bane (Mr. Wallach)responding to an incident of a hoodlum (Peter Faulk),shooting at the Police from the rooftop of a big building; actually wounding a Unifgormed Cop in the process. Flint and Bane go to the roof, where Bane corners and fatally shoots the bad guy, even though he had essentially given up; being out of ammo and hence, unarmed.
THE incident does not sit well with Det. Flint, who is recruited by Lt. Parker in a quest to check up on Bane's fitness to remain a Cop. The investigation (and the convenience of some scenes with Bane and some conspirators) brings us close to a plot by the Rogue Cop to rob the Box Office at St. Nicholas Arena; with the use of people blackmailed by Bane into cooperating with his plan.
IN the end, the people come through as basically good and Det. Bane winds up Flint having to fatally shoot Bane in self-defense and in order to protect others.
IT is as much as a short Caper Film as it is Noir. It sort of resembles the Stanley Kubrick theatrical film release of THE KILLING (Hams-Kubrick Prod./United Artists, 1956). But similarities or not, the Series got the proper kick as desired and sort of made an attempt at a second chance at making a good first impression.
The Series episode concludes with Narrator Larry Dobkin's usual pronouncement about the number of stories in the Naked City; but this time there is some extra pronouncements about how different people react. It makes the closing words about twice as long as usual.
I guess they thought that it had to be that way; what with the story being Doubled in Length!
Poodle Schnitz!!
NOTE: * To be sung to the tune of the old Wrigleys Doublemint Gum jingle of "Double Your Pleasure, Double Your Fun........etc,etc..."
THERE was indeed a very good reason for stacking up the armaments heavy; for the series itself had been in hiatus for a whole year and was in need of a new beginning. After its first year of 1958-59 on the ABC TV Network's primetime schedule, the then Half-Hour NAKED CITY Series was dropped. Either as a voluntarily self-imposed exile or as the result of an edict from "the Suits" who ruled ABC; the end result was the same. The James Franciscus starring vehicle was history; at least temporarily.
SO then in the Autumn of 1960, while the season of the Kennedy-Nixon Debates were highlighting the Presidential Election Campaign, the new improved 'Biggie Sized' NYC Police Drama made its appearance. This now Hour-Long episode of the program has all of the appearances of a sort of second Pilot,which it in a sense is. From top to bottom, it's just chuck full of extra guest-starring Actors.
FIRST of all we see a 'pre-COLOMBO' Peter Faulk in an uncredited role. Main guest-star, Eli Wallach gets top billing over Series Lead, Det. Ben Flint (Paul Burke), Lt. Mike Parker (Horace McMahon),Libby (Nancy Malone), Det.Frank Arcaro (Harry Bellaver) and the others appearing. Others making appearances are: George Maharis, Godfrey Cambridge, Clifton James, and many others.
OUR STORY...(in the Proverbial Nutshell)........We open up with Det. Flint (Mr. Burke) and Det. Bane (Mr. Wallach)responding to an incident of a hoodlum (Peter Faulk),shooting at the Police from the rooftop of a big building; actually wounding a Unifgormed Cop in the process. Flint and Bane go to the roof, where Bane corners and fatally shoots the bad guy, even though he had essentially given up; being out of ammo and hence, unarmed.
THE incident does not sit well with Det. Flint, who is recruited by Lt. Parker in a quest to check up on Bane's fitness to remain a Cop. The investigation (and the convenience of some scenes with Bane and some conspirators) brings us close to a plot by the Rogue Cop to rob the Box Office at St. Nicholas Arena; with the use of people blackmailed by Bane into cooperating with his plan.
IN the end, the people come through as basically good and Det. Bane winds up Flint having to fatally shoot Bane in self-defense and in order to protect others.
IT is as much as a short Caper Film as it is Noir. It sort of resembles the Stanley Kubrick theatrical film release of THE KILLING (Hams-Kubrick Prod./United Artists, 1956). But similarities or not, the Series got the proper kick as desired and sort of made an attempt at a second chance at making a good first impression.
