McClain's Law

McClain's Law
Genre Crime drama
Created by Eric Bercovici
Written by Frank Abatemarco
Eric Bercovici
Walter Dallenbach
Stephen Downing
Allison Hock
Mark Rodgers
Frank Telford
Gerald Sanford
Directed by Corey Allen
Kerry Feltham
Bruce Kessler
Vincent McEveety
Gary Nelson
James Sheldon
Starring James Arness
George DiCenzo
Marshall Colt
Composer(s) James Di Pasquale (all other episodes and theme)
Michael Melvoin ("A Time of Peril")
Angela Morley (four: 1.6, 1.10, 1.12, 1.14)
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 1
No. of episodes 16
Production
Executive producer(s) Eric Bercovici
Richard R. St. Johns
Producer(s) Robert H. Justman
Mark Rodgers
Running time 44 minutes
Production company(s) Eric Bercovici Productions
MGM Television
Distributor Warner Bros. Television (current)
Release
Original network NBC
Original release November 20, 1981 (1981-11-20) – August 24, 1982 (1982-08-24)

McClain's Law is an American crime drama television series that aired on NBC during the 1981-1982 season. New episodes ended on March 20, and rebroadcasts continued until August 24, 1982.

Summary

The series starred former Gunsmoke lead James Arness in a rare non-western role as Jim McClain, a former police detective who was medically retired after being wounded in the leg in a gun battle in the line of duty. He returns to duty thirteen years later to avenge the murder and robbery of a friend, and ends up coming out of retirement in order to share his expertise with a younger generation of police officers.[1]

At first, his request to be returned to active duty is met with resistance by police department supervisors. McClain is made to undergo physical fitness tests and a requalification and training program at the police academy. He handily passes all tests and is returned to active duty on the department at his former rank of detective. McClain is tough but compassionate. He is regarded by his colleagues as being an "Old School" cop. He carries a Smith & Wesson .44 caliber revolver when most of his fellow officers carry .38 Special caliber sidearms. His new coworkers come to respect McClain as a consummate professional of unyielding courage. McClain's Law, like several other series from this period, was criticized for its level of violence. The co-stars were Marshall Colt and George DiCenzo. This was Arness' final TV series; hereafter he primarily appeared in a series of made-for-TV movies reprising Gunsmoke.

Cast

Actor Role
James Arness Detective Jim McClain
George DiCenzo Lieutenant Edward DeNisco
Marshall Colt Detective Harry Gates
Conchata Ferrell Vangie Cruise
Carl Franklin Detective Jerry Cross

Notable Guest stars

Episodes

Ep # Title Airdate
1 Pilot (Part 1) November 20, 1981
2 Pilot (Part 2) November 20, 1981
3 "Requiem for a Narc" November 27, 1981
4 "A Time of Peril" December 4, 1981
5 "Let the Victims Beware" December 11, 1981
6 "Portrait of a Playmate" December 18, 1981
7 "To Save the Queen" January 8, 1982
8 "A Matter of Honor" January 15, 1982
9 "The Sign of the Beast" (Part 1) January 22, 1982
10 "The Sign of the Beast" (Part 2) January 29, 1982
11 "What Patric Doesn't Know" February 5, 1982
12 "Green Light" February 12, 1982
13 "Use of Deadly Force" February 19, 1982
14 "Takeover" March 6, 1982
15 "From the Mouths of Babes" March 13, 1982
16 "The Last Hero" March 20, 1982

DVD release

On June 21, 2016, Warner Archive Collection will release McClain's Law- The Complete Series on DVD in Region 1 for the very first time.[2] This is a manufacture-on-demand (MOD) release, available exclusively through Warner's online store and Amazon.com.

References

  1. ↑ Tim Brooks and Earle Marsh, The Comprehensive Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows 1946-Present, New York: Ballantine Publishers, 1992, p. 570
  2. ↑ Official 'The Complete Series' on DVD: Date, Cost, Package Art
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