The Defenders (1961–1965)

A Father-Son lawyer duo take a variety of cases that often deal with the important issues of the day.

Creator:

Reginald Rose

Stars:

E.G. Marshall, Robert Reed, Ossie Davis

Won 1 Golden Globe. Another 14 wins & 19 nominations.

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
E.G. Marshall	...	Lawrence Preston (132 episodes, 1961-1965)
Robert Reed	...	Kenneth Preston (132 episodes, 1961-1965)

Storyline

Recent law school graduate (Robert Reed) joins his father (E.G. Marshall) as the pair tackle challenging legal cases, often involving issues which were highly touchy for the times (abortion, euthanasia, "un-American" activities, movie censorship). In most the freshly minted lawyer has much to learn from his father's extensive legal experience.

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Plot Keywords:

law | courtroom

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 September 1961 (USA)

Also Known As:

Los defensores

Filming Locations:

Filmways Studios - 246 East 127th Street, East Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS), Plautus Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min 60 min (132 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The characters first appeared in an episode of Studio One in Hollywood, when they were played by Ralph Bellamy and William Shatner.

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Connections

Referenced in Gilligan's Island: Plant You Now, Dig You Later (1965)

User Reviews

Was this the best dramatic TV series ever?

Can this series really have been as inspiring as I thought it was at the time? If so, it must have had enormous effect on American society.

Certainly it dealt more courageously than any other show of the period with issues such as civil rights, religious and political oppression, faults in existing laws on divorce, narcotics and legal sanity, and the ethical problems of priests, doctors and lawyers.

And, as I remember, although E.G.Marshall (as Lawrence Preston) demanded our sympathy for his stand on these issues, there was always argument and challenge from Robert Reed (as his son, Kenneth), and humor prevented solemnity or sentimentality.

Actors such as Sylvia Sidney, Sam Wanamaker, Ruth Roman, Akim Tamiroff, Teresa Wright, and Jack Klugman played leading roles, but minor characters also came across as people of dignity and importance.

What impressed me most perhaps was Lawrence Preston's respect for THE LAW.

Won't some kind person allow us to see it again?