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Man Against Crime

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Man Against Crime
Ralph Bellamy as Mike Barnett (1951)
Also known asFollow That Man
GenreCrime drama
Created byLawrence Klee
Written byVin Bogert
Directed by
Starring
Narrated byCarl King
Theme music composerFred Steiner
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons5
No. of episodes122 (list of episodes)
Production
Producers
EditorMaria Montague (1952-53)
Running time30 mins. (approx)
Original release
NetworkCBS (1949–53)
DuMont (1953–54)
NBC (1953–54)
ReleaseOctober 7, 1949 (1949-10-07) –
June 27, 1954 (1954-06-27)

Man Against Crime (also known as Follow That Man) starring Ralph Bellamy, one of the first television programs about private eyes, ran on CBS, the DuMont Television Network and NBC from October 7, 1949, to June 27, 1954, and was briefly revived, starring Frank Lovejoy, during 1956. The show was created by Lawrence Klee and was broadcast live until 1952.[1] The series was one of the few television programs ever to have been simulcast on more than one network: the program aired on both NBC and DuMont during the 1953–54 television season.[2]

Synopsis

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Man Against Crime stars Ralph Bellamy as Mike Barnett, a New York freelance private eye. In the 1951 season, Robert Preston co-starred as Mike Barnett's brother, Pat (who also assumed the lead while Bellamy was on vacation that summer).[3] Mike Barnett did not carry a gun.[4]

Accompanied by a frantic theme song by Fred Steiner [where is the evidence that Steiner wrote the theme? - the theme is named "Manhunt" and originally was in the Filmusic Library, then the Langlois Filmusic Library, then Cinemusic Library, and now in the APM Music Library - it can be found online at www.APMmusic.com and on YouTube], the film noir-style introduction features an unknown man running down a deserted New York City street while being chased by a black car, all of which is viewed from above. As he knocks on Barnett's door, there is a spray of sub-machine gun fire, and the man is killed. Barnett opens the door, hears the click of the bolt on the gun, ducks and is missed by a second, shorter burst of slugs. Barnett then takes off after the killer while Follow That Man appears in bold letters and the title of the episode is shown on a file folder that is propped up against a telephone. The filmed episodes were syndicated as Follow That Man because the sponsor owned the original title [see below].[citation needed]

The show's first prime-time episode aired on CBS on October 7, 1949,[5] and the final prime-time episode was broadcast, on NBC, on August 26, 1956. In the 1950–51 season, the series finished at #13 in the Nielsen ratings, followed by a #29 finish in 1951–52.[6]

1956 version

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Man Against Crime returned to TV on NBC from July 1, 1956, through August 19, 1956, at 10 p.m. Eastern Time as a summer replacement for The Loretta Young Show. Procter & Gamble sponsored this version, which starred Frank Lovejoy and originated in Hollywood, California. It was televised live.[7] Bill Spier was the producer, and George Cahan was the director.[8]

A review of in the trade publication Variety described Lovejoy's acting as "mostly deadpan and businesslike, as perhaps befitting the infallible detective."[8] It said, "Technical credits, including the sets, are good", but "The plots are almost incredible."[8]

Production

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The program was initially broadcast live from CBS's studio in the Grand Central Terminal building,[9] but by mid-1953, it was being filmed at the Bedford Park Studios in New York City, while exterior sites included the East River, Grant's Tomb, the Hudson River, the Staten Island Ferry, and subways.[4] The budget was $10,000 - $15,000 per episode for the initial live broadcasts, but expenses increased with the shift to film.[10]

Charles Russell was the producer, Paul Nickell was the director, and Lawrence Klee was the writer. The program originated from WCBS-TV.[11] Philip Reisman Jr. was the script editor.[9]: 101  Henry Sylvern provided the music.[12]

Sponsorship and scheduling

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Camel cigarettes sponsored the series.[5] That sponsorship produced limitations for writers that included "no disreputable person could smoke, nor could anyone smoke nervously or in any unattractive manner. No coughing (implying cigarettes could cause disease) or arson (suggesting cigarettes could cause fires) was allowed."[10]

In October 1953, Man Against Crime moved to NBC, but that network was unable to clear time for the program in approximately 10 cities, including New York City. DuMont had no program scheduled for the show's Sunday night time slot, so it carried Man Against Crime in those cities. By then, WOR-TV in New York City was broadcasting reruns of earlier episodes of the show on Saturday nights.[13]

