PETROCELLI (1974-1976) FORGOTTEN TELEVISION

PETROCELLI (1974-1976) – Joel Hodgson once observed “You’ve got to light a fire PRET-ee early in the morning to burn Barry Newman.” However, that observation and the 1979 disaster movie that inspired it – City on Fire – have nothing to do with Petrocelli. It’s just the first thing that comes to mind every time Barry Newman’s name comes up. (Well, that and “Chickee chickee boom boom” from that same flick.) 

Setting aside my inherent weirdness, Newman starred as the title defense attorney in the clever series Petrocelli as well as the show’s pilot movie Night Games (1974) AND the 1970 theatrical release film The Lawyer, which started it all.

The cleverness I’m referring to was the hook that this program boasted. As surely as Columbo was known for the viewers seeing who the murderer was from the beginning of each episode, and Ellery Queen would feature Jim Hutton breaking the Fourth Wall to ask the audience if they, too, knew who the guilty party was, Petrocelli had its own gimmick.

Viewers would get a Rashomon style account of the episode’s crime from the perspective of both the Defense and the Prosecution. Then, Petrocelli’s investigation would enable him to reconcile the conflicting accounts.

At any rate, after the 1970 theatrical film and the 1974 pilot telefilm, the Petrocelli series was picked up and ran for 2 seasons and 44 episodes.

THE MOVIE:

THE LAWYER (1970) – This film was another work of fiction based on the real-life Sam Sheppard murder case. (There’s a whole Sam Sheppard Cinematic Universe at this point.) Barry Newman starred as defense attorney Tony Petrocelli with Diana Muldaur as his wife Ruth. Sidney J. Furie directed.   

Petrocelli is a former big-name attorney from New York now practicing in the American Southwest after his abrasive, unconventional ways brought him into conflict too many times with the Big Apple’s legal and judicial establishment.

He’s the best lawyer on hand to represent prominent physician Jack Harrison (Robert Colbert), who stands accused of murdering his wife. Tony P. finds that the police investigation was a mess and there’s plenty of grounds for reasonable doubt. He successfully represents his client. 

NIGHT GAMES (March 16th, 1974) – This 74-minute telefilm was a pilot for a potential Petrocelli series. Barry Newman returned as Tony Petrocelli with Susan Howard now portraying his wife, renamed Maggie.

The attorney’s “New York maverick living in self-imposed exile in the American Southwest” schtick was emphasized even more here. Petrocelli’s client this time was a wealthy woman (Stefanie Powers) accused of murdering her husband.

Tony and his wife live in an RV while constructing a home for themselves, an angle that would be continued in the resulting series. Albert Salmi plays Petrocelli’s leg man Pete Ritter. JoAnna Cameron, Henry Darrow, Anjanette Comer and Dennis Patrick also appear.

SEASON ONE (1974-1975) STANDOUT EPISODES

MUSIC TO DIE BY – Petrocelli represents a country western singer, played by THE Ricky Nelson, who is caught up in a case involving multiple murders, a hit-and-run death, blackmail and a frame-up. Also starring David Doyle, Sandy Kenyon, David Huddleston and Jeremy Slade. 

EDGE OF EVIL – Petrocelli is hired to defend the man charged with murdering Tony’s best friend. A Star Trek theme among the cast as William Shatner plays the accused, with Glenn Corbett and Susan Oliver in the supporting cast alongside a pre-mummification Harrison Ford and Dana Elcar. 

A LIFE FOR A LIFE – Our hero defends a drifting motorcyclist (Geoffrey Deuel) accused of burning down a hotel. Among the guest cast are Sharon Farrell, John Anderson, Henry Jones and Walter Brooke.

DEATH IN HIGH PLACES – Lethal Weapon‘s Richard Donner directs this episode in which Petrocelli’s client (Belinda Montgomery) is accused of killing her father by sabotaging his plane. Also starring Cameron Mitchell, Harold Gould “and Gregory Sierra.” 

AN ACT OF LOVE – Tony defends a poor Italian youth charged with murdering the daughter of a powerful Senator. John Marley, Claudette Nevins and Alan Oppenheimer guest star.

A VERY LONELY LADY – A young drifter stands accused of raping and murdering the promiscuous wife of a ruthless businessman. THE Louis Gossett, Jr. plays the D.A. and the guest cast also includes Arlene Martel and Lucille Benson.

A COVENANT WITH EVIL – Petrocelli defends a mentally challenged man (Charles Martin Smith) charged with murder when he is found standing over a dead body. Also with David Huddleston and Robyn Millan.

A FALLEN IDOL – Tony’s latest client is an old friend turned professional boxer (Don Stroud) accused of beating his manager to death. Susan Strasberg and Richard Ward guest star. 

THE OUTSIDERS – Petrocelli defends a young man charged with murdering a pharmacist while stealing medicine for his father. Guest cast includes Mitch Vogel