The Man Behind the Badge is a half-hour American television police drama series which aired on CBS from October 11, 1953, to October 3, 1954.[1] originally hosted by Norman Rose. In its second syndicated season, the host became character actor Charles Bickford.[1]
The Man Behind the Badge | |
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Genre | Police drama |
Developed by | Prockter Television Enterprises |
Directed by | John Peyser, Paul Landres |
Starring | Norman Rose (1953-1954)/ Charles Bickford (1955) (Host) |
Theme music composer | Melvyn Lenard |
Country of origin | USA |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 2 |
No. of episodes | 52 episodes (live, 1953-1954) 38 episodes (filmed, 1955) |
Production | |
Executive producers | Bernard J. Prockter, Jerome C. Robinson |
Editor | Fred W. Berger |
Running time | 30 mins. |
Production companies | Prockter Television Enterprises Revue Studios MCA TV |
Distributor | MCA TV (1955) |
Release | |
Original network | CBS Syndicated |
Picture format | 1.33:1 monochrome |
Audio format | monaural |
Original release | October 11, 1953 (1953-10-11) – September 24, 1955 (1955-09-24) |
Beginning in January 1955,[citation needed] a filmed version of the program was syndicated to local stations by MCA TV.[2]
In an interview with Kliph Nesteroff, assistant director Arthur Marks stated the filmed episodes were shot at the same time and on the same sets as Treasury Men in Action.[3] Bernard J. Prockter produced the series in Hollywood.[2]
The series is based on real crime stories from around the world.[citation needed] In addition to police, the subjects of episodes included judges, park rangers, parole officers, and public defenders. Topics of episodes included divorce, life in a boys' home, and rehabilitation.[1]
Recurring Roles and Notable Guest Stars:
Actor | Role | Appearances |
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Norman Rose | Himself | 52 episodes |
Charles Bickford | Himself | 38 episodes |
Charles Bronson | Ralph | "The Case of the Invisible Mark" (1955) |
Paul Brinegar | 3 episodes | |
Sam Flint | 3 episodes | |
Vivi Janiss | 2 episodes | |
Carolyn Jones | Louise | "The Case of the Desperate Moment" (1955) |
Ann McCrea | Laura | "The Case of the One-Armed Bandits" (1955) |
Paul Newman | "The St. Paul Story" (1953) | |
Leslie Nielsen | 2 episodes | |
Anthony Perkins | Pedro | 2 episodes |
Lillian Powell | 3 episodes | |
Denver Pyle | Detective Lashley | "The Case of the Crying Lady" (1955) |
Jason Robards | "The Case of the Last Escape" (1954) | |
Lee Van Cleef | Floyd | "The Case of the Desperate Moment" (1955) |
Jack Warden | "The Portland, Oregon Story" (1953) |