Target: The Corruptors

"Target: The Corruptors" was an ambitious, big budget series from Dick Powell's Four Star Productions ("Richard Diamond", "Wanted: Dead or Alive", "Trackdown", "Michael Shayne", "The Big Valley").

Stephen McNally ("Johnny Belinda", "Violent Saturday") played investigative reporter Paul Marino and Robert Harland was his undercover "legman" Jack Flood. The heroes investigated corruption in areas ranging from the garbage industry to law enforcement to the music industry.

The series was apparently based on real life writer/reporter Lester Velie, who was a co-producer. Velie had written articles about the slums of New York and organized crime's infiltration of the garment industry. He would go on to write stories about Jimmy Hoffa and Cuba.

The guest stars were top of the line. Walter Matthau and Peter Falk were in the pilot and Jack Klugman and Vic Morrow were in the second episode. Other guest stars included Gena Rowlands, David Janssen, Brian Keith, Robert Culp, Robert Vaughn, Richard Long, Steve Forrest and Edmond O'Brien.

Both series stars were fine actors but I might have tried to sex up the show a little with potentially more charismatic leads. My choices for Paul Marino would have been Peter Falk, Martin Landau, Charles Bronson or, best of all, Telly Savalas. For Marino's "legman" I would have checked out Joanna Moore, Joanna Barnes or Sherry Jackson.

One of the series original titles would have been more evocative: "The Muckraker".

"Name of the Game" (1968-71) worked a similar investigative reporter premise to better advantage, with Susan Saint James as the legman for Anthony Franciosa, Robert Stack and Gene Barry. Stephen McNally guest starred four times on "Name of the Game". McNally was more intriguing as an actor when he took of his toupee and played kinky character roles than he was as stolid, upright heroes like Paul Marino.

The storylines were credible, as well they might be, being taken from real life. They were also informative and entertaining. Well acted and scripted too, this was a very solid show. A couple of episodes were total turkeys, but nobody's perfect.

What I found quite exceptional were the episodes about corruption in politics. As was pointed out, the sums of money involved dwarf even big business, and the potential is there for real tragedy. Building a highway 3 inches thick when it needs to be 4 inches for safety could result in mass fatalities, but you can see why crooks would be attracted to it. The materials savings per square yard might not be that great, but if it's a six lane highway covering 100 miles, that's an awful lot of square yards.

The show made the point that this sort of corruption is in our hands as voters. And when you read of people going into Congress with nothing, but then being worth $100 million 30 years later, you have to wonder. The salaries are good but they're not that good!

Stephen Macnally excels as investigative journalist Paul Marino. Subdued & subtle but up front in yer face with the people he investigates. Robert Harland is good too doing Marino's undercover leg work. The quality of the show is underlined by the quality of the guest stars eg Peter Falk, Walter Mattau,Kevin Maccarthy, Caeser Romero, Luther Adler, Robert Middleton. The stories resonate powerfully with depth & integrity. The issues covered by this show in 1961-62 in many cases are just as relevant today. Can't understand why such a quality show was axed after one season. This is way better than any current TV shows. Well reccomended.

Tough and daring Journalist Paul Marino sets about exposing The Corruptors, those that kill, steal and swindle to line their own pockets. Marino and his undercover man Jack Flood know no danger.

There is a strong sense of realism in many of the episodes, and so many themes and ideas have as much as a relevance today as they did back in the early 1960's, crimes you'd have thought were condemned to the past, still flourishing.

Marino highlights one thing, that crooks and swindlers come in all forms, all shapes and sizes, from the obvious Mafia bosses and racketeers, to the less likely Judges and charity workers.

Stephen McNally does a great job, cool, calm and handsome, he's great at melting into the background, and bursting to the surface when needed, he has a degree of presence. Robert Harland also does a fine job, sometimes he's a little under utilised, but the has many great moments.

Episode quality does vary somewhat, I personally think the show gets better as it moves on, some of the later episodes are terrific, the show really did hit its stride. Highlights include The Golden Carpet, Touch of Evil and The Blind Goddess.

It's clear that some money was spent on this series, it looks very sharp, it feels very polished, and it's clear that no expense was spared when it came to the cast, watch for Walter Matthau, Jack Warden, Gena Rowlands, Cesar Romero, Peter Falk and more.

It's worth your time.

8/10.