The Series episode concludes with Narrator Larry Dobkin's usual pronouncement about the number of stories in the Naked City; but this time there is some extra pronouncements about how different people react. It makes the closing words about twice as long as usual.
I guess they thought that it had to be that way; what with the story being Doubled in Length!
Poodle Schnitz!!
NOTE: * To be sung to the tune of the old Wrigleys Doublemint Gum jingle of "Double Your Pleasure, Double Your Fun........etc,etc..."
SUPERB PRODUCTION in EVERY RESPECT.
lrrap1 February 2020
No witty re-telling of the plot here or tirade on the proper pronunciation of "HammerSTINE/STEEN" from me----no, only my observation that "A Death of Princes" is one HELL of a good police/crime drama.
It's script is solid, the direction excellent, the performances-- especially the brilliant portrayal by Eli Wallach-- compelling, all set against the dark, gritty magnificence of New York City, filmed during the post-Christmas season of 1959/60. The plentiful night shots of downtown Manhattan, in all of its gaudy glory--including St Nick's arena, serve as terrific visual documentary of the era. The opening sequence, with the volley of gunshots mixing with the pealing of Sunday morning church bells, is dynamic and imaginatively staged, all-the-more impressive since it was filmed for a weekly, hour-long TV pilot.
Only the slightly weak staging of the big climatic shoot-out finale detracts from the overall power of this show. I'm even willing to overlook the cutesy, "girl-talk" scene in LIbby's apartment (how does a struggling, bit-playing stage actress AFFORD such a posh joint??), since the supporting cast of babes c.1960 is fresh and attractive, and not-too-obtrusive in terms of the plot.
Too bad that "Naked City" would eventually stray from good, solid, reality based story-telling like this into the "freaky", far-out" NYC-style socio-drama, featuring neurotic, quirky and eccentric characters that all too frequently detracted from the drama with their pretentious silliness. But, for the moment, the series was very solid, as would be stunningly demonstrated by the episode which follows. LR
It's script is solid, the direction excellent, the performances-- especially the brilliant portrayal by Eli Wallach-- compelling, all set against the dark, gritty magnificence of New York City, filmed during the post-Christmas season of 1959/60. The plentiful night shots of downtown Manhattan, in all of its gaudy glory--including St Nick's arena, serve as terrific visual documentary of the era. The opening sequence, with the volley of gunshots mixing with the pealing of Sunday morning church bells, is dynamic and imaginatively staged, all-the-more impressive since it was filmed for a weekly, hour-long TV pilot.
Only the slightly weak staging of the big climatic shoot-out finale detracts from the overall power of this show. I'm even willing to overlook the cutesy, "girl-talk" scene in LIbby's apartment (how does a struggling, bit-playing stage actress AFFORD such a posh joint??), since the supporting cast of babes c.1960 is fresh and attractive, and not-too-obtrusive in terms of the plot.
Too bad that "Naked City" would eventually stray from good, solid, reality based story-telling like this into the "freaky", far-out" NYC-style socio-drama, featuring neurotic, quirky and eccentric characters that all too frequently detracted from the drama with their pretentious silliness. But, for the moment, the series was very solid, as would be stunningly demonstrated by the episode which follows. LR
Outright Callousness
vpinon7 June 2015
This episode will be remembered for 3 things. Peter Falk's great uncredited cameo, Eli Wallach's great acting, and unfortunately for fans of Broadway, Nancy Malone's mispronunciation of Oscar Hammerstein's name. She fails not once, but twice. Because of circumstances, with all due respect to everyone involved in the egregious error, this can only be described as callousness.
