M Squad
The Golden Look
TV Flash files “The Golden Look” as a desk essential hour — M Squad (1957–1960) on NBC, season 1, episode 1, aired 1957-09-20, 30 min.
From the desk
How this hour is filed
This leaf is S01E01: listed hour 1 of 117 in the M Squad guide, first listed hour of season 1. It aired 1957-09-20 (30 min). No earlier hour is listed in this guide. Next is “Watchdog” (S01E02).
Essential hour: “The Golden Look”. The Golden Look: Marvin's hard cop in a hard Chicago, noir procedural with a jazz bite, badge television already practicing lethality.
Viewer FAQ
Where does The Golden Look sit in the M Squad guide?
S01E01 is listed hour 1 of 117 — first listed hour of season 1, season 1 episode 1.
When did M Squad S01E01 air?
The Golden Look aired 1957-09-20 and is listed at 30 minutes.
Where should I start?
Start with Marvin's Ballinger on the Chicago squad. Minimal smiles, noir half-hours; the jazz bite is the extra.
In the series
Why this series still plays
M Squad is Lee Marvin's hard cop in a hard Chicago: noir procedural with a jazz bite, later meaner when Count Basie got a theme. Tough urban police drama before Marvin's film cool peaked. Watch it now as badge television with bruise — jazz, alleys, and a star practicing lethality in half-hour form.
The bruise is already on the badge. Lee Marvin as Detective Lieutenant Frank Ballinger, NBC 1957–1960, a special plainclothes squad cleaning up Chicago crime with minimal smiles: M Squad, noir procedural with a jazz bite, 117 episodes, three seasons, Latimer Productions and Revue Studios. Paul Newlan as Capt. Grey holding the office while Marvin walked the alleys. Tougher than earlier badge shows. Later meaner in memory when Count Basie recorded a well-known version of the theme. Marvin practicing lethality in…
Filed against
- Lee Marvin as Det. Lt. Frank Ballinger
Lee Marvin's Det. Lt. Frank Ballinger made M Squad a hard cop in a hard Chicago — noir procedural with a jazz bite, later meaner when Count Basie got a theme, badge television with bruise. Tough urban police drama before film cool peaked.…
- Paul Newlan as Capt. Grey
Paul Newlan played Capt. Grey on M Squad, Lee Marvin’s 1950s hard cop in a hard Chicago — noir procedural with a jazz bite, later meaner when Count Basie got a theme. Tough urban police drama before Marvin’s film cool peaked. TV Flash…