"The Defenders" (1961) TV series 1961-1965

User Rating:

8.7/10   

Writers:

Ernest Kinoy (writer) (2 episodes)
Martin Donaldson (story)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Release Date:

16 September 1961 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Law | Courtroom | Courtroom Drama

Awards:

Won Golden Globe. Another 13 wins & 13 nominations

Cast

E.G. Marshall	...	Lawrence Preston (132 episodes, 1961-1965)
Robert Reed	...	Kenneth Preston (132 episodes, 1961-1965)

Runtime:

60 min (132 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS)

Trivia:

The characters first appeared in an episode of "Studio One" (1948), when the were played by Ralph Bellamy an William Shatner.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "My Mother the Car: The De-Fenders (#1.2)" (1965)

The Defenders: The reason I became a lawyer

This landmark TV series (1961-65) was years ahead of its time. It correlated many contemporary stories from the headlines and did so with uncompromising depth. The protagonist attorneys (The late E.G. Marshall, Robert Reed) lost nearly as many cases as they won, because the series focused on controversial social issues where there were no easy answers or solutions. This was reflected in the outcome of some episodes. The issues included abortion; euthanasia; capital punishment; censorship; blacklisting; criminal insanity; Nazis; cannibalism; and a variation of what is currently called "road rage." The first listed, "The Benefactor," was a compelling episode about abortion, years before it was legal. The last, "Death on Wheels," involved an enraged motorist who accidentally killed a pedestrian after a heated argument with his wife.

The Defenders theme song coupled with an aerial view of the courthouses in Foley Square, New York City, were presented with the onset of each episode. Immediately before the theme, the viewer saw the actual crime being committed when possible, which was graphically realistic and sometimes unnerving. The lawyers then often interviewed their clients in a simulated version of "The Tombs," an archaic NYC jail. The late E.G. Marshall portrayed the lead attorney, Lawrence Preston, with flawless acting that was in a class by itself. Indeed, he was so convincing that it was difficult for me to think of him thereafter as anyone else. The style and integrity he displayed in The Defenders inspired my interest in the law and was one of the initial reasons I became a lawyer.