M Squad
Diamond Hard
TV Flash files “Diamond Hard” as a desk essential hour — M Squad (1957–1960) on NBC, season 1, episode 10, aired 1957-11-29, 30 min.
From the desk
How this hour is filed
This leaf is S01E10: listed hour 10 of 117 in the M Squad guide, hour 10 of 38 in season 1. It aired 1957-11-29 (30 min). The listed hour before it is “Killer in Town” (S01E09). Next is “The Alibi Witness” (S01E11).
Essential hour: “Diamond Hard”. Diamond Hard — first-season titled mineral, alleys and brass still the set, Count Basie's later theme already implied in the bruise.
Catalog log
Broadcast listing — not a TV Flash recap.
Police Lt. Frank Ballinger masquerades as a wanted murderer to strike up a friendship with a safe cracker that he is after in "Diamond Hard."
Viewer FAQ
Where does Diamond Hard sit in the M Squad guide?
S01E10 is listed hour 10 of 117 — hour 10 of 38 in season 1, season 1 episode 10.
When did M Squad S01E10 air?
Diamond Hard aired 1957-11-29 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…