Peter Gunn Protection (1958–1961) Online

This second season certainly starts off with a bang, a big one. From there on, however, it's mainly people and atmosphere rather than plot. Seems local thugs, including a 6'8" giant, are running a protection racket. So better pay up or else. Except Mother (Urecal) tells 'em to go you know where, causing one of the series' bigger brawls. Then there's Pete & Edie's brief bit of innuendo as they cuddle outside the barroom. Producer Edwards was really pushing the envelope of the time. And catch "The Owl" (Delevanti), who appears to have a telescope glued to his eye-- Just where is Sirius, anyway. And, in passing, I expect that's a cluttered studio prop room where Pete tangles with one of the thugs. Anyway, there's more fisticuffs than usual, but Pete in his spiffy suit looks like the last word in urban cool. And so does the series.

PETER GUNN –Protection -1959

This is episode 39 from the 1958 to 61 P.I. series, PETER GUNN. Craig Stevens headlines as the hard as nails detective who always dresses with style. Minerva Urecal plays the owner of MOTHER'S jazz club. Lola Albright plays Stevens' squeeze, Edie Hart, who is the club singer at, MOTHER'S.

A new mob has moved into town and they are offering clubs and small businesses, insurance of the "protection" type. Pay or else is the sales talk, and several places get the dynamite treatment when they refuse. Thugs, Val Avery and Mickey Morton pay Mother's Jazz Club a visit in order to discuss an easy payment plan with owner, Minerva Urecal.

Urecal tells the mob types to take a hike. She asks Stevens to look into who is behind the cash grab. Stevens has a word with Police Lt Herschel Bernardi about the matter. Bernardi tells Stevens he is looking into the case himself. The crew is wanted for the murder of one of the store owners who also refused to cough up cash.

Our boy Stevens has a word with a long time stool pigeon, Cyril Delevanti. Delvanti fills him in on the new mob and tells Stevens they are a hard bunch. Stevens uses the info and pays the mobsters a call. He warns them off trying to tap Urecal for any money. Needless to say the warning does not take. Several large gentlemen with a definite anti-social bent, pay Mother's Jazz Club a visit and bust up the place.

Stevens calls the Police and asks them to meet him at the building the mob uses as a front. Guns are drawn, used, and several nasty types soon need a trip to the morgue.

Boris Sagal again handles the direction while Ellis Carter does some very nice work as the episode cinematographer. His use of high angles and dark shadows etc is quite good.

Also in the cast are, Dale Van Sickel, Sheldon Allman and Byron Kane. Kane was the associate producer of the series and he also played Barney, the bartender at Mother's. (b/w)