McCloud (1970–1977)

Sam McCloud is a rustic country sheriff from a rural part of the United States. He travels to the big city and joins the police force, using his country ways and laid-back approach to nab ... See full summary »

Creator:

Herman Miller

Stars:

Dennis Weaver, J.D. Cannon, Terry Carter

Nominated for 6 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 win & 4 nominations.

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
Dennis Weaver	...	Sam McCloud (46 episodes, 1970-1977)
J.D. Cannon	...	Peter B. Clifford (45 episodes, 1970-1977)
Terry Carter	...	Sergeant Joe Broadhurst (41 episodes, 1970-1977)

Storyline

Sam McCloud is a rustic country sheriff from a rural part of the United States. He travels to the big city and joins the police force, using his country ways and laid-back approach to nab the bad guys.

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Plot Keywords:

police | criminal | detective | city | investigation | 

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Taglines:

The toughest cowboy to ever take on the mean streets of New York.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 September 1970 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ein Sheriff in New York

Filming Locations:

Grand Hotel, Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico

Company Credits

Production Co:

Glen A. Larson Productions, Universal TV

Technical Specs

Runtime:

120 min 120 min (20 episodes) 60 min (6 episodes) 90 min (19 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

4:3

Did You Know?

Trivia

For the first two seasons, music (including the theme) was composed by David Shire in a strongly country-music fashion. During the third season, there was no regular composer, with four different closing themes used in five episodes. The main title theme used in most openings and all closings from "Butch Cassidy Rides Again" (episode 4.1) was never given screen credit, but its resemblance to other scores in the fourth season suggests that Frank De Vol (My Three Sons, The Brady Bunch, Fernwood 2Night) composed all or most of the theme. The theme is somewhat similar in a driving beat to others which series producer Glen A. Larson composed for later series such as Switch and Sword of Justice.

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Quotes

Peter B. Clifford: He's got an arrest record that goes back to the crib... he's a psychopathic killer.
Sam McCloud: Well, I'll try and stay on his good side.
Peter B. Clifford: He doesn't have a good side!

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Connections

Referenced in Mission: Possible: Part A: Finding Main Themes (1978)

User Reviews

A long way from Clint Eastwood...

In "Coogan's Bluff," the movie that led to "McCloud," Clint Eastwood's Coogan came to New York to capture a villain, did so, and went back to New Mexico. Obviously this wasn't going to do for the series, so Sam McCloud was sent to New York to study how they did things in the Big Apple... and then proceeded to ignore them and do things his way.

Like practically every cop in the history of television, his boss didn't like his methods and would have loved to be rid of him (McCloud actually did grant his wish in one episode when he resigned, but needless to say he came back), but our horse-riding hero got results. Of course, it didn't hurt that his sort-of girlfriend was the Commissioner's cousin... it's what you know and who you know that counts.

So it went for seven years, first as part of "Four-in-One" (an hour-long revolving series with four instalments) then as part of the "NBC Mystery Movie" until its demise; the series had plenty of comedy (McCloud, trying to land a plane: "The big hand is on 3, the little hand is on 4!" Clifford: "You're looking at the clock, McCloud!") but it wisely took its central premise seriously, never going out of its way to be quirky a la "due South"

• McCloud going horse riding down the streets notwithstanding. Dennis

Weaver's had other series after this, but we're not going to remember him for "Stone" (and certainly not for the snooze-inducing "Buck James"); it'll be for "Gunsmoke," "Gentle Ben," and for (relatively) younger audiences Deputy Marshal Sam McCloud.

"There you go..."