Lock Up (1961)

As it entered the last stretch of its two-year run, legal drama Lock Up did not stray from its original formula, documented in our post on the 1960 episodes--renowned defense attorney Herbert L. Maris continues his quest for justice, defending the unjustly accused without ever entering a courtroom and aided by his police lieutenant buddy John Weston, who is usually the one who arrests the person Maris ends up exonerating. The partners in crime detection take another fishing trip together, this time to a tropical island in "Planter's Death" (March 25, 1961). The two also improbably wind up in Paris together in "A French Affair" (February 11, 1961) when Maris travels abroad to help a client complete a business merger, while Weston just happens to be in the same city to attend a training seminar given by Interpol. In "Hurricane" (May 13, 1961) the duo travel to the Florida Keys during a raging storm hoping to hear the deathbed confession of the key witness in a murder trial Maris lost years before only to arrive too late, necessitating having to unravel what the witness was planning to tell them. The two also step out together socially, or try to in "Red Confetti" (March 18, 1961), which begins with both dressed in tuxedos for the annual Policeman's Ball only to be diverted by a strange hit-and-run case that scuttles their plans for the evening. The camaraderie, playful teasing, and yet common devotion to serving justice is similar to the relationship between Chief Marshal Simon Fry  and Deputy Clay McCord on the western series The Deputy, but Maris and Weston's relationship is more unusual because they are natural antagonists, not employer and employee. However, the contradictory nature of this relationship both undercuts the series being based on actual people and events and makes it more enjoyable because it is uncommon.

One could fault the series for failing to choose whether it is a drama or a comedy--the closing credit scenes with Maris and Weston clowning around with props used during the episode are often at odds with the serious nature of the main plot, often involving a death of some kind or other, whether by murder, suicide, or accident. A few episodes even use a sprightly musical score more appropriate for a show like Leave It to Beaver. But perhaps the most bizarre episode centers on a precocious young girl named "Jennifer" (January 28, 1961), who witnesses her father and step-mother having a nasty argument over dinner just as her governess has brought her into the dining room to say goodnight, and after everyone has gone to bed someone douses her father with gasoline and sets him on fire, killing him. Despite the gruesomeness of the murder, the episode maintains a light and cheery tone as Jennifer tries to act very grown up when she calls on Maris to defend her step-mother, who has been accused of the killing. Jennifer also spends a fair amount of time trying to dig up new evidence and keeping her name in the papers with her exploits, but after eliminating all the other suspects, Maris concludes that the real killer is--SPOILER ALERT--Jennifer herself. The convoluted logic of her decision to kill her own father is that he never spent any time with her during his marriage to Jennifer's biological mother, who then died, at which point he paid more attention to her, but when he remarried, she was left out in the cold again. When Maris finally identifies Jennifer as the killer, there is no discussion of her needing psychiatric care nor suffering any repercussions for her act. Maris merely takes her in his arms and tells her that all the headaches and nightmares she had been having are a thing of the past, and the typically goofy ending that plays out during the final credits has Maris and Weston discovering that they each bought Jennifer the same doll.

As unsettling as the Jennifer episode may be, it is consistent with an affinity for quirky characters that Lock Up seemed to specialize in during its final season. Besides the prepubescent murderer/celebrity Jennifer in the aforementioned episode, we meet an entire office full of strange characters in "The Case of Willie Betterley" (April 15, 1961). They include the supervisor of a corporate payroll office Horace Sobel, who pretends to be the heir of a large fortune in order to make himself feel more important but who is extremely nervous and takes prescription medicine to alleviate his anxiety; the titular Willie Betterley, nephew of the company president, who claims to have stolen a missing payroll and distributed it to the poor perhaps as a revenge fantasy against his controlling uncle; clerk Melanie, who interprets her own dreams as a way of solving the mystery of the missing payroll; and the oversexed Miss Patton, who flirts with Betterley and Sobel, in addition to Maris and Weston, just to shock her prudish coworker Nettie. While quirkiness for its own sake is most often annoying and contrived, this episode actually plays out fairly well, as one can easily imagine that a payroll office might be staffed by employees that wound up there because they could never function in any customer-facing department.

