RARA-AVIS: Re: M Squad for $50

From: JIM DOHERTY (jimdohertyjr@yahoo.com)
Date: 15 Mar 2009

  • Next message: sonny: "Re: RARA-AVIS: Re: M Squad for $50"

    Sonny,

    Re your question below:

    "is this 'the mod squad' tv show or something totally different?"

    M SQUAD was a half-hour cop drama from the late '50's that starred Lee Marvin as Det. Lt. Frank Ballinger of "M Squad, a special unit of the Chicago Police." Ballinger was sort of Joe Friday on steroids.

    It's a tough, gritty, fast-paced show, and, though it was obviously filmed on a tight budget (most of the show was studi-shot with a few frequently used establishing shots of Chi-Town to set the scene), it's still one of the best half-hour action dramas ever broadcast. M SQUAD is what made Marvin a star.

    The spoof POLICE SQUAD was partly a spoof of M SQUAD, and the opening credits, with Leslie Nielsen leaning over a car in a shootout, were a direct lift from M SQUAD.

    JIM DOHERTY

          



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