''I'm the Law '' is the title of a 30-minute syndicated American television
police drama
The police show, or police crime drama, is a subgenre of procedural drama and detective fiction that emphasizes the investigative procedure of a police officer or department as the protagonist(s), as contrasted with other genres that focus on eithe ...
series which aired in 1953 starring
George Raft
George Raft (born George Ranft; September 26, 1901 – November 24, 1980) was an American film actor and dancer identified with portrayals of gangsters in crime melodramas of the 1930s and 1940s. A stylish leading man in dozens of movies, Raft is ...
as Lt. George Kirby, a
New York Police Department
The New York City Police Department (NYPD), officially the City of New York Police Department, established on May 23, 1845, is the primary municipal law enforcement agency within the City of New York, the largest and one of the oldest in ...
detective
A detective is an investigator, usually a member of a law enforcement agency. They often collect information to solve crimes by talking to witnesses and informants, collecting physical evidence, or searching records in databases. This leads th ...
involved in solving a variety of crimes in New York City.Everett Aaker, ''The Films of George Raft'', McFarland & Company, 2013 p 189
Filming began in March 1952.
The series first aired on February 13, 1953 and ended on July 31, 1953. It was filmed at
Hal Roach Studios
Hal Roach Studios was an American motion picture and television production studio. Known as ''The Laugh Factory to the World'', it was founded by producer Hal Roach and business partners Dan Linthicum and I.H. Nance as the Rolin Film Company on Ju ...
by a production company owned by Lou Costello. Costello's brother, Pat, was the executive producer.
Jean Yarbrough
Jean Yarbrough (August 22, 1901 – August 2, 1975) was an American film director.
Biography
Jean Yarbrough was born in Marianna, Arkansas on August 22, 1901. He attended the University of the South located in Sewanee, Tennessee. In 1922 ...
was the director. The series was distributed by MCA-TV.
Cast and guest stars
Besides Raft,
Rochelle Hudson
Rochelle Hudson (born Rachael Elizabeth Hudson; March 6, 1916 – January 17, 1972) was an American film actress from the 1930s through the 1960s.Gordon Jones were members of the show's cast. Other actors seen on the program included those indicated in the table below.
Reception
The New York Times TV critic said Raft's "show is not bad at all, at least not by the TV standard for detective stories... Mr Raft is still playing Mr Raft... however his limited histrionic abilities in some way work to his advantage."