"Emergency!" The Wedsworth-Townsend Act (1972)

Director:

Jack Webb

Writers:

Harold Jack Bloom (written by) &
Robert A. Cinader (written by) ...
(more)

TV Series:

"Emergency!" (1972)

Original Air Date:

15 January 1972 (Season 1, Episode 0)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Comedy | Drama

Plot:

The new LCFD paramedics struggle to prove themselves to a doubtful Dr. Brackett as a pending state bill authorizing their field duties comes to a vote.

Plot Keywords:

Paramedic | Rescue | Car Accident | Medical | Emergency Medical Team

Cast

Robert Fuller	...	Dr. Kelly Brackett
Julie London	...	Dixie McCall, R.N.
Bobby Troup	...	Dr. Joe Early
Randolph Mantooth	...	Paramedic John Gage
Kevin Tighe	...	Paramedic Roy DeSoto
Martin Milner	...	Officer Pete Malloy
Kent McCord	...	Officer Jim Reed
Jack Kruschen	...	State Assemblyman Michael Wolski
Ann Morgan Guilbert	...	Woman In Trouble
Lew Brown	...	Man with Ulcer
Art Balinger	...	Battalion Chief Conrad
Virginia Gregg	...	Wilma Jacobs, R.N.
Herb Vigran	...	Committee Chairman
Colby Chester	...	Fireman Tony Freeman
Ron Pinkard	...	Tom Gray, M.D.
Kathryn Kelly Wiget	...	Joanne DeSoto
Bert Holland	...	Convention Center Manager
Don Ross	...	Man at Boatyard
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Rand Brooks	...	Police Officer at Traffic Accident (uncredited)
Art Gilmore	...	Battalion Chief (uncredited)
Scott Gourlay	...	Orderly (uncredited)
Linda Kelsey	...	Victim (uncredited)
Sam Lanier	...	Radio Dispatcher (uncredited)
Marco López	...	Fireman Marco Lopez (uncredited)
John Nolan	...	Workman (uncredited)
Kathleen O'Malley	...	Woman at Cave-In (uncredited)
Mark Russell	...	Station 51 Fireman (uncredited)
Brad Savage	...	Tim (uncredited)
Len Wayland	...	Police Sergeant at Rampart (uncredited)

Directed by
Jack Webb

Writing credits
Harold Jack Bloom		(written by) &
Robert A. Cinader		(written by) (as R.A. Cinader)
Harold Jack Bloom		(creator) &
Robert A. Cinader		(creator) (as R.A. Cinader)

Produced by
Robert A. Cinader	....	producer (as R.A. Cinader)
William Stark	....	associate producer (as Wm. Stark)
Jack Webb	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Nelson Riddle

Cinematography by
Jack A. Marta		(director of photography) (as Jack Marta)

Film Editing by
Warren Adams		(as Warren H. Adams)

Art Direction by
John J. Lloyd

Set Decoration by
Mickey S. Michaels

Production Management
Joseph E. Kenney	....	unit manager (as Joseph E. Kenny)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Phil Bowles	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Robert R. Bertrand	....	sound (as Robert Bertrand)

Special Effects by
Wayne Beauchamp	....	pyrotechnician (uncredited)

Stunts
Harold 'Hal' Frizzell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Scott Gourlay	....	stunts (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Larry Harmell	....	costume supervisor (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Richard Belding	....	editorial supervisor

Production Companies

• Universal TV
• Mark VII Ltd.

Distributors

• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1972) (USA) (TV)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Universal Title  titles and opticals
• Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors  cooperation
• Los Angeles County Fire Department  cooperation
• Los Angeles County Department of Health  cooperation (as The Department of Hospitals of Los Angeles County)

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG (video rating)

Filming Locations:

Carson, California, USA

Company:

Universal TV

Trivia:

The fire engine used for most of the series run has an interesting history. It was donated new by the manufacturer, Ward LaFrance, with the condition that the engine be put in active service after the show. Universal turned it over to the LA Country Fire Department (which runs the fire station on Universal's lot). The LA County Fire Department traded the engine to the Yosemite Fire Department for their 1930 vintage engine that went to the LA Country Fire Museum. Yosemite Fire Department still uses the engine to this day. The Yosemite Fire Department had to raise the ceiling of their firehouse by 3 inches to accommodate the new engine.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Gage and DeSoto are aiding in the rescue of the miner trapped under the tractor and the tunnel wall collapses, several rocks can be seen floating on the water, obviously made of foam or some similar material.

Quotes:

[Brackett is addressing a legislative committee to promote support of the bill to allow paramedics to operate]
Dr. Kelly Brackett M.D.:Gentleman, you are all in danger. If an earthquake or a bomb should hit this room right now, I might be the only doctor available to all of you. Oh sure, independently owned ambulances with attendants would be here in a few minutes, and rescue units from the fire department...

Movie Connections:

Featured in Hometown Glory (2010)

Interesting Local History Lesson

This movie, which acted as a pilot for the TV Series "Emergency!" is a fascinating story about the start of the paramedic program in California--specifically, through the eyes of the Los Angeles County Fire Department. The plot clearly shows the supporters and opponents of the system at the time--yes, there were people that were against the program for a variety of reasons--and how the system pulled itself together and proved its worth. It is interesting to note that today, as a resident of Los Angeles County, most people take the paramedic program for granted; we need to see this movie again so that we can see just how close the program came to never happening. It is definitely a good history lesson--even though it is a dramatisation, it is very faithful to the true story, just as most of Jack Webb's productions were.