"Lock Up" (1959) TV series 1959-1961

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Otto Lang

Writers:

Robert Bloch (2 episodes)
Charles Larson (writer) (episode)

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

10 January 1963 (West Germany)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Plot:

Cases taken from the files and case histories of renowned Philadelphia defense attorney Herbert L. Maris.

Cast

Macdonald Carey	...	Herbert L. Maris / ... (78 episodes, 1959-1961)
John Doucette	...	Lt. Weston / ... (78 episodes, 1959-1961)

Runtime:

30 min (78 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Company:

ZIV Television Programs

Innocent until proved guilty

Herbert L. Maris was a real corporate attorney in Philadelphia who devoted his spare time helping wrongly accused persons. Maris strongly believed in the fundamental canon of English/U.S. law: a person is innocent until proved guilty. The 78 episodes in the Ziv syndicated series are each based on a case history from the personal files of Herb Maris, who is played by MacDonald Carey.

This series is more police investigation like Dragnet than Perry Mason as there is little courtroom drama. Circumstantial evidence is the key element in each story and is used to discredit a suspect. But, Herb Maris always triumphs because as he says "this case is about justice." Each episode has a strong moral message but they are not obtrusive or offensive. Lock Up is a window into America before the 60s cultural revolution. This is America in the late 1950s before Viet-Nam, the Summer of Love, and the beginning of FM radio stations playing rock 'n' roll.

If you like programs with simple story lines and actors who can act, then you will enjoy Lock Up. If you like unscripted television programs without actors, then just keep watching American Idol, the Great Race, or poker games.