"Death of a Cop" ended the first season, with an excellent cast headed by Victor Jory as police detective Paul Reardon, whose son Philip (Peter Brown) has joined him on the force, against the wishes of Philip's mother Anne (Shirley O'Hara), now divorced because she has always feared for their safety. The two are currently on a stakeout in a tough neighborhood known for heroin dealing, foiling a robbery attempt by a pair of junkies. Philip's commendation for bravery fills his father with pride, but the mob, led by Boxer (Richard Jaeckel), take their revenge by executing the helpless cop, deprived of his gun and left to die on his knees. His distraught father is accosted by his ex wife, who blames him for her son's death, and begins an investigation into the bottling company headed by Herbie Lane (Lawrence Tierney), employer of the entire mob responsible for Philip's murder. Weeks pass without incident, as the entire neighborhood proves to be too terrified to testify against Lane's boys, so Paul must resign from the force in order to gather evidence undercover. Among the good guys are Paul Hartman, John Marley, and Hari Rhodes, while a young Rex Holman can be spotted among the evil mob.
10 Reviews
Strong episode and acting
HEFILM17 June 2013
This show takes it time in a set up that does build up a sense of dread and real drama to the Death of a Cop that gives the show its title. Jory is very good and just road worn enough to be perfect in his role. The show moves well and as directed by feature director Joseph Newman knows how to maintain pace and interest and all the roles--and there is quite a large cast here--are well acted and cast. You always know who is who and the bad guys all have interesting faces. Tierney works well as the boss of the gang.
There is one almost silly montage/dream scene but that's a small problem. The episode only falls down a bit in the budget department. For example the neighborhood shots and scenes just look like an empty back lot street with few extras and no real attention to make it look like a slum. This does hurt as the slums and streets are key to the story.
Also a shootout scene is sort of thrown away, though oddly this works in the show's favor as it seems more realistic that way. There is only one really bad moment a poorly written and indifferently performed final speech by a supporting character, too bad. But Jory centers the story well and this episode works as drama and flies by.
Very funny unrelated Hitchcock bits involving pillars of salt?!?
There is one almost silly montage/dream scene but that's a small problem. The episode only falls down a bit in the budget department. For example the neighborhood shots and scenes just look like an empty back lot street with few extras and no real attention to make it look like a slum. This does hurt as the slums and streets are key to the story.
Also a shootout scene is sort of thrown away, though oddly this works in the show's favor as it seems more realistic that way. There is only one really bad moment a poorly written and indifferently performed final speech by a supporting character, too bad. But Jory centers the story well and this episode works as drama and flies by.
Very funny unrelated Hitchcock bits involving pillars of salt?!?
"... a cop killing is big trouble."
classicsoncall5 October 2022
Warning: Spoilers
This show was more in line with TV cop shows of the era rather than a Hitchcock offering, sporting a fine cast with Victor Jory in the lead as a detective father whose son is murdered while attempting to investigate a handful of neighborhood tough guys. Peter Brown made his mark in TV Westerns a number of times, with regular stints as Deputy Johnny McKay on the 'Lawman' series, and later on as Chad Cooper in 'Laredo'. So any time he appears in a non-Western I have to remind myself that as an actor he can do different roles. I had to do a double take when I saw Jean Willes in the role of Paul Reardon's (Jory) confidante; didn't she look a lot like Claire Trevor? That's actually who I thought it was for a moment.
Anyway, the story rests on Paul Reardon getting to the bottom of his son Philip's murder, not an easy task when the bad guys have their bases covered and residents of the neighborhood are intimidated into not seeing anything. Hitting a brick wall legally, Paul hands in his badge to go outside the parameters of the law to entrap the hood (Richard Jaeckel) who pulled the trigger on his son. It was a gutsy, no way out move on the elder Reardon's part, and the finale will call to mind the way Clint Eastwood sacrificed his character Walt Kowalski in 2008's "Gran Torino".
Say, check me on this, I could be wrong, but when Paul Reardon handed his badge in to Lieutenant Tom MIlls (Paul Genge), the picture on his ID card didn't look like that of Victor Jory.
Anyway, the story rests on Paul Reardon getting to the bottom of his son Philip's murder, not an easy task when the bad guys have their bases covered and residents of the neighborhood are intimidated into not seeing anything. Hitting a brick wall legally, Paul hands in his badge to go outside the parameters of the law to entrap the hood (Richard Jaeckel) who pulled the trigger on his son. It was a gutsy, no way out move on the elder Reardon's part, and the finale will call to mind the way Clint Eastwood sacrificed his character Walt Kowalski in 2008's "Gran Torino".