Episodes

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Season 1 (1949–50)

[edit]
No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleOriginal air date
11"Episode #1.1"October 7, 1949 (1949-10-07)
22"Episode #1.2"October 14, 1949 (1949-10-14)
33"Episode #1.3"October 21, 1949 (1949-10-21)
44"Episode #1.4"October 28, 1949 (1949-10-28)
55"Episode #1.5"November 4, 1949 (1949-11-04)
66"Episode #1.6"November 11, 1949 (1949-11-11)
77"Episode #1.7"November 18, 1949 (1949-11-18)
88"Episode #1.8"November 25, 1949 (1949-11-25)
99"Episode #1.9"December 2, 1949 (1949-12-02)
1010"Episode #1.10"December 9, 1949 (1949-12-09)
1111"Episode #1.11"December 16, 1949 (1949-12-16)
1212"Episode #1.12"December 23, 1949 (1949-12-23)
1313"Episode #1.13"December 30, 1949 (1949-12-30)
1414"Episode #1.14"January 6, 1950 (1950-01-06)
1515"Episode #1.15"January 13, 1950 (1950-01-13)
1616"Episode #1.16"January 20, 1950 (1950-01-20)
1717"Episode #1.17"January 27, 1950 (1950-01-27)
1818"Episode #1.18"February 3, 1950 (1950-02-03)
1919"Episode #1.19"February 10, 1950 (1950-02-10)
2020"Episode #1.20"February 17, 1950 (1950-02-17)
2121"Episode #1.21"February 24, 1950 (1950-02-24)
2222"Episode #1.22"March 3, 1950 (1950-03-03)
2323"Episode #1.23"March 10, 1950 (1950-03-10)
2424"Episode #1.24"March 17, 1950 (1950-03-17)
2525"Episode #1.25"March 24, 1950 (1950-03-24)
2626"Episode #1.26"March 31, 1950 (1950-03-31)
2727"Episode #1.27"April 7, 1950 (1950-04-07)
2828"Episode #1.28"April 14, 1950 (1950-04-14)
2929"Episode #1.29"April 21, 1950 (1950-04-21)
3030"Episode #1.30"April 28, 1950 (1950-04-28)
3131"Episode #1.31"May 5, 1950 (1950-05-05)
3232"Episode #1.32"May 12, 1950 (1950-05-12)
3333"Episode #1.33"May 19, 1950 (1950-05-19)
3434"Episode #1.34"May 26, 1950 (1950-05-26)
3535"Episode #1.35"June 2, 1950 (1950-06-02)
3636"Episode #1.36"June 9, 1950 (1950-06-09)
3737"Episode #1.37"June 16, 1950 (1950-06-16)
3838"Episode #1.38"June 23, 1950 (1950-06-23)
3939"Episode #1.39"June 30, 1950 (1950-06-30)

Season 2 (1950)

[edit]
No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleOriginal air date
401"Episode #2.1"September 8, 1950 (1950-09-08)

Season 3 (1951)

[edit]
No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleOriginal air date
411"Episode #3.1"August 10, 1951 (1951-08-10)

Season 4 (1952–53)