Another collection of quirky characters is presented in "Face of Innocence" (June 3, 1961), which centers around seaside artist Marianne Kelly, who seems normal enough herself, but she is surrounded and looked after by poet and vine-grower Roger, charter boat owner and shooting enthusiast Captain Sharpe, and hotel supervisor and moral authority Mr. Scully. Frank Ferguson goes a bit over the top in rendering the cantankerous sea captain, who rambles a bit too long on his prowess in shooting fish and in today's world would have been shot dead the moment he points his rifle at Weston in an act of defiance rather than actual threat, but the episode is a bit more measured in capturing the world inhabited by artists, poets, and other free spirits. Senior citizen dance student Hildegard Longacre in the aforementioned "Red Confetti" episode is also a hoot, particularly when she flirts with Weston. Less successful is the curmudgeon retired lawyer Samuel Abercrombie Putnam in "A Case of Arson" (January 21, 1961), whose very name signals "I am an eccentric inserted here for comic effect" and who inhabits Maris' office while he seeks to extricate an old personal friend from a case of disinheritance. But the episode also features a fire chief named Carson who seems to derive an occupationally dangerous fascination in watching things burn, making him a suspect in the case, if only temporarily. The zoo staff in "Jungle Compound" (April 8, 1961) is likewise comprised of fringe characters, former circus performers forced to find work in a zoo when their circus was mismanaged into oblivion, which leads to the assassination of their former manager just before he was going to take over the zoo.

Yet by comparison MacDonald Carey's Herbert Maris seems a bit dull, always even-keeled and indefatigable in his search for justice. Fortunately, he is balanced by the bombastic and easily excited Lt. Weston, played with zeal by John Doucette. Weston's frequent hasty arrests and superficial investigations never dampen his confidence that this time Maris is mistaken. However, rather than just being an ass, he freely admits when Maris has proven his initial assessment wrong and is ultimately more interested in justice being served than in being proved right. His flawed if predictable character lifts Lock Up from the slag heap of just another rote crime drama to an entertaining if not enlightening dramedy.

All but two of the 1961 episodes are available online either on youtube.com or archive.org, though the audio and video quality is extremely poor. In 2017 ClassicFlix announced a planned DVD release of the complete season but eventually canceled the project when they were unable to find existing copies of all the episodes.

The Actors

For the biographies of MacDonald Carey, John Doucette, and Olive Carey, see the 1960 post for Lock Up.

Notable Guest Stars

Season 2, Episode 17, "His Brother's Keeper": Britt Lomond (Captain Monastario on Zorro) plays police patrolman Larry Wade. Joe Sawyer (appeared in The Grapes of Wrath, Sergeant York, The Outlaw, Gilda, and It Came From Outer Space and played Sgt. Biff O'Hara on The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin) plays his superior Sgt. McAvoy. Sally Kellerman (starred in Reform School Girl, MASH, Brewster McCloud, Slither, and The Player and played Lola on Chemistry, Constance Bingham on The Young and the Restless, Toni Maron on Maron, and Janet Davidson on Decker) plays Wade's brother's former girlfriend Cubbie Borden. Florence Lake (Jenny on Lassie) plays Wade's brother's current girlfriend Penny Jackson. Robert Christian (Dr. Colby on All My Children) plays store owner Carl Norwood.

Season 2, Episode 18, " A Case of Arson": Cyril Delevanti (Lucious Coin on Jefferson Drum) plays elderly lawyer Samuel Abercrombie Putman. Phillip Terry (appeared in Sweater Girl, The Lost Weekend, and The Leech Woman) plays motor court heir Harold Denham. Barbara Lang (Julie Tate on Lawman) plays his wife Elaine. Fuzzy Knight (shown on the left, appeared in She Done Him Wrong, Moulin Rouge (1934), My Little Chickadee, and Deep in the Heart of Texas and played Sagebrush on The Gene Autry Show and Pvt. Fuzzy Knight on Captain Gallant of the Foreign Legion) plays fire chief Carson.