Say, check me on this, I could be wrong, but when Paul Reardon handed his badge in to Lieutenant Tom MIlls (Paul Genge), the picture on his ID card didn't look like that of Victor Jory.
Which Comes First: Cop Or Father
dougdoepke7 June 2016
Pretty good crime drama, helped along by two 40's tough guys, Jory & Tierney, plus sneering punk, Richard Jaeckel. Cop Jory's out to avenge murder of his cop son, Brown, by gang of punks employed by racketeer Tierney. Being a good cop, Jory tries to get the goods legally, but witnesses are too scared. So, having a personal stake, he goes about it outside the law.
The hour's a good character study, dramatizing Jory's conflict between professional duty and fatherhood. Part Eskimo, Jory was always an exotic looking actor, good at grabbing audiences, which he does here. But what's with the sharply dressed band of punks. Didn't Wardrobe have any dirty T-shirts and torn jeans. But I guess Tierney's gang is supposed to be higher class, even if they don't act like it. Catch that fine utility actress Jean Willes as Jory's woman friend. All in all, it's a good gritty episode, with a surprisingly unflinching camera. And catch that favorite series theme-- the conflict between poetic justice and the law.
(In passing—Sorry to see that TV's forever youthful Peter Brown passed away in March, 2016, at age 80.)
The hour's a good character study, dramatizing Jory's conflict between professional duty and fatherhood. Part Eskimo, Jory was always an exotic looking actor, good at grabbing audiences, which he does here. But what's with the sharply dressed band of punks. Didn't Wardrobe have any dirty T-shirts and torn jeans. But I guess Tierney's gang is supposed to be higher class, even if they don't act like it. Catch that fine utility actress Jean Willes as Jory's woman friend. All in all, it's a good gritty episode, with a surprisingly unflinching camera. And catch that favorite series theme-- the conflict between poetic justice and the law.
(In passing—Sorry to see that TV's forever youthful Peter Brown passed away in March, 2016, at age 80.)
End Of The Season
telegonus28 November 2013
Death Of A Cop was the final episode of the first season of Alfred Hitchcock's newly expanded hour long anthology series. Its first season wasn't as good as it might of been but it went out with a winner, a no-nonsense crime story, well written by frequent Howard Hawks collaborator Leigh Brackett, expertly directed by Hollywood veteran Joseph Newman, whose work on the series was consistently good, often outstanding.
The title tells us pretty much where the simple story is going; and while the story may be simple the characters feel real, and the father-son relationship is touching. Victor Jory and Peter Brown are fine in the roles. Once things get rolling and we see the consequences of being an honest a cop the episode builds a head of steam, and while it plays almost as if it could be an entry in any number of other anthology shows of its era, this does not detract from it quality.
The production values make the episode feel a bit cramped, as if the producers were trying to save money, but this doesn't detract from the story, which moves along at a good pace, and the ending, while sad, feels just about right.
The title tells us pretty much where the simple story is going; and while the story may be simple the characters feel real, and the father-son relationship is touching. Victor Jory and Peter Brown are fine in the roles. Once things get rolling and we see the consequences of being an honest a cop the episode builds a head of steam, and while it plays almost as if it could be an entry in any number of other anthology shows of its era, this does not detract from it quality.
The production values make the episode feel a bit cramped, as if the producers were trying to save money, but this doesn't detract from the story, which moves along at a good pace, and the ending, while sad, feels just about right.
Good Cop Drama/But Does It Fit?
Hitchcoc17 May 2023
The question one might ask about this episode is whether it belongs in the Hitchcock anthology series. It is not ironic and steeped in mystery. It is a good, though sad, cop drama with some fine acting and depressing realities--especially when it comes to organized crime Jory is the overworked, career cop, who is putting in his time. But working with his son is the high point. The problem is that the kid feels he is invulnerable and that those punks will respect his badge. He goes into a place of great danger thinking he will be able to simply get what he wants from those punks. The macho thing goes both ways. The ending was pretty easy to predict.
This plays less like "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour" and more like a cop show.
planktonrules12 May 2021
"Death of a Cop" is well written and acted, though the ending was a bit heavy-handed. It is unusual because the episode really doesn't feel like "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour" at all, but more like a cop show.
