New York Confidential (TV series)

Summary

New York Confidential is a British-American crime drama series that aired from 1958 to 1959.[1]

New York Confidential
GenreCrime drama
Directed byJack Gage
Steve Sekely
Justus Addiss
StarringLee Tracy
Opening themeAlfred Newman
Ending themeJoseph Mullendore[1]
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes39
Production
Executive producerLeon Fromkess
Production locationsUnited States
United Kingdom
Camera setupSingle-camera
Running time25 mins.
Production companiesITC Productions
Metropolis Productions
Original release
NetworkSyndication (United States)
Rediffusion (United Kingdom)
Release1958 (1958) –
1959 (1959)

The series aired in syndicated in the United States and was broadcast on London's local ITV station, Associated-Rediffusion, in the UK. It was co-produced by ITC Entertainment, Metropolis Productions, Inc., and Television Programs of America.

Overview edit

Running for 39 half-hour monochrome episodes, the series chronicled the adventures of a New York City newspaper columnist Lee Cochran, played by Lee Tracy.

The series is often mis-remembered today as having flowed from a 1955 Broderick Crawford movie of the same name. However, neither Lee Cochran, nor any newspaper columnist, features in the film. In truth, the two works were unrelated attempts to adapt the same non-fiction book by Jack Lait and Lee Mortimer, with varying degrees of fidelity to that source. The film is frequently cited as being merely "suggested" by the book, whereas the television series is seen as being "based upon" it.[2][3]

Episode list edit

No.
overall
Title Directed by Written by Original air date
1"Sudden Money"Jack GageTBD ()
A fleeing bank robber hides the loot in Stan Adams' cab.
2"A Covenant with Death"Jack GageTBD ()
Lawyer John Webb creates a monster when he introduces his son to a mobster.
3"Come Home to Death"Jack GageTBD ()
Returning home after four months in the hospital, Charlie Harrison finds his wife is gone and his business has been sold.
4"Semper Fidelis"Jack GageTBD ()
An ex-marine asks Lee to help clear his grandson, who was implicated in a gangland murder.
5"Chinatown, My Chinatown"Jack GageTBD ()
Patrolman Willie Lum learns that his fiancee, an illegal alien, is being blackmailed by the man who smuggled her into the U.S.
6"Child of Terror"Steve SekelyTBD ()
Little Michael Warner claims he's seen a murder, but no one believes him---except the killer.
7"Legacy"Steve SekelyTBD ()
Lee tries to locate a girl who's supposedly inherited $100,000.
8"Garment District"Steve SekelyTBD ()
It looks like the package a model was carrying was very valuable: someone killed her to get it.
9"Law is for Suckers"Steve SekelyTBD ()
When a young car thief is killed, the police enlist his sister's help in capturing the rest of his gang.
10"Massacre"Jack GageTBD ()
As part of a plan to avenge her father's murder, Elva Dean gets engaged to one of the killers.
11"Girl from Nowhere"Steve SekelyTBD ()
A young woman's body, stripped of all identification, is found in the East River.
12"Skid Row Mouthpiece"Steve SekelyTBD ()
A murder witness conceals his identity successfully for 15 years---until he becomes a hero and makes the headlines.
13"New Citizen"Steve SekelyKenneth Gamet and Elwood Ullman ()
Lee is touched by the plight of an orphaned immigrant who faces deportation because his sponsor has died.
14"The Bullet"Steve SekelyTBD ()
A killer, wounded by a policeman's bullet, refuses to have it removed.
15"The Seeing Eye"Steve SekelyTBD ()
Lee searches for the crook who blinded a policeman in a gunfight.
16"Man on Parole"Jack GageTBD ()
Four carnival performers have reason to worry about Joe Vance's release---their testimony sent him to prison.
17"Broadway Sam"Steve SekelyTBD ()
Sammy Watts falls in love but the girl has eyes only for an egotistical entertainer.
18"Crosseyed Camera"Jack GageTBD ()
A photographer claims a college professor was a participant in a raided crap game.
19"Death in Pursuit"Steve SekelyTBD ()
After an attempt is made on his life, Joel Connors flees to New York. And so do the killers.
20"The Skin Game"Steve SekelyTBD ()
Furrier Mark Maxwell cooperates with mobsters for money that will save his son's marriage.
21"Medallion"Jack GageTBD ()
Cabbie Abe Marko tries to help a friend hide from the mob.
22"Horse on the Loose"Steve SekelyTBD ()
A narcotics-squad agent poses as a potential buyer.
23"Incident at Fulton Market"Jack GageTBD ()
Frank Valento enlarges his fish market and intrudes on a mobster's territory.
24"Positive Identification"Jack GageJack Laird and Wilton Schiller ()
A detective fills out a police lineup and finds himself accused of murder.
25"Custody"Steve SekelyTBD ()
A childless couple adopts a baby from an unscrupulous operator.
26"The Most Dangerous Animal"Steve SekelyTBD ()
A murderer tries to silence the only person who can link him to the crime.
27"House of Strangers"Jack GageTBD ()
Lee helps a friend whose wife is about to leave him.
28"Body on a Couch"Steve SekelyTBD ()
A blackmailer steals tapes that incriminate Elaine Bradbury in her millionaire father's death.
29"The Lonely Man"Jack GageTBD ()
Gangsters planning a diamond robbery use the firm's shy bookkeeper as their pawn.
30"The Assassin"Jack GageTBD ()
Wall Street executive George Wilson has a lucrative side line---as a hired killer.
31"Johnny Cordes"John CromwellTBD ()
A policeman is looking for the leader of a crime school for children.
32"The Captain Kenesaw Story"Steve SekelyTBD ()
An elderly man struck it rich on a quiz show. Now his daughter-in-law is trying to have him declared incompetent.
33"In Retaliation"Jack GageTBD ()
An anonymous self-styled "avenger" threatens Lee Cochran's life.
34"Miracle for Gisella"Steve SekelyJack Laird and Wilton Schiller ()
Irate tenants persecute a kindly janitor, accusing him of wasting time by helping others.
35"Face of Clay"Steve SekelyDonald S. Sanford ()
A has-been sculptress uncovers evidence about a 15-year-old murder case.
36"Death is the Collateral"Steve SekelyTBD ()
Andras Kalman goes to loan sharks for money, despite evidence of their ruthlessness.
37"Ransom"Jack GageTBD ()
Kidnappers grab the daughter of a society matron.
38"Life Care"Jack GageTBD ()
Fanny Williams, a resident in a home for the aged, is suspicious of mysterious ailments afflicting some of the inhabitants.
39"Airline Hostess"Justus AddissMilton Krims ()
Airline hostess Nora Hunt risks her job to help another hostess.

References edit

  1. ^ a b classicthemes.com listing for New York Confidential
  2. ^ BFI synopsis of the 1955 film.
  3. ^ Fandango synopsis of the 1955 film.

External links edit

  • New York Confidential at IMDb  
  • Classic TV Archive information