Season 2, Episode 19, "Jennifer": Gina Gillespie (shown on the right, played Tess on Law of the Plainsman and Mimi Scott on Karen) plays orphan Jennifer Vaughn. Angela Greene (Tess Trueheart on Dick Tracy) plays her governess Lisa Swanson.

Season 2, Episode 20, "Abandoned Mine": Andy Clyde (see the biography section for the 1960 post on The Real McCoys) plays Nevada sheriff Tom Hurley. Gloria Jean (starred in If I Had My Way, A Little Bit of Heaven, Never Give a Sucker an Even Break, Moonlight in Vermont, I'll Remember April, and Copacabana) plays mining heir Laura Cruthers. Robert Knapp (Ben Olson on Days of Our Lives and SAC Noel McDonald on The F.B.I.) plays cattle baron Nick Hawkins. 

Season 2, Episode 21, "A French Affair": Richard Arlen (starred in The Virginian, Dangerous Paradise, Gun Smoke, Island of Lost Souls, and Alice in Wonderland) plays restaurateur Eddie Carver. Gregory Gaye (shown on the left, appeared in Dodsworth, Tovarich, Ninotchka, and Creature With the Atom Brain and played The Ruler on Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe and Andre the Maitre D' on The Roaring 20's)plays Interpol Inspector de Walt. 

Season 2, Episode 23, "Fugitive From Fear": Sue Randall (shown on the right, see the biography section for the 1960 post on Leave It to Beaver) plays suspect's wife Peggy Tyler. Gail Bonney (Goodwife Martin on Space Patrol and Madeline Schweitzer on December Bride) plays nosey apartment resident Mrs. Gleason. Bek Nelson (Dru Lemp on Lawman and Phyllis Sloan on Peyton Place) plays executive's wife Naomi Marsden. Byron Morrow (Capt. Keith Gregory on The New Breed and Pearce Newberry on Executive Suite) plays psychiatrist Dr. Ralph Sterling.

Season 2, Episode 24, "Design for Murder": George E. Carey (Lamont Corbin on General Hospital) plays fashion designer Harvey Pinkly. Emmaline Henry (Kate Dickens on I'm Dickens, He's Fenster, Nora Grady on Mickey, and Amanda Bellows on I Dream of Jeannie) plays his fiance Marion Green. Helen Wallace (Nurse Lucy Webber on Dr. Kildare) plays his wardrobe manager Mrs. Henrietta Carlton. Robert Gothie (Sam Hanson on The Gallant Men) plays Marion's brother Bob. Gage Clarke (Mr. Botkin on Gunsmoke) plays Pinkly's partner Bruce Paulson.

Season 2, Episode 25, "Like Father, Like Son": Robert Warwick (starred in Alias Jimmy Valentine, The Supreme Sacrifice, The Heart of a Hero, and Against All Flags) plays grandfather George Burkhart. Tommy Ivo (see the biography section for the 1961 post on The Donna Reed Show) plays his grandson George Burkhart III. Stefanie Powers (shown on the left, starred in Experiment in Terror, Stagecoach, The Boatniks, and Herbie Rides Again and played April Dancer on The Girl From U.N.C.L.E., Toni "Feather" Danton on The Feather and Father Gang, Jennifer Hart on Hart to Hart, and Jane Powers on Doctors) plays George III's car-racing friend Mandy Adams. Harlan Warde (John Hamilton on The Rifleman and Sheriff John Brannan on The Virginian) plays hypnotist Dr. Horace Belvin.

Season 2, Episode 26, "Red Confetti": Neil Hamilton (shown on the right, played Commissioner Gordon on Batman) plays dance studio owner Mark Devlin. Renie Riano (appeared in Tovarich, 4 Nancy Drew features, Li'l Abner, and 5 Maggie and Jiggs features) plays dance student Hildegard Longacre. Clem Bevans (appeared in Sergeant York, Saboteur, The Yearling, Mourning Becomes Electra, and Harvey) plays murder victim's boyfriend Mr. Montgomery. Russell Arms (vocalist who regularly appeared on Your Hit Parade) plays reluctant witness Douglas Manning.

