Emergency! (1972) (TV)

Director:

Jack Webb

Writers:

Harold Jack Bloom (writer)
Robert A. Cinader (writer)

Release Date:

15 January 1972 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Drama

Plot:

Story of how the Los Angeles County Fire Department, Sheriff's Department and paramedics work together to save lives. |

Plot Keywords:

Paramedic | Rescue | Medical | TV Series Pilot | Firefighting

Cast

Robert Fuller	...	Dr. Kelly Brackett M.D. / F.A.C.S
Julie London	...	Nurse Dixie McCall
Bobby Troup	...	Dr. Joe Early
Randolph Mantooth	...	Paramedic John Gage
Kevin Tighe	...	Paramedic Roy DeSoto
Martin Milner	...	Officer Pete Malloy
Kent McCord	...	Officer Jim Reed
Jack Kruschen	...	Senator Mike Wolski
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Art Balinger	...	Battalion Chief
Lew Brown	...	Man with ulcer
Colby Chester	...	Fireman Tony Freeman
Virginia Gregg	...	Wilma Jacobs, RN
Ann Morgan Guilbert	...	Woman in trouble
Ron Kelly
Marco López	...	Paramedic Trainee (as Marco Lopez)
Ron Pinkard	...	Dr. Tom Gray
John Price	...	Firefighter Specialist Price, LACoFD
Don Ross	...	Man at boatyard
Dean Stewart	...	Paramedic 99
Herb Vigran	...	Committee chairman
Kathryn Kelly Wiget	...	Joanne Desoto
Kurt Wilhelm	...	Firefighter, Station *54, LACoFD
Rand Brooks	...	Police Officer at Traffic Accident (uncredited)
Art Gilmore	...	Battalion Chief (uncredited)
Scott Gourlay	...	Orderly (uncredited)
Bert Holland	...	Convention Center Manager (uncredited)
Linda Kelsey	...	Victim (uncredited)
Sam Lanier	...	Dispatcher (uncredited)
John Nolan	...	Workman (uncredited)
Kathleen O'Malley	...	Woman at cave-in (uncredited)
Mark Russell	...	Station 51 Fireman (uncredited)
Brad Savage	...	Pete (uncredited)
Len Wayland	...	Police Sergeant at Rampart (uncredited)

Directed by
Jack Webb

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Harold Jack Bloom		writer
Robert A. Cinader		writer

Produced by
Robert A. Cinader	....	producer
William Stark	....	associate producer
Jack Webb	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Nelson Riddle

Cinematography by
Jack A. Marta

Film Editing by
Warren Adams

Art Direction by
John J. Lloyd

Production Management
Joseph E. Kenney	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Phil Bowles	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Robert R. Bertrand	....	sound

Special Effects by
Wayne Beauchamp	....	pyrotechnician (uncredited)

Stunts
Jean Coulter	....	stunts
Angelo De Meo	....	stunts
Scott Gourlay	....	stunts
Julie Ann Johnson	....	stunts
Harold 'Hal' Frizzell	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Ron Veto	....	grip

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Larry Harmell	....	costume supervisor (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Richard Belding	....	editorial supervisor

Production Companies

• Mark VII Ltd.
• Universal TV

Distributors

• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1972) (USA) (TV) (original airing)

Runtime:

120 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Carson, California, USA

Company:

Mark VII Ltd.

Trivia:

Martin Milner (Officer Pete Malloy) and Kent McCord (Officer Jim Reed), from another Jack Webb series, "Adam-12", occasionally showed up in cameos at Rampart Hospital. After appearing in the "Emergency" series premiere, they later appeared in another first-season "Emergency" episode. However, this second appearance is in an installment of their own TV show "Adam-12", which the Station 51 crew watch on the firehouse TV. After being established as "real" people, no explanation is given for their subsequent appearance in a dramatic TV show.

Quotes:

Nurse Dixie McCall: Kell.
Dr. Kelly Brackett M.D.: Yes?
Nurse Dixie McCall: 51 on the link.
[indicates communication radio link to field paramedics]
Dr. Kelly Brackett M.D.: What do they want?
Nurse Dixie McCall: Help.
Dr. Kelly Brackett M.D.: [into transmitter link] 51, go.
Paramedic Roy DeSoto: [over biophone] We have a male, tunnel worker, approximate age 60, was trapped under a digging machine. Patient had a cardiac history. He is now diaphoretic. Vital signs: 80 over 50; rate: 100 and irregular; respirations: 12 and shallow.
Dr. Kelly Brackett M.D.: Do you have your EKG hooked up?
Paramedic Roy DeSoto: Affirmitive, doctor.
[...]

Movie Connections:

References "Adam-12" (1968)

Emergency--now this was "Must See TV"

I remember that a few years ago, NBC used "Must see TV" as their network slogan. They should have used it back in 1972. I was about 14 when the show hit the air and I don't think I missed more than a couple of episodes during its network run. Much like Adam 12, the show concentrated on the day to day activities of its main characters, in this case 2 LA county Paramedics, and the hospital staff that helped them save the lives of people in trouble. Just like Adam 12, there was humorous interplay between the younger team member, Johnny Gage (Randolph Mantooth) and the older, senior member Roy DeSoto (Kevin Tighe).

It was particularly funny to see the ever on the make Gage trying his moves on nurses. In a way, he was the forerunner of Frank "Ponch" Poncherello in his constant attempts on charming single females.