M Squad
The Star Witness
TV Flash files “The Star Witness” as hour 59 of 117 in the TV Flash guide — M Squad (1957–1960) on NBC, season 2, episode 21, aired 1959-02-20, 30 min.
From the desk
How this hour is filed
This leaf is S02E21: listed hour 59 of 117 in the M Squad guide, hour 21 of 40 in season 2. It aired 1959-02-20 (30 min). The listed hour before it is “Mugger Murder” (S02E20). Next is “The Take Over” (S02E22).
Viewer FAQ
Where does The Star Witness sit in the M Squad guide?
S02E21 is listed hour 59 of 117 — hour 21 of 40 in season 2, season 2 episode 21.
When did M Squad S02E21 air?
The Star Witness aired 1959-02-20 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…