McClain's Law

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.

McClain's Law
GenreCrime drama
Created byEric Bercovici
Written byFrank Abatemarco
Eric Bercovici
Walter Dallenbach
Stephen Downing
Allison Hock
Mark Rodgers
Frank Telford
Gerald Sanford
Directed byCorey Allen
Kerry Feltham
Bruce Kessler
Vincent McEveety
Gary Nelson
James Sheldon
StarringJames Arness
George DiCenzo
Marshall Colt
ComposersJames 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 originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes16
Production
Executive producersEric Bercovici
Richard R. St. Johns
ProducersRobert H. Justman
Mark Rodgers
Running time44 minutes
Production companiesEric Bercovici Productions
MGM Television
Release
Original networkNBC
Original releaseNovember 20, 1981 (1981-11-20) –
August 24, 1982 (1982-08-24)

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. Shaaron Claridge also played a dispatcher. This was Arness' final TV series; hereafter he primarily appeared in a series of made-for-TV movies reprising Gunsmoke.

Cast

Notable guest stars

Episodes
No. Title Directed by Written by Original air date
1
2		"Pilot"Vincent McEveetyEric BercoviciNovember 20, 1981 (1981-11-20)
3"Requiem for a Narc"Alan SmitheeStephen DowningNovember 27, 1981 (1981-11-27)
4"A Time of Peril"James SheldonFrank TelfordDecember 4, 1981 (1981-12-04)
5"Let the Victims Beware"Paul KrasnyFrank AbatemarcoDecember 11, 1981 (1981-12-11)
6"Portrait of a Playmate"Michael O'HerlihyGerald SanfordDecember 18, 1981 (1981-12-18)
7"To Save the Queen"Bruce KeslerMark RodgersJanuary 8, 1982 (1982-01-08)
8"A Matter of Honor"Chrisman I. Nyby IIWalter DallenbachJanuary 15, 1982 (1982-01-15)
9"The Sign of the Beast: Part 1"Gary NelsonStephen DowningJanuary 22, 1982 (1982-01-22)
10"The Sign of the Beast: Part 2"Gary NelsonStephen DowningJanuary 29, 1982 (1982-01-29)
11"What Patric Doesn't Know"Larry ElikannFrank AbatemarcoFebruary 5, 1982 (1982-02-05)
12"Green Light"Corey AllenMark RodgersFebruary 12, 1982 (1982-02-12)
13"Use of Deadly Force"James SheldonGerald SanfordFebruary 19, 1982 (1982-02-19)
14"Takeover"Lee H. KatzanFrank AbatemarcoMarch 6, 1982 (1982-03-06)
15"From the Mouths of Babes"Bernard McEveetyJoe ViolaMarch 13, 1982 (1982-03-13)
16"The Last Hero"Corey AllenFrank AbatemarcoMarch 20, 1982 (1982-03-20)

DVD release

On June 21, 2016, Warner Archive Collection released 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 Archived 2016-05-30 at the Wayback Machine
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