Before Batman, Adam West was busting perps in a fedora.
Season 3 • Episode 29
LatestA news editor tries to bring crooked men to justice even though he is threatened by them
The Detectives is an American crime drama series which ran on ABC during its first two seasons, and on NBC during its third and final season. The series, starring motion picture star Robert Taylor, was produced by Four Star Television. Captain Matt Holbrook (Robert Taylor) is head of the detective division of a large metropolitan police force—a man whose devotion to duty, professional brilliance, and quick judgment are reflected in his 20-year career on the force. His aides, Lt. Johnny Russo (Tige Andrews), Lt. Otto Lindstrom (Russ Thorson), and Sgt. Chris Ballard (Mark Goddard) form a team that is both proficient and warmly human. The stories stress the interrelationships between the men as well as the solutions to crimes and the apprehension of criminals, adding a dimension of human drama to the excitement, action, and suspense inherent in each story of the detectives' difficult, sometimes thankless, and frequently dangerous assignments.
Acting
Robert Taylor's granite-jawed authority anchors every scene.
Production
Authentic period police procedure before CSI gadgets existed.
Creator
Jules V. Levy
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Robert Taylor was one of the biggest movie stars to transition to weekly television in the 1950s, essentially legitimizing the medium for film actors. Four Star Television specifically built this vehicle to lure him.
The show aired during the twilight of the 'police as unquestioned heroes' era—just before the 1960s would complicate that image. Its unironic celebration of institutional authority now reads as fascinating cultural time capsule.
US
