"The Untouchables" (1959-1963)
During the 1920's and early 1930's, the city of Chicago was overrun with mob activity. A group of Federal agents, led by Eliot Ness (Robert Stack), worked hard to smash the gangsters' influence. The agents were dubbed The Untouchables because they were thought of as being unable to be bought by the gangsters they sought to take down.
The TV series was based on a book written by Ness, but not everything presented was historically accurate. There was a disclaimer at the end of the episodes explaining that some things had been fictionalized. Regardless, the series was a big hit, due to the tough talking bad and good guys, and constant shoot-outs and murders. The first few seasons were very violent by late 1950's and early 1960's standards.
It's fun to watch this show and spot actors appearing in early roles. Elizabeth Montgomery and David White were in an episode; both later were co-stars on "Bewitched". Rip Torn ("The Larry Sanders Show"), Jack Klugman ("The Odd Couple"), Robert Redford (The Way We Were), Frank Gorshin ("Batman"), Michael Constantine (My Big Fat Greek Wedding), Gavin MacLeod ("The Love Boat"), Telly Savalas ("Kojak"), Ed Asner ("The Mary Tyler Moore Show"), Carroll O'Connor ("All In The Family"), Lee Marvin (Cat Ballou), Harry Dean Stanton (Repo Man), Martin Landau ("Mission: Impossible"), and Peter Falk ("Columbo"), were just a few of the famous faces who were featured on the show.
During the last season, the famous theme song (by Nelson Riddle) was tweaked, and the violence was toned down a bit. In some episodes, the Untouchables were in the background and other do-gooders were brought in. For example, veteran actress Barbara Stanwyck portrayed a lieutenant from the Bureau of Missing Persons, and most of the action was centered on her.
Jerry Paris appeared as one of Ness' men, a guy named Flaherty, in early episodes. He went on to be the Petrie's neighbor on "The Dick Van Dyke Show" and later, Paris switched from acting to directing. Quinn Martin supervised early episodes of the series, and went on to head shows including "The FBI" "The Fugitive", and "Cannon".
The TV series was based on a book written by Ness, but not everything presented was historically accurate. There was a disclaimer at the end of the episodes explaining that some things had been fictionalized. Regardless, the series was a big hit, due to the tough talking bad and good guys, and constant shoot-outs and murders. The first few seasons were very violent by late 1950's and early 1960's standards.
It's fun to watch this show and spot actors appearing in early roles. Elizabeth Montgomery and David White were in an episode; both later were co-stars on "Bewitched". Rip Torn ("The Larry Sanders Show"), Jack Klugman ("The Odd Couple"), Robert Redford (The Way We Were), Frank Gorshin ("Batman"), Michael Constantine (My Big Fat Greek Wedding), Gavin MacLeod ("The Love Boat"), Telly Savalas ("Kojak"), Ed Asner ("The Mary Tyler Moore Show"), Carroll O'Connor ("All In The Family"), Lee Marvin (Cat Ballou), Harry Dean Stanton (Repo Man), Martin Landau ("Mission: Impossible"), and Peter Falk ("Columbo"), were just a few of the famous faces who were featured on the show.
During the last season, the famous theme song (by Nelson Riddle) was tweaked, and the violence was toned down a bit. In some episodes, the Untouchables were in the background and other do-gooders were brought in. For example, veteran actress Barbara Stanwyck portrayed a lieutenant from the Bureau of Missing Persons, and most of the action was centered on her.
Jerry Paris appeared as one of Ness' men, a guy named Flaherty, in early episodes. He went on to be the Petrie's neighbor on "The Dick Van Dyke Show" and later, Paris switched from acting to directing. Quinn Martin supervised early episodes of the series, and went on to head shows including "The FBI" "The Fugitive", and "Cannon".
Labels: Quinn Martin, Robert Stack, The Untouchables
posted by Hillari | 12:47 AM
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