A Death of Princes (12 Oct. 1960)

Detective walks from icing surrendering shooter Gimpy, so his commander asks Adam to volunteer to spy him. Adam struggles with taking the assignment on gun-happy comrade Bane, whose jacket ... See full summary »

Director:

John Brahm

Writer:

Stirling Silliphant

Stars:

Eli Wallach, Paul Burke, Horace McMahon

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Eli Wallach	...	Det. Bane
Paul Burke	...	Det. Adam Flint
Horace McMahon	...	Lt. Michael 'Mike' Parker
Nancy Malone	...	Libby Kingston
Harry Bellaver	...	Det. Frank Arcaro
John Baragrey	...	Teddy Cochrane
George Maharis	...	Tony Bacallas
Jan Miner	...	Lia
Clifton James	...	Jacoby
Carla Hoffman	...	Sara
Anne Helm	...	Diane
Patricia Bosworth	...	Laura
Godfrey Cambridge	...	George (as Godfrey M. Cambridge)
Susan Melvin	...	Nancy
Tom Ahearne	...	Monty (as Tom Aherne)

Storyline

Detective walks from icing surrendering shooter Gimpy, so his commander asks Adam to volunteer to spy him. Adam struggles with taking the assignment on gun-happy comrade Bane, whose jacket includes 2 other recent kills, but many medals. Soon, the Shakespeare-quoting detective holds a clandestine meet with a playboy, a boxer, and a terrified woman: each fears Bane will reveal their separate crimes. Is Bane a rogue cop or is he pursuing bigger fish ?

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama

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Details

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 October 1960 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Biograph Studios, Bronx, New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Shelle Productions, Screen Gems

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This was the first 60 minute episode of this series.

User Reviews

"Double Yoiur Cop Show, Double Its View, From 30 to 60 Minutes Anew!" * (Boy, am I a regular George M. Cohan, or what?)

IN this inaugural episode for the second season of NAKED CITY a sort of vest pocket film noir thriller was presented as a .300 hitting Lead-Off Man. A large cast for a TV Drama was employed; which even included a recreation of a Prize Fight at New York's famous St. Nicholas Arena, with a large viewing audience. It was really filmed for the TV Series; instead of making use of inter-cut stock footage, sound effects, ringside sounds and even the "smells" of the Arena, to create the proper ambiance needed.

THERE was indeed a very good reason for stacking up the armaments heavy; for the series itself had been in hiatus for a whole year and was in need of a new beginning. After its first year of 1958-59 on the ABC TV Network's primetime schedule, the then Half-Hour NAKED CITY Series was dropped. Either as a voluntarily self-imposed exile or as the result of an edict from "the Suits" who ruled ABC; the end result was the same. The James Franciscus starring vehicle was history; at least temporarily.

SO then in the Autumn of 1960, while the season of the Kennedy-Nixon Debates were highlighting the Presidential Election Campaign, the new improved 'Biggie Sized' NYC Police Drama made its appearance. This now Hour-Long episode of the program has all of the appearances of a sort of second Pilot,which it in a sense is. From top to bottom, it's just chuck full of extra guest-starring Actors.

FIRST of all we see a 'pre-COLOMBO' Peter Faulk in an uncredited role. Main guest-star, Eli Wallach gets top billing over Series Lead, Det. Ben Flint (Paul Burke), Lt. Mike Parker (Horace McMahon),Libby (Nancy Malone), Det.Frank Arcaro (Harry Bellaver) and the others appearing. Others making appearances are: George Maharis, Godfrey Cambridge, Clifton James, and many others.

OUR STORY...(in the Proverbial Nutshell)........We open up with Det. Flint (Mr. Burke) and Det. Bane (Mr. Wallach)responding to an incident of a hoodlum (Peter Faulk),shooting at the Police from the rooftop of a big building; actually wounding a Unifgormed Cop in the process. Flint and Bane go to the roof, where Bane corners and fatally shoots the bad guy, even though he had essentially given up; being out of ammo and hence, unarmed.

THE incident does not sit well with Det. Flint, who is recruited by Lt. Parker in a quest to check up on Bane's fitness to remain a Cop. The investigation (and the convenience of some scenes with Bane and some conspirators) brings us close to a plot by the Rogue Cop to rob the Box Office at St. Nicholas Arena; with the use of people blackmailed by Bane into cooperating with his plan.

IN the end, the people come through as basically good and Det. Bane winds up Flint having to fatally shoot Bane in self-defense and in order to protect others.

IT is as much as a short Caper Film as it is Noir. It sort of resembles the Stanley Kubrick theatrical film release of THE KILLING (Hams-Kubrick Prod./United Artists, 1956). But similarities or not, the Series got the proper kick as desired and sort of made an attempt at a second chance at making a good first impression.

The Series episode concludes with Narrator Larry Dobkin's usual pronouncement about the number of stories in the Naked City; but this time there is some extra pronouncements about how different people react. It makes the closing words about twice as long as usual.

I guess they thought that it had to be that way; what with the story being Doubled in Length!

Poodle Schnitz!!

NOTE: * To be sung to the tune of the old Wrigleys Doublemint Gum jingle of "Double Your Pleasure, Double Your Fun........etc,etc..."