December 10, 1968 (1968-12-10) – February 13, 1972 (1972-02-13)
The Bold Ones: The Lawyers (or The Lawyers) is an American legal drama that aired for three seasons on NBC from September 1968 through February 1972.
Synopsis
The series stars Burl Ives as Walt Nichols, a respected attorney partnered with brothers Brian and Neil Darrell (Joseph Campanella and James Farentino), who run a prestigious law firm in Los Angeles.
During the production of the first series of 8 episodes, James Farentino complained vociferously to the producers about the scripts and was suspended for three weeks, missing two shows.[2] Later, near the end of the third series, he announced he was leaving of his own volition. The series was not renewed for a fourth season.[3]
Cast
Main cast
Burl Ives as Walter "Walt" Nichols, an attorney for the firm of Nichols, Darrell and Darrell. (appeared in 26 episodes and both films)
Joseph Campanella as Brian Darrell, the older brother who helps Walt with his cases. (appeared in 24 episodes and the second film)
James Farentino as Neil Darrell, the younger brother who, though an attorney, occasionally did investigations for the firm. (appeared in 19 episodes and both films)
Recurring characters
Ramon Bieri as Judge Hartman (appeared in 2 episodes)
Dana Elcar as District Attorney Shannon (appeared in 2 episodes)
Todd Martin as Deputy District Attorney Jeff Skinner (appeared in 5 episodes)
John Milford as Lt. Paul Hewitt (appeared in 7 episodes)
George Murdock as District Attorney William Braddock (appeared in 2 episodes)
After a university police officer is killed during a campus protest, student activist Gil Bennett is arrested for the murder. Milking this turn of events for his cause, Bennett refuses to testify about his innocence. The lawyers now must find the young man's one hope; the only witness to the crime who has his own motive for not coming forward.
Story by : Whit Masterson Teleplay by : Roy Huggins (as John Thomas James)
September 21, 1969 (1969-09-21)
A corrupt small-town detective (Steve Ihnat) is the target of junior partner Neil Darrell, who's out to expose the officer's abuse. Sandra Smith and Leslie Perkins also star.
Story by : William Pearson Teleplay by : Dick Nelson
October 12, 1969 (1969-10-12)
Brian's client (Frank Ramirez), wrongfully convicted of a capital murder many years ago, accidentally kills the wife of the district attorney (Robert Webber) during a failed escape attempt shortly before he is cleared of the original crime. Brian continues representing his client during the trial for the accidental killing, even though the DA and his wife were good friends of Brian's. John Randolph and Nina Shipman also star. James Farentino does not appear in this episode.
The lawyers are shocked when their client, a cocky real estate agent (Mel Torme) accused of murdering a prostitute, gleefully admits to the crime during a private party celebrating his acquittal. When another man (Georg Stanford Brown) is subsequently convicted of the crime and faces the death penalty, Neil makes an agonizing decision that could sacrifice his career.
4
4
"The Rockford Riddle"
Richard T. Heffron
Story by : F.D. Averno Teleplay by : Matthew Howard
November 16, 1969 (1969-11-16)
Walt volunteers to represent a mentally ill homeless man (Charles Aidman) who has just admitted to murdering a peer, on the condition that the man divulge the facts of a previous murder for which Walt represented him several years earlier; in that case, the man admitted to murdering his wife's rival when his wife (Claudine Longet) was on trial for the murder, only to recant his guilt immediately after she was acquitted. Charles Lampkin and Leslie Perkins also star. James Farentino does not appear.
NOTE: In 1976, Longet was acquitted after shooting and killing her boyfriend, skier Spider Sabich.
Story by : Roy Huggins (as John Thomas James) Teleplay by : Robert Foster and Roy Huggins (as John Thomas James)
November 30, 1969 (1969-11-30)
The lawyers represent a front-running gubernatorial candidate (Craig Stevens) who is framed for the murder of a female campaign worker by his former campaign chairman (Morgan Sterne), a man forced to resign because the candidate found out he was gay. His defense becomes a lot more complicated when a witness (Richard Van Vleet) clams to witness the candidate moving the body out of his apartment and into a park as part of an ill-conceived plan to avoid being linked to the crime. Walter Brooke and Kermit Murdock also star.
The lawyers travel to Atlanta to represent an incarcerated former mobster (Richard Conte) who has provided key testimony against other mob bosses while in prison and is ultimately exonerated after an eventful retrial. Although their client has arranged for a helicopter to take him out of the country upon release, the lawyers are given the dangerous task of transporting him from the courthouse to the remote location where the pickup will take place. Linda Marsh and Frank Campanella (older brother of Joseph Campanella) also star.
7
7
"Point of Honor"
Gene Levitt
Roy Huggins (as John Thomas James)
January 25, 1970 (1970-01-25)
Brian gets himself involved in a murder case, and now privileged communication between a lawyer and his client has become a key issue. Veronica Cartwright, Paul Stevens, and Roger Davis also star. James Farentino does not appear.
8
8
"The Shattered Image"
Richard C. Bennett
Story by : George Zuckerman Teleplay by : William D. Gordon
February 15, 1970 (1970-02-15)
In a small rural California town, Ted Hollister is charged with the murder of the ward of a rich guardian (Will Geer), and Walt agrees to defend him. Ford Rainey, Karen Huston, and Audrey Totter also star. Joseph Campanella does not appear.
Despite their differing beliefs on the subject, the lawyers agree to represent an obstetrician (John Kerr) who is charged with murder after performing an illegal abortion. Strongly disagreeing with the jury instructions of the judge (Will Geer) and citing Oliver Wendell Holmes, Neil uses a nonstandard tactic, resulting in a large fine and contempt of court charge. Stephen McNally also stars.
A member of the Black Panthers (Georg Stanford Brown) is accused of pushing a police detective off a second-story balcony to his death during the execution of a search warrant at their local headquarters. His father (Charles Lampkin), a successful business executive who has been trying to get his son to abandon his extremist lifestyle, hires Nichols, Darrell and Darrell to represent him. Still, their task is complicated by his unwillingness to cooperate or control his emotions in the jury's presence. Gloria Calomee and Frank Campanella also star.
11
3
"Trial of a PFC"
Alexander Singer
Story by : Gloryette Clark Teleplay by : Frank Fenton
A Vitenam War Army medic (Monte Markham) assumes the role of a doctor in a isolated hill town. An emergency patient dies in his care and he is accused of murder and practing medicine unlicensed. He claims his commaniding officer, an Army physician, can clear him but he can't be found. Ramon Bieri and Ford Rainey also star. James Farentino does not appear.
13
5
"The Loneliness Racket"
Richard C. Bennett
Gloryette Clark
December 20, 1970 (1970-12-20)
A woman (Phyllis Love) is held for murder when her computer-dating service date turns up dead. Alan Oppenheimer, Marj Dusay, and Clarke Gordon also star.
14
6
"The Search for Leslie Grey"
Richard Benedict
Story by : Matthew Howard Teleplay by : Howard Browne
January 10, 1971 (1971-01-10)
A business tycoon, Leslie Grey (Charls Aidman), starts to panic when he finds out that his past is now under investigation. Rodolfo Acosta and Leo Gordon also star.
Story by : Roy Huggins (as John Thomas James) Teleplay by : Frank Fenton
January 31, 1971 (1971-01-31)
A young woman (Tisha Sterling), who has her own live-in swami (Clifford David) and a history of psychiatric problems, quickly signs a confession after awakening from a meditation session and finding her successful recording artist husband dead in front of her and the murder weapon in her hand. Her defense hinges on the believability of an interrogation conducted by her psychiatrist (Severn Darden), in which she was under the influence of sodium pentothal. James Farentino does not appear.
16
8
"The Price of Justice"
Alexander Singer
Jack B. Sowards
February 28, 1971 (1971-02-28)
A man accused of murder (Cal Bellini) refuses to talk and defend himself against the charges. His Native American heritage holds the key as to why. Julie Gregg also stars.
Mistakes on a report from an investigation agency lead to a ruined life for one man (Darren McGavin), who chooses to fight back in court against the agency that admits to no wrongdoing. Kathie Browne, Dana Elcar, John S. Ragin, and Clarke Gordon also star.
Story by : Roy Huggins (as John Thomas James) Teleplay by : William D. Gordon
October 17, 1971 (1971-10-17)
A Marine (Randolph Mantooth), who finds himself in the apartment of a dead girl (Arlene Golonka), is accused of murder but barfly Yermo Hill (Mills Watson) holds a bizarre secret that may solve the mystery of her death. Former California Gov. Edmund G. "Pat" Brown makes a guest appearance.
19
3
"Hall of Justice"
Richard T. Heffron
Robert Hamner
October 31, 1971 (1971-10-31)
The lawyers deal with three cases before the court include an assault against a minor, an alleged mercy killing, and a narcotics charge. Ramon Bieri and James Van Vleet star.
20
4
"In Defense of Ellen McKay"
Alexander Singer
Story by : Roy Huggins (as John Thomas James) Teleplay by : David Chase
November 14, 1971 (1971-11-14)
One of the firm's clients, Ellen McKay (Susan Clark), is about to stand trial for killing her husband. In the middle of all this, Brian finds himself falling for her romantically. John Randolph also stars.
21
5
"By Reason of Insanity"
Alexander Singer
Gloryette Clark
November 28, 1971 (1971-11-28)
The lawyers successfully argue an insanity defense for a young man (Tim Matheson) who is apprehended while collecting the large ransom he demanded after kidnapping a middle-aged man (Charles Aidman) whom he had been obsessed with since the age of thirteen. However, Walt has good reason to fear that the verdict isn't the last chapter of this bizarre saga. Walter Brooke and Nina Shipman also star.
22
6
"Justice Is a Sometime Thing"
Jeffrey Hayden
Robert Hamner
December 21, 1971 (1971-12-21)
A young Hispanic man (A Martinez) is mistaken for an assault suspect when he instinctively comes to the aid of the victim, but panics and runs off upon discovering that the girl he was with has fled because she feared being deported. The lawyers are finally able to locate the girl, but not before the man escapes from jail because he fears his dangerous cellmate and is facing a probable 20-year sentence without the girl's witness testimony. Kermit Murdock also stars.
23
7
"The Letter of the Law"
Douglas Heyes
Douglas Heyes
December 26, 1971 (1971-12-26)
A termianlly ill attorney (Will Geer) must do one last thing--reverse the mistake he made many years before and bring to justice the killer he helped to get away with murder--with an unusual dinner party. Gale Sondergaard, James Olson, Michael Conrad, Carol Wayne, Carla Borelli, and Milton Selzer also star. James Farentino does not appear.
NOTE: This episode is a rewrite of the December 1960 episode of Checkmate, entitled "The Murder Game". Also written by Douglas Hayes, and with the same number of actors and former clients, and the same generic type of crimes the lawyer defended against. Names are dissimilar, although the names of the two guilty parties are most similar. In both shows, the organizations (i.e., the law firm and the detective agency) have three starring members, and in both cases, the most junior member is not a part of the show.
The deaths of two women are officially termed an accident and a suicide. Neil, a freind of the suicide (Anne Helm) turns sleuth to prove the deaths were a double murder. Patricia Barry, Bob Corff, Roger Davis, Pat Hingle, Pamela McMyler, and James Wainwright also star.
25
9
"The Long Morning After: Part 2"
Douglas Heyes
Douglas Heyes
January 16, 1972 (1972-01-16)
Neil suspects a powerful industrialist (Pat Hingle, from Part 1) of a double homicide. Ann Helm, Pamela McMyler, Bob Corff, and James Wainwright star.
26
10
"In Sudden Darkness"
David Moessinger
Story by : Gloryette Clark Teleplay by : Charles E. Israel and David Moessinger
January 30, 1972 (1972-01-30)
Lauren Hazelwood (Sian Barbara Allen) killed her father but, unless she tells her lawyers and the court why, she may face the California gas chamber. Carol Lawrence also stars. James Farentino does not appear.
27
11
"Lisa, I Hardly Knew You"
Alexander Singer
Story by : Roy Huggins (as John Thomas James) Teleplay by : Elick Moll
^Newspaper Enterprise Association (27 November 1972). "Three's a Crowd--Two Unhappy". Google News Archive. The Victoria Advocate, Victoria, TX. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
^Checkmate TV Show on DVD, by Timeless Media Group
