PETER GUNN – Bullet for a Badge – 1959
This is episode 34 from the 1958 to 61 P.I. series, PETER GUNN. Craig Stevens headlines as the hard as nails detective who always dresses with style. Regulars in the series are Hope Emerson as the owner of MOTHER'S jazz club. Lola Albright plays Stevens' squeeze Edie Hart, who is the club singer at, MOTHER'S.
It is a wet, dark night and a car with three men pull up just down the street from the Police Station. A man, Paul Baxley, steps out and heads for a nearby pay phone. He dials a number inside the station. Police Lt Herschel Bernardi takes the call. He hangs up, grabs his hat and coat and heads out.
Baxley, has returned to the car and calmly loads a Thompson sub machine gun. The car slowly moves up the street. Just as Bernardi exits the building, Baxley starts spraying lead from the Thompson. The car then speeds off as Bernardi goes down in a heap.
Bernardi is rushed to the emergency room where it is touch and go whether he will survive. Craig Stevens, Bernardi's friend, spends hours waiting to hear if the Police Lt will makes it. The doctor finally comes out and tells all that Bernardi will live. They had to pull several bullets out of him, but they are sure the repairs will hold.
When Stevens finally gets to talk with Bernardi, he grills him on what happened. Bernardi tells Stevens of the phone call. It was from someone who wanted to meet with Bernardi. The man had told Bernardi that he had some important info for him.
Stevens hits the streets and puts out the word to all his snitches. He gets a call from one of the said snitches, Richard Peel. But before Stevens can question him Pell is silenced. Stevens does however come up with the name of a big underworld boss, Barry Kroeger.
Stevens digs further into the matter and is soon paid visit by Baxley. A move to another State is suggested which Stevens says he will think about. Needless to say the warning does not take. Stevens continues to look into the shooting of his friend.
This leads to Robert Simon. Simon is Bernardi's Captain on the Police Force. He is also on the take and had been working with Kroeger. Simon had wanted out of his arrangement with the gangster. The shooting of Bernardi had been a warning to Simon to stay in line.
After a talk with Stevens, Simon decides to do the right thing and joins Stevens in some payback. Kroeger, Baxley etc refuse to come quietly. Rods are pulled with the gangsters and Captain Simon saying the big adiós.
An excellent episode, that features plenty of great lines thrown in with the usual violence.
Former big screen helmsman, Jack Arnold handles the directing chores. His film work includes. THE GLASS WEB, MAN IN THE SHADOW, OUTSIDE THE LAW and THE TATTERED DRESS.
The d of p was two time Oscar nominated, Phillip Lathorp. Some of his film work included the films, THE PINK PANTHER, EXPERIMENT IN TERROR, LONELY ARE THE BRAVE, THEY SHOOT HORSES DON'T THEY and POINT BLANK.
This is episode 34 from the 1958 to 61 P.I. series, PETER GUNN. Craig Stevens headlines as the hard as nails detective who always dresses with style. Regulars in the series are Hope Emerson as the owner of MOTHER'S jazz club. Lola Albright plays Stevens' squeeze Edie Hart, who is the club singer at, MOTHER'S.
It is a wet, dark night and a car with three men pull up just down the street from the Police Station. A man, Paul Baxley, steps out and heads for a nearby pay phone. He dials a number inside the station. Police Lt Herschel Bernardi takes the call. He hangs up, grabs his hat and coat and heads out.
Baxley, has returned to the car and calmly loads a Thompson sub machine gun. The car slowly moves up the street. Just as Bernardi exits the building, Baxley starts spraying lead from the Thompson. The car then speeds off as Bernardi goes down in a heap.
Bernardi is rushed to the emergency room where it is touch and go whether he will survive. Craig Stevens, Bernardi's friend, spends hours waiting to hear if the Police Lt will makes it. The doctor finally comes out and tells all that Bernardi will live. They had to pull several bullets out of him, but they are sure the repairs will hold.
When Stevens finally gets to talk with Bernardi, he grills him on what happened. Bernardi tells Stevens of the phone call. It was from someone who wanted to meet with Bernardi. The man had told Bernardi that he had some important info for him.
Stevens hits the streets and puts out the word to all his snitches. He gets a call from one of the said snitches, Richard Peel. But before Stevens can question him Pell is silenced. Stevens does however come up with the name of a big underworld boss, Barry Kroeger.
Stevens digs further into the matter and is soon paid visit by Baxley. A move to another State is suggested which Stevens says he will think about. Needless to say the warning does not take. Stevens continues to look into the shooting of his friend.
This leads to Robert Simon. Simon is Bernardi's Captain on the Police Force. He is also on the take and had been working with Kroeger. Simon had wanted out of his arrangement with the gangster. The shooting of Bernardi had been a warning to Simon to stay in line.
After a talk with Stevens, Simon decides to do the right thing and joins Stevens in some payback. Kroeger, Baxley etc refuse to come quietly. Rods are pulled with the gangsters and Captain Simon saying the big adiós.
An excellent episode, that features plenty of great lines thrown in with the usual violence.
Former big screen helmsman, Jack Arnold handles the directing chores. His film work includes. THE GLASS WEB, MAN IN THE SHADOW, OUTSIDE THE LAW and THE TATTERED DRESS.
The d of p was two time Oscar nominated, Phillip Lathorp. Some of his film work included the films, THE PINK PANTHER, EXPERIMENT IN TERROR, LONELY ARE THE BRAVE, THEY SHOOT HORSES DON'T THEY and POINT BLANK.
