"M Squad" (1957) TV series 1957-1960

User Rating:

8.9/10   

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3

Release Date:

20 September 1957 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Crime

Plot:

The hard-hitting adventures of tough Lieutenant Frank Ballinger, a member of the Chicago Police Department's M Squad, an elite crime-fighting unit.

Plot Keywords:

Police

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Lee Marvin	...	Lt. Frank Ballinger / ... (117 episodes, 1957-1960)
Paul Newlan	...	Capt. Grey / ... (103 episodes, 1957-1960)

Runtime:

30 min (117 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

Latimer Productions

Trivia:

The show was inspired by the exploits of legendary Chicago crime fighter Det. Supt. Joseph Morris. Det. Lt. Frank Pape, who worked for Morris, served as a technical adviser on the show, without getting credit, however, because of his active status within the Chicago Police Department, which banned police moonlighting.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988)

Soundtrack:

Theme From M Squad

M Squad must for film noir fans

M Squad is probably the only true film noir TV show ever shot. It was done with low camera angles and the most intense black and white photography with surprising lighting. As few shades of gray as possible were used. It needs to be viewed on a b/w TV for the full effect. It is an important work, and if the series still exists, it should be shown on PBS. Very intense drama. A good antidote to the sugary sweet shows like (two of my true favorites) Leave it to Beaver and Father Knows Best. Good shows, but the fifties were nasty, and the TV shows that you find on G4 or Nick are just not representative. It was a show that made the viewers uncomfortable, I have read. I a very thankful that my parents never took those parental rating seriously (yes, they had them then).