Season 2, Episode 27, "Planter's Death": Richard Aherne (appeared in Sahara, Of Human Bondage, and Christopher Columbus) plays a Caribbean island police inspector. Isabel Jewell (appeared in Bondage, Here Comes the Groom, Go West Young Man, Gone With the Wind, Born to Kill, and Belle Starr's Daughter) plays voodoo priestess Mama Katu. Luciane Auclaire (Miss Belgium 1956) plays suspect's friend Madeleine Giroux. Albert Carrier (appeared in Tender Is the Night, Fitzwilly, and Scarface) plays plantation caretaker Claude Germain.

Season 2, Episode 28, "Two Wrongs": Jack Cassidy (shown on the left, Tony Award-winning father of David and Shaun Cassidy and husband of Shirley Jones, played Oscar North on He & She) plays actor Vincent Gibson. Nancy Rennick (Patty Johnson on Rescue 8) plays another actor's roommate Joan Hammond. Douglas Dick (Carl Herrick on Waterfront) plays theatre director Louie Lamark. Walter Coy (Zoravac on Rocky Jones, Space Ranger and was the narrator on Frontier) plays housing developer Steve Ryker.

Season 2, Episode 29, "Jungle Compound": Don Haggerty (shown on the right, played Jeffrey Jones on The Files of Jeffrey Jones, Eddie Drake on The Cases of Eddie Drake, Sheriff Dan Elder on State Trooper, and Marsh Murdock on The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp) plays zoo manager Mr. Donovan. Nancy McCarthy (played Bunny (later recast as Mary Ann) in the original unaired pilot of Gilligan's Island) plays his daughter Marge. Hank Patterson (Fred Ziffel on Green Acres and Petticoat Junction and Hank on Gunsmoke) plays animal feeder T.G. Tyler. Larry G. Blake (the unnamed jailer on Yancy Derringer and Tom Parnell on Saints and Sinners) plays Donovan's planned successor Mr. Braun.

Season 2, Episode 30, "The Case of Willie Betterley": Steve Franken (shown on the left, see the biography section for the 1960 post on The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis) plays company president's nephew Willie Betterley. Percy Helton (Homer Cratchit on The Beverly Hillbillies) plays his uncle J.Q. Betterley. Jonathan Hole (Orville Monroe on The Andy Griffith Show) plays payroll supervisor Horace Sobel. Joyce Jameson (appeared in The Apartment, Tales of Terror, and The Comedy of Terrors and played Skippy on The Andy Griffith Show) plays payroll clerk Miss Patton. Sara Haden (appeared in Anne of Green Gables, The Shop Around the Corner, and Above Suspicion and played Aunt Milly Forrest in 13 Andy Hardy features) plays payroll clerk Nettie. Ruth Clifford (starred in Polly Put the Kettle On, Mother o' Mine, and Hungry Eyes) plays payroll clerk Melanie.

Season 2, Episode 31, "The Wildcatter": John Howard (Dr. Wayne Hudson on Dr. Hudson's Secret Journal, Commander John "Pliny" Hawk on Adventures of the Sea Hawk, Dave Welch on My Three Sons, and Cliff Patterson on Days of Our Lives) plays oil executive Bob Coburn. Adele Mara (wife of Maverick producer Roy Huggins who appeared in Wake of the Red Witch, Sands of Iwo Jima, and The Big Circus) plays his secretary/treasurer Norma Ames. Guy Stockwell (shown on the right, starred in Sword of Zorro, The War Lord, Beau Geste, and Airport 1975 and played Chris Parker on Adventures in Paradise) plays former employee Bud Towns. Arthur Hunnicutt (starred in The Red Badge of Courage, The Last Command, The Cardinal, and Cat Ballou) plays wildcatter Hank Parsons.