The episode premiered October 1960, and Oscar passed in August 1960. In a tribute to Oscar, on the night of September 1st, 1960 the entire Times Square area was blacked out for 3 minutes. His name had to be in the news. We get a beautiful nighttime shot of the Lunt Fontanne Theatre toward the end, where the Sound of Music was playing at the time, universally recognized as one of Rogers and Hammerstein's greatest works. As a matter of fact, Ms. Malone character, Libby, is fictionalized as having a small part in this musical as a nun. What was she, Silliphant and Brahm thinking? Mr. Hammerstein was beloved worldwide, and still his. His work is legendary. There can be no excuses or equivocation. Even in a 1956 "What's my Line?" episode widely available, Mr. Hammerstein is a mystery guest, and his correct name pronunciation is widely discussed during the show. He made it clear it was not "steen" most of his life. This was not live TV, and someone should have caught this mistake. Wouldn't Libby, since she was so passionate about getting the small part, correctly pronounce the name of the person responsible for the play?
The episode premiered October 1960, and Oscar passed in August 1960. In a tribute to Oscar, on the night of September 1st, 1960 the entire Times Square area was blacked out for 3 minutes. His name had to be in the news. We get a beautiful nighttime shot of the Lunt Fontanne Theatre toward the end, where the Sound of Music was playing at the time, universally recognized as one of Rogers and Hammerstein's greatest works. As a matter of fact, Ms. Malone character, Libby, is fictionalized as having a small part in this musical as a nun. What was she, Silliphant and Brahm thinking? Mr. Hammerstein was beloved worldwide, and still his. His work is legendary. There can be no excuses or equivocation. Even in a 1956 "What's my Line?" episode widely available, Mr. Hammerstein is a mystery guest, and his correct name pronunciation is widely discussed during the show. He made it clear it was not "steen" most of his life. This was not live TV, and someone should have caught this mistake. Wouldn't Libby, since she was so passionate about getting the small part, correctly pronounce the name of the person responsible for the play?
Burke's law
lor_25 January 2024
After watching the complete Year One of "The Naked CIty" starring Jame Franciscus, it's time to check out the Paul Burke era, with the show significantly expanding to a one-hour format.
Stirling Silliphant remains in charge, writing "A Death of Princes", Tightly directed, it plays like a solid feature film: a crime caper starring Eli Wallach and carefully introducing a host of characters, notably star Burke and his fiancee Nancy Malone, plus a colorful supporting cast. The subplot of evil Wallach, a bad apple cop of the first order, plotting a precisely timed meticulous crime caper set at a boxing arena is nicely meshed with Burke under boss Horace McMahon's directions keeping tabs on Wallach to get the goods on him. Exciting opening scene is a spectacular set piece, as Peter Falk has a shootout with cops and is cornered by Eli, only to be killed by Wallach in cold blood, with Burke as witness.
Brahm wraps up a full-length feature film in just 50 minutes, and I was impressed with how many "small roles" also were encompassed in the process. George Maharis is strong as the boxer who Wallach blackmails into participating in his scheme, only to see the light and do right at the last minute. He's introduced in a touching scene with his young daughter Susan Melvin -they were reunited a year later in a fine "Route 66" episode "Don't Count Stars" starring Melvin as the precocious owner of a San Diego hotel.
Jan Miner is powerful as another reluctant caper member, and Nancy Malone's friends Anne Helm and attractive (but unsuccessful) actress Carla Hoffman have a nice little scene with Burke. In the boxing ring, Clifton James and Godfrey Cambridge play Maharis' corner men.
Stirling Silliphant remains in charge, writing "A Death of Princes", Tightly directed, it plays like a solid feature film: a crime caper starring Eli Wallach and carefully introducing a host of characters, notably star Burke and his fiancee Nancy Malone, plus a colorful supporting cast. The subplot of evil Wallach, a bad apple cop of the first order, plotting a precisely timed meticulous crime caper set at a boxing arena is nicely meshed with Burke under boss Horace McMahon's directions keeping tabs on Wallach to get the goods on him. Exciting opening scene is a spectacular set piece, as Peter Falk has a shootout with cops and is cornered by Eli, only to be killed by Wallach in cold blood, with Burke as witness.