[edit]
No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
421"Phobia"UnknownUnknownOctober 1, 1952 (1952-10-01)
432"Murder in Rhyme"UnknownUnknownOctober 8, 1952 (1952-10-08)
443"Baker Grandee"UnknownUnknownOctober 15, 1952 (1952-10-15)
454"Joy Ride"Edward J. MontagneCheckley EllisOctober 22, 1952 (1952-10-22)
465"Carpathia"UnknownUnknownOctober 29, 1952 (1952-10-29)
476"Paradise Lost"Edward J. MontagneCheckley EllisNovember 5, 1952 (1952-11-05)
487"The Victim Is Venus"Edward J. MontagneVincent BogertNovember 12, 1952 (1952-11-12)
498"Get Out of Town"Edward J. MontagneBurton BenjaminNovember 19, 1952 (1952-11-19)
509"Fuller's Folly"Edward J. MontagneMax ErlichNovember 26, 1952 (1952-11-26)
5110"Women's Reformatory"UnknownUnknownDecember 3, 1952 (1952-12-03)
5211"Killer Cat"Edward J. MontagneWilliam L. StuartDecember 10, 1952 (1952-12-10)
5312"Bartholdi"UnknownUnknownDecember 17, 1952 (1952-12-17)
5413"The Day They Kidnapped Santa Claus"UnknownUnknownDecember 24, 1952 (1952-12-24)
5514"Dragon's Blood"UnknownUnknownDecember 31, 1952 (1952-12-31)
5615"Breaking Point"UnknownUnknownJanuary 7, 1953 (1953-01-07)
5716"Ferry Boat"Paul AlterVincent BogertJanuary 14, 1953 (1953-01-14)
5817"Murder in the Studio"UnknownUnknownJanuary 21, 1953 (1953-01-21)
5918"The Silken Touch"Edward J. MontagneStanley NissJanuary 28, 1953 (1953-01-28)
6019"Third Rail"Edward J. MontagneBill DemlingFebruary 4, 1953 (1953-02-04)
6120"Exclusive"UnknownUnknownFebruary 11, 1953 (1953-02-11)
6221"The Midnight Express"UnknownUnknownFebruary 18, 1953 (1953-02-18)
6322"A Bottle of Death"UnknownUnknownFebruary 25, 1953 (1953-02-25)
6423"The Iceman"Edward J. MontagneStanley NissMarch 4, 1953 (1953-03-04)
6524"Death Takes a Partner"Edward J. MontagneDon SanfordMarch 11, 1953 (1953-03-11)
6625"Sic Transit Gloria"Edward J. MontagneVincent BogertMarch 18, 1953 (1953-03-18)
6726"Family Affair"Edward J. MontagneCheckley EllisMarch 25, 1953 (1953-03-25)
6827"The Hitch Heisters"Frank McDonaldStanley NissApril 1, 1953 (1953-04-01)
6928"Free Ride"Frank McDonaldArt Stark & Irving ElmanApril 8, 1953 (1953-04-08)
7029"Death Below Decks"UnknownUnknownApril 15, 1953 (1953-04-15)
7130"High Ambush"Paul AlterWilliam L. StuartApril 22, 1953 (1953-04-22)
7231"The Cocoanut's Eye"William BerkeWilliam L. StuartMay 6, 1953 (1953-05-06)
7332"Room 505"Frank McDonaldVincent BogertMay 13, 1953 (1953-05-13)
7433"The Day Man"William BerkePaul AlterMay 20, 1953 (1953-05-20)
7534"Hot Fur"Frank McDonaldPaul AlterMay 27, 1953 (1953-05-27)
7635"The Doll Bandit"William BerkeVincent BogertJune 10, 1953 (1953-06-10)
7736"Washington Story"William BerkeBurton Benjamin & Robert ShaplenJune 17, 1953 (1953-06-17)
7837"Black Leg – White Tie"Frank McDonaldStanley NissJune 24, 1953 (1953-06-24)
7938"Fraternity of Five"William BerkeStory by : Don Sanford
Teleplay by : Hamish McLeod
July 1, 1953 (1953-07-01)
8039"Death on the Diamond"UnknownUnknownJuly 17, 1953 (1953-07-17)
8140"The Polecat Shakedown"Edward J. MontagneJ.P. MillerJuly 24, 1953 (1953-07-24)
8241"Hide and Seek"William BerkeVincent BogertAugust 7, 1953 (1953-08-07)
8342"The Wire Tappers"William BerkeCheckley EllisAugust 14, 1953 (1953-08-14)
8443"The Missing Cadet"Edward J. MontagneB. LoringAugust 28, 1953 (1953-08-28)

Season 5 (1953–54)