When the episode begins, you learn that an old-time cop, Detective Paul Reardon (Victor Jory) is very proud now that his son has also become a detective. However, this eager new cop is soon murdered by some local scum....and Paul spends the rest of the episode trying to bring the killers to justice.
The best thing about the show is the acting. Jory and Richard Jaeckel are both exceptional. The writing is good...not great. The ending in particular wasn't handled well with a cast member explaining the ending to the audience...which wasn't necessary and seemed poorly handled. Still worth seeing...but a most atypical episode.
When the episode begins, you learn that an old-time cop, Detective Paul Reardon (Victor Jory) is very proud now that his son has also become a detective. However, this eager new cop is soon murdered by some local scum....and Paul spends the rest of the episode trying to bring the killers to justice.
The best thing about the show is the acting. Jory and Richard Jaeckel are both exceptional. The writing is good...not great. The ending in particular wasn't handled well with a cast member explaining the ending to the audience...which wasn't necessary and seemed poorly handled. Still worth seeing...but a most atypical episode.
He keeps pushing like that someone's gonna crack
kapelusznik1817 July 2014
Warning: Spoilers
***SPOILERS*** Father & son police detectives Paul & Philip Reardon, Victor Jory & Peter Brown, are planning to take the weekend off and go fishing in order to patch up their differences. That in Peter not being on speaking terms with dad in feeling he was forced into being a cop by him against his very protective mother's Alice, Shirley O'Hara, objections. Alice's fears bare themselves out when Philip was kidnapped by a gang of drug pushers lead by the just released from prison Jerry Boxer, Richard Jaeckel. It's Boxer whom Philip was about to arrest for breaking his parole by being caught with a gun and bag of heroin on him. With Philip's father Det. Paul Reardon on the case Boxer & Co. all members of the notorious Herbie Lane, Lawrence Tierney, gang have solid alibis in them not being at the scene or participating in Philip's cold blooded murder. That makes it near impossible for them to get indited for the crime.
Try as he may Det. Reardon runs into one brick wall after another in not getting anyone in the vicinity to testify that they saw Philip kidnapped by Boxer and his fellow hoods. This causes Det. Reardon's marriage to collapses with his wife Alice holding him responsible for their son Philip's murder in having him join the police department. This also drives Det. Reardon to turn in his badge and gun quitting the police department in order to go it alone, without any restrictions as a police officer, to catch by hook or by crook those who murdered his son Philip.
***SPOILERS*** Like he was planning to go fishing with Philip Det. Reardon uses himself as bait to attract Philip's killers putting himself in the line of fire. Det. Reardon's plan works to perfection by luring his son's murderers into a trap that he set for them which they eagerly snapped at. That's in getting them out into the open and in front of a member of eye witnesses who can identify that in court. But by him doing that Det. Reardon sadly would not be around to see them get the justice that they so rightfully deserved.
Try as he may Det. Reardon runs into one brick wall after another in not getting anyone in the vicinity to testify that they saw Philip kidnapped by Boxer and his fellow hoods. This causes Det. Reardon's marriage to collapses with his wife Alice holding him responsible for their son Philip's murder in having him join the police department. This also drives Det. Reardon to turn in his badge and gun quitting the police department in order to go it alone, without any restrictions as a police officer, to catch by hook or by crook those who murdered his son Philip.
***SPOILERS*** Like he was planning to go fishing with Philip Det. Reardon uses himself as bait to attract Philip's killers putting himself in the line of fire. Det. Reardon's plan works to perfection by luring his son's murderers into a trap that he set for them which they eagerly snapped at. That's in getting them out into the open and in front of a member of eye witnesses who can identify that in court. But by him doing that Det. Reardon sadly would not be around to see them get the justice that they so rightfully deserved.
Gives Television Of The Sixties A Bad Reputation
film_poster_fan13 January 2022
Seeing the names of Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Tierney, I had high hopes for this episode, but they were soon dashed by the stale dialogue and heavy handed direction. Victor Jory of "Cat-Women Of The Moon" fame played the lead and his unemotional performance failed to convince me. The conclusion was laughable and I do not mean Hitchcock. All in all a complete failure on everyone's part.
Greatest cast ever
zet169927 January 2019
"Death Of A Cop" plays like a Mini-Movie. Not for one second would I take my eyes off the screen. What a cast:Victor Jory,Peter Brown,Lawrence Tierney,Richard Jaeckel,Read Morgan,John Marley,Jean Willes,Rex Holman,Paul Hartman etc.That Hitchcock "Twist Ending" merged into such an interesting Crime Drama is something to see. Terrific show here.
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