Brahm wraps up a full-length feature film in just 50 minutes, and I was impressed with how many "small roles" also were encompassed in the process. George Maharis is strong as the boxer who Wallach blackmails into participating in his scheme, only to see the light and do right at the last minute. He's introduced in a touching scene with his young daughter Susan Melvin -they were reunited a year later in a fine "Route 66" episode "Don't Count Stars" starring Melvin as the precocious owner of a San Diego hotel.
Jan Miner is powerful as another reluctant caper member, and Nancy Malone's friends Anne Helm and attractive (but unsuccessful) actress Carla Hoffman have a nice little scene with Burke. In the boxing ring, Clifton James and Godfrey Cambridge play Maharis' corner men.
Come on kid It's Sunday
kapelusznik1813 March 2014
Warning: Spoilers
****SPOILERS*** It's when NYPD Det. Bane, Eli Wallach, gunned down a defenseless, he was out of bullets, career hood Gimpy, Peter Falk, after he himself was on the run after shooting one of New York's finest or men in blue, policemen, his shocked partner the very concerned and ultra sensitive for life, human or otherwise, Det. Adam Flint, Paul Burke, wanted to have nothing to do with him. Not willing to stick his neck out and being a rat, in cop lingo, by reporting Bane's crime to internal affairs Flint is convinced by his boss Let.Mike Parker, Horace McMahon, to keep an eye on him and catch Det. Bane in the act in order to have him arrested and prosecuted for any future crimes.
It's not long that Det. Bane is back in action in planning a robbery of Saint Nick's Arena during a, how low can you go, charity boxing match with up and coming middleweight champion contender the boy scout like and milk drinking Tony Bacallas, George Maharis. As we soon learn Tony has a couple of skeletons in his closet or locker room that Let. Bane is using to blackmail him with. Let. Bane is also blackmailing a number of other people to do his dirty work that are in one way or another connected with Tony's big upcoming fight who's profits, a cool $100,000.00, their planning to rip off!
***SPOILERS*** Unknown to Det. Bane's blackmailed partners in crime he plans to take off with the entire bundle, the 100's G's, and leave them high & dry. That's after they help him pull the robbery off. And that after he murders those involved in getting the money secured in the Saint Nick's safe including one of his accomplices the arena's book keeper Lia played by Jan Miner in a miner role. It's the honest and tortured Tony Bacollas who's supposed to hit his opponent below the belt, to distract the police, who freaks out and ruins Det. Bane's entire master plan. That's by him blowing the whistle, as well as the boxing match, by alerting the police that includes the kind & sensitive Let. Flint to what's going on! That has Flint totally out of character and against his better judgment as well as moral ethics "Thou shall not kill" stop Bane in his tracks by, after Bane first shot and wounded Tony, gunning him down all by himself! Welcome to the real world Det. Adam Flint!
It's not long that Det. Bane is back in action in planning a robbery of Saint Nick's Arena during a, how low can you go, charity boxing match with up and coming middleweight champion contender the boy scout like and milk drinking Tony Bacallas, George Maharis. As we soon learn Tony has a couple of skeletons in his closet or locker room that Let. Bane is using to blackmail him with. Let. Bane is also blackmailing a number of other people to do his dirty work that are in one way or another connected with Tony's big upcoming fight who's profits, a cool $100,000.00, their planning to rip off!
***SPOILERS*** Unknown to Det. Bane's blackmailed partners in crime he plans to take off with the entire bundle, the 100's G's, and leave them high & dry. That's after they help him pull the robbery off. And that after he murders those involved in getting the money secured in the Saint Nick's safe including one of his accomplices the arena's book keeper Lia played by Jan Miner in a miner role. It's the honest and tortured Tony Bacollas who's supposed to hit his opponent below the belt, to distract the police, who freaks out and ruins Det. Bane's entire master plan. That's by him blowing the whistle, as well as the boxing match, by alerting the police that includes the kind & sensitive Let. Flint to what's going on! That has Flint totally out of character and against his better judgment as well as moral ethics "Thou shall not kill" stop Bane in his tracks by, after Bane first shot and wounded Tony, gunning him down all by himself! Welcome to the real world Det. Adam Flint!
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