Season 2, Episode 32, "The Accused": Audrey Dalton (appeared in Titanic (1953), Separate Tables, and Kitten With a Whip) plays invalid's wife Susan Carter. Anna Lee (shown on the left, starred in King Solomon's Mines, How Green Was My Valley, Flying Tigers, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, The Sound of Music, and In Like Flint and played Lila Quartermaine on General Hospital) plays her mother-in-law Helen Carter. Richard Crane (Rocky Jones on Rocky Jones, Space Ranger, Dick Preston on Commando Cody, Sky Marshal of the Universe, and Lt. Gene Plehn on Surfside 6) plays building supervisor Tom Barnes. 

Season 2, Episode 33, "Leading Young Citizen": Ray Hamilton (Al Casey on King of Diamonds) plays war hero Joe Taner. Jeanne Bates (appeared in The Phantom, , The Strangler, Eraserhead, Gus, and Mulholland Drive and played Nurse Wills on Ben Casey) plays his sister Catherine. Karyn Kupcinet (Carol on The Gertrude Berg Show) plays Joe's girlfriend Wanda Mather. 

Season 2, Episode 34, "Hurricane": Robert Knapp (see "Abandoned Mine" above) plays murder trial witness' son-in-law Eric Holden. Lory Pastick (later changed her name to Lory Patrick, second wife and widow of Dean Jones, appeared in Surf Party and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and played Tina Swenson on Tales of Wells Fargo) plays his wife Phyllis. 

Season 2, Episode 36, "Sacrifice Play": Vinton Hayworth (see the biography section for the 1961 post on Lawman) plays sleazy newspaper columnist Mills Ambrose. John Considine (shown on the right, brother of Tim Considine, played Grant Capwell on Santa Barbara) plays his research assistant Steve Larkin. Bill Zuckert (Arthur Bradwell on Mr. Novak and Chief Segal on Captain Nice) plays newspaper editor Al Bingham. Jean Carson (Rosemary on The Betty Hutton Show) plays gossip columnist Everil Cummings.

Season 2, Episode 37, "Face of Innocence": Faith Demergue (starred in Cult of the Cobra, This Island Earth, and It Came From Beneath the Sea) plays artist Marianne Kelly. Alan Hale, Jr. (shown on the left, played Biff Baker on Biff Baker U.S.A., Casey Jones on Casey Jones, and The Skipper on Gilligan's Island) plays poet Roger. Frank Ferguson (Gus Broeberg on My Friend Flicka, Eli Carson on Peyton Place, and Dr. Barton Stuart on Petticoat Junction) plays boat owner Captain Sharpe. Walter Baldwin (appeared in The Best Years of Our Lives, Mourning Becomes Electra, Destry, and Rosemary's Baby, was the original Floyd the barber on The Andy Griffith Show, and played Grandpappy Miller on Petticoat Junction and Green Acres) plays hotel caretaker Mr. Scully.

Season 2, Episode 38, "The Intruder": Jan Shepard (Nurse Betty on Dr. Christian) plays estranged wife Allison Conway. Charles Quinlivan (Frank Garlund on Mr. Garlund) plays her boyfriend Don Nichols. Francine York (shown on the right, starred in Wild Ones on Wheels, The Doll Squad, and Marilyn Alive and Behind Bars and played Lorraine Farr Temple on Days of Our Lives and Queen Medusa on Jason of Star Command) plays Conway's estranged husband's current girlfriend Patrice Reed.

Season 2, Episode 39, "The Case of Nan Havens": Mary Tyler Moore (shown on the left, see the biography section for the 1961 post on The Dick Van Dyke Show) plays espionage suspect Nan Havens. Penny Edwards (starred in That Hagen Girl, Tucson, Missing Women, and Million Dollar Pursuit, filled in for a pregnant Dale Evans in several early 1950s Roy Rogers features, and modeled in ads for Lux, Palmolive, and Tiparillos) plays drive-in waitress Laura Mead.