[edit]
No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleOriginal air date
851"Death Wears Lead Shoes: Part 1"October 11, 1953 (1953-10-11)
862"Death Wears Lead Shoes: Part 2"October 18, 1953 (1953-10-18)
873"Three Cents Worth of Murder"October 25, 1953 (1953-10-25)
884"Time Keepers"November 1, 1953 (1953-11-01)
895"Murder in the Rough"November 8, 1953 (1953-11-08)
906"Main Bout Is Murder"November 15, 1953 (1953-11-15)
917"Thirty Dimes"November 22, 1953 (1953-11-22)
928"Cube Root of Murder"November 29, 1953 (1953-11-29)
939"Murder Mountain"December 6, 1953 (1953-12-06)
9410"A Very Dead Ringer"December 13, 1953 (1953-12-13)
9511"Petite Larceny"December 20, 1953 (1953-12-20)
9612"Going, Going Gone"December 27, 1953 (1953-12-27)
9713"Don't Feed the Animals"January 3, 1954 (1954-01-03)
9814"Danger for Duffy"January 10, 1954 (1954-01-10)[14]
9915"Terror 12 Stories High"January 17, 1954 (1954-01-17)[15]
10016"Holler Uncle"January 24, 1954 (1954-01-24)
10117"Beauty and the Beasts"January 31, 1954 (1954-01-31)
10218"Little Boy Blues"February 7, 1954 (1954-02-07)
10319"Target with Two Ts"February 14, 1954 (1954-02-14)
10420"Mike's Missing Marbles"February 21, 1954 (1954-02-21)
10521"U.F.O."February 28, 1954 (1954-02-28)
10622"Will o' the Wisp"March 7, 1954 (1954-03-07)
10723"Rigged for Murder"March 14, 1954 (1954-03-14)
10824"Hit and Run"March 21, 1954 (1954-03-21)
10925"Canary Yellow"March 28, 1954 (1954-03-28)
11026"The Plugged Shilling"April 4, 1954 (1954-04-04)
11127"The Chinese Dolls"April 11, 1954 (1954-04-11)
11228"Barometer Falling"April 18, 1954 (1954-04-18)
11329"The Man from Dannemora"April 25, 1954 (1954-04-25)
11430"The Man in the Iron Car"May 2, 1954 (1954-05-02)
11531"The Sunset Farm"May 9, 1954 (1954-05-09)
11632"Where's Mimi?"May 16, 1954 (1954-05-16)
11733"Hot as Three Pistols"May 23, 1954 (1954-05-23)
11834"Concrete Jungle"May 30, 1954 (1954-05-30)
11935"The Young Hoods"June 6, 1954 (1954-06-06)
12036"Next to Closing"June 13, 1954 (1954-06-13)
12137"No Place to Hide"June 20, 1954 (1954-06-20)
12238"Connecticut State Police"June 27, 1954 (1954-06-27)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Follow That Man (a.k.a. Man Against Crime)". Oldies.com. Retrieved 2008-09-22.
  2. ^ Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle (2007). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946–Present (9 ed.). New York: Random House Publishing. p. 843. ISBN 978-0-345-49773-4. Retrieved 2024-06-04.
  3. ^ "Channel Chatter". TV Guide. June 30, 1951. p. 3. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  4. ^ a b Gent, George (August 30, 1953). "Amiable Private Eye". The New York Times. p. X 9. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Radio and Television: Ralph Bellamy to Star in New Detective Series for CBS Video, Starting Oct. 7". The New York Times. September 29, 1949. p. 58. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  6. ^ https://classictvguide.com/tvratings/index.htm
  7. ^ Adams, Val (June 14, 1956). "Detective Series Returning to TV: 'Man Against Crime' Will Be Loretta Young Substitute, Starring Frank Lovejoy". The New York Times. p. 67. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  8. ^ a b c "Man Against Crime". Variety. July 4, 1956. p. 25. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  9. ^ a b Barnouw, Erik (November 15, 1970). The Image Empire: A History of Broadcasting in the United States, Volume III--from 1953. Oxford University Press. pp. 22–24. ISBN 978-0-19-802011-0. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  10. ^ a b Hawes, William (December 26, 2001). Filmed Television Drama, 1952-1958. McFarland. p. 110. ISBN 978-0-7864-1132-0. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  11. ^ "Dramatic Shows". Ross Reports on Television including The Television Index. November 27, 1949. p. 5. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  12. ^ "Man Against Crime". Ross Reports on Television including The Television Index. June 18, 1950. p. 6. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
  13. ^ Coppola, Jo (November 4, 1953). "Man Against Viewers". Newsday (Nassau Edition). New York, Hempstead. p. 52. Retrieved February 12, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Sunday January 10 (Cont'd)" (PDF). Ross Reports on Television including The Television Index. January 11, 1954. p. B. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  15. ^ "Sunday January 17 (Cont'd)" (PDF). Ross Reports on Television including The Television Index. January 11, 1954. p. 10. Retrieved February 12, 2023.

Bibliography

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