From 2016: Two completely different types of TV noir reviewed by Gord
Posted by Don Malcolm on 6/10/2020, 9:57 am

IWe have a lot of good stuff sitting on the edge of oblivion, so this is the day to pack it all up and bring it back to the front of the Board. Gord totally covered the waterfront in terms of TV noir, and the two here are poles apart in time and tone, but both are worthy of your time and attention--if you can find them. Dan Hodges indicated that the FALCON episode was available on YouTube; someone might want to verify that this is still the case...FOR THE PEOPLE is still purchasable from various semi-legit sources that remain "open for business on the QT"...

ADVENTURES OF THE FALCON "The Furious Lady" 1954

This is the 6th episode of the 39 episode run of the 1954 to 1956 series, ADVENTURES OF THE FALCON. Film noir icon Charles McGraw headlines as Mike Waring, an agent of the U.S. Government. The series follows McGraw as he travels the world putting the kibosh on various criminals and foreign agents. The series is loosely based on the FALCON series of films of the 1940's.

The U.S. Government sends agent Mike Waring (Charles McGraw) to help out the West Germans. They had a spot of trouble in West Berlin with some stolen documents. The daughter, Violet Rensing of a powerful West German political type has caused a mess-up. Miss Rensing had been stepping out with a man who has lifted important papers and hot footed it to East Berlin. The man, Robert Boone intends to give the papers to the Reds.

McGraw draws the assignment of retrieving said papers. McGraw figures that the Reds will be looking for just a move and declines the mission. A bullet in the head is not his idea of a trip to Berlin. He is soon forced to change his mind when Miss Rensing decides to get the papers herself.

McGraw uses a German agent, Stanley Andrews, to smuggle him into East Berlin. It takes a less than pleasing journey through the sewers to get there. After a run in with some Soviet types he makes contact with the East German underground. They fill McGraw and Andrews in on where Miss Rensing and the traitor Boone are located.

The usual assortment of fistfights and blazing guns is needed to get the mission completed. Andrews turns out to be rather handy in the disposing of the Soviet Secret Policemen. Miss Rensing and the papers are returned to the proper team.

This one is a pretty good episode with a fast moving story and plenty of violence.

FOR THE PEOPLE "The Influence of Fear" 1965

FOR THE PEOPLE, was an American legal drama that aired for 13 episodes during 1965. The series follows the daily grind of a New York City Assistant District Attorney. The lead is played by William Shatner with a 24 year old Jessica Walter as his wife. Howard Da Silva plays Shatner's boss while Lonny Chapman plays an investigator for the D.A.'s office. This episode is the 3rd of the production run.

This one starts with Shatner called to the site of a murder. A 71 year-old woman has been beaten to death in her apartment. The Police, led by Detective Philip Bosco are poring over the scene looking for clues as to the killer. A young man, Jamie Sanchez is soon grabbed up for questioning. Sanchez is a delivery boy for the local market. He was at the building during the time of death.

At the station, Sanchez denies having anything to do with the woman's death. He delivered some goods but says the woman was fine when he left. Shatner tells the cops they will have to let the boy go without further evidence. He then heads back to his office.

Detective Bosco calmly walks the kid into a file room for a little face to face conversation. A short time later, Shatner is summoned back to the precinct. Mister Sanchez is now more than willing to admit to the murder. Shatner asks Bosco if he did a spot of rubber hosing. Bosco just tells Shatner that the kid has decided to come clean. The kid is arrested and charged.

The next day in court, Shatner is approached by Sanchez's defence lawyer, Diana Douglas. Douglas tells Shatner that the confession was coerced out of Sanchez by violence. Shatner has a doctor go over Sanchez and finds several large bruises. He has another talk with Detective Bosco about the confession. Bosco says he did not touch the kid. Shatner is not sure, he is however sure the kid is guilty.

Shatner talks the case over with his boss, Howard Da Silva. Da Silva tells him to continue with the case. The matter is up to the judge and jury he says. In court, the defence counsel, Douglas pounds on the Police witnesses about the confession. Douglas is particularly harsh on Detective Bosco. Doubt is raised with the judge etc and Sanchez is released.

Bosco says to Shatner that he had best hope that the next person Sanchez kills is not someone he knows. As Sanchez is set free, he winks at people in the gallery. The viewer knows that the kid is indeed guilty.

This is a pretty intense episode with excellent work from the entire cast and crew. Philip Bosco in particular is in top form. Bosco was on screen from 1952 to 2010. Diana Douglas, the former wife of Kirk, and mother of Michael Douglas is also excellent.

The director here is Stuart Rosenberg. Rosenberg started out in television before graduating to feature work. His big screen work includes, "Brubaker", "The Laughing Policeman", "The Drowning Pool", "Murder Inc" and "Cool Hand Luke".

The series was shot on location in New York.