Arrest and Trial

TV Series
1963–1964
1h 30m

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Ben Gazzara and Chuck Connors in Arrest and Trial (1963)

Los Angeles is where Sergeant Nick Anderson and his fellow officers work to keep the streets safe. After the arrest of the accused, attorney John Egan plans their defense, while the prosecut... Read allLos Angeles is where Sergeant Nick Anderson and his fellow officers work to keep the streets safe. After the arrest of the accused, attorney John Egan plans their defense, while the prosecution is led by Jerry Miller.Los Angeles is where Sergeant Nick Anderson and his fellow officers work to keep the streets safe. After the arrest of the accused, attorney John Egan plans their defense, while the prosecution is led by Jerry Miller.

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IMDb RATING

7.7/10

159

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Stars

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 4 Primetime Emmys
- 4 nominations total

Episodes30

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TopTop-rated 1 Season2 years

Trivia
Although Chuck Connors was considered to be miscast as an attorney, much of the failure of this show to live up to its potential was allegedly due to interference in the show's writing by producer Frank P. Rosenberg. Connors is said to have butted heads many times with management over this, as well as its treatment of the show's staff (he once walked off the set until the studio resumed providing free coffee and donuts for the crew). Rosenberg was said to have a stack of "Arrest and Trial" scripts written by some of the top writers in Hollywood that were ignored, in favor of scripts that were increasingly mediocre. This show was also in one of the worst possible time slots, competing against Bonanza (1959), The Ed Sullivan Show (1948), and The Judy Garland Show (1963). When this show folded after one season, Connors, Universal, and Revue severed their contract by "mutual agreement". A year later, Connors was back on television in another western, Branded (1965) that, oddly enough, ran in the same unenviable time slot as this show, but managed to last two seasons. Ben Gazzara returned to enjoy a three-year run on the television series Run for Your Life (1965), before appearing in three critically acclaimed films directed by his friend, independent film pioneer, John Cassavetes.

Connections
Remade as Arrest & Trial (2000)

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Review

Featured review

"Law and Order" Forerunner Ahead of it's Time....

Created by Earl Bellamy, "Arrest and Trial" was an early attempt to meld, a la "Law and Order", the processes of apprehending criminals, then following the legal system as the cases would be resolved. As 'cop' shows and 'lawyer' shows were among television's most popular genres at the time, ABC and Universal thought the program would be a major hit, and provided first-class talent both in front of, and behind the camera.

The 'Arrest' phase starred 33-year old Ben Gazzara, a highly respected actor who had made his mark on Broadway in "Cat On a Hot Tin Roof", and in film, in ANATOMY OF A MURDER. Possessing a quick, analytical mind, and a wry sense of humor, Gazzara's 'Nick Anderson' would quickly cut through alibis, and make arrests, aided by fellow detectives Roger Perry ("Harrigan and Son") and Noah Keen ("The Crimebusters").

The 'Trial' phase returned TV's "Rifleman", Chuck Connors, to the small screen, as John Egan, an intimidating yet sensitive attorney, and featured veteran actors John Larch (WRITTEN ON THE WIND) and John Kerr (SOUTH PACIFIC) as D.A.s representing the State.

While not as intellectual as "The Defenders", "Arrest and Trial" was unique as either side could win or lose a case, as opposed to Perry Mason's nearly flawless record. This was heady stuff for the early sixties!

Unfortunately, being on television's 'Number 3' network did the series in, as ABC had a much harder time attracting viewers than CBS and NBC, particularly when the program was promoted as 'quality'.

It would take 30 years before "Law and Order" could make the formula work!