William Conrad was a long time producer and director at Warner Brothers/ABC TV (also Columbia Pictures) and got the call to return to acting. If you're a film buff, you may remember him playing many hulking bad guys in film noirs of the 40s, much like Raymond Burr.
Interestingly, It was tv that made them heroes, and in fact, there's a connection between both actors.
Producer Quinn Martin took some notes from IRONSIDE, Burr's cop show. Why not try a scowling detective WITHOUT a wheel chair?
Seemed to be the idea that started CANNON, the show first directed by Canadian director George McCowan who was also working on THE MOD SQUAD at the time. Bill Conrad certainly fit the job description of the heavy set, two fisted detective, and had a lot of fun with the role. The show was also a great place to work, according to many actors through the years, all having a memorable time. I think he wanted to carry that over from his years at Warners, working with so many
artists.
Here (in the pilot episode) Frank Cannon's swank Hollywood digs include a maid and a shooting gallery. He also drives a brand new sleek 4 door Lincoln (which gets smashed up). The investigation takes him outside Hollywood, looking into the mysterious death of an old friend and his widow, played by Vera Miles, who Cannon takes a liking to.
Note: No mention until the 5th season that his wife and son were murdered. This pilot episode was also way ahead of its time; Cannon deals with allegations of rape in one scene. Taboo stuff for 70s tv. The bogus attack scene with Lynda Day George and Cannon is a camp classic, and with a blazing fireplace.
The series, next to MANNIX, was also violent, but climbed steadily to the top 10 in the Nielson ratings by the end of Season 2. At times, some episodes may have ranked as high as 5 or 6 in the Top 10, and in the days without cable, which meant a large portion of viewers nationwide were watching this cop show. For awhile, it was an addiction. Station breaks were added in the third season to alert everybody Cannon would return in a few minutes. Lifted from MOD SQUAD, and quite effective, especially all the rainbow colors. The famous station breaks have been preserved in dvd box sets for ultimate fans, and in some tv rerun prints. Despite his distinguished career as a director, Bill Conrad did not direct a single episode, opting to give someone else work, which was very noble.
He also did many of his own stunts in the early years of the show, keeping up with Mike Connors -- to a degree. There's a dynamic cast in this two part episode, including Barry Sullivan (Bill Conrad's old Hollywood pal), Earl Holliman, JD Cannon (from McCloud), Keenan Wynn and Lynda Day George (in a stand out role). Also former teen 1940s movie star Jimmy Lydon (Henry Aldrich), who was a co-producer at WB with him in the 60s. Pilot filmed either in late 1970 or early 1971 and released March 26, 1971
Beginning a trend of pictureque locations, this was partly filmed in the small town of Las Cruces, NM. Although many episodes were filmed locally in Hollywood, North Hollywood/Studio City and Burbank, the cast and crew traveled extensively.
Thank you to writer Edward Hume, who passed in 2023, for putting this all together, the creator of this classic 70s show, also the creator of STREETS OF SAN FRANCISCO and TOMA.
Usually broadcast in two parts, and the second half really takes off with Cannon nearly getting killed in a creepy farm house. Watch for the hidden shotgun.
SEASON 1 PILOT CBS/Paramount remastered dvd box set 2008 release. Thanks to TV LAND back in the 90s for bringing the series back in steady reruns, with a lot of goofy promotions, now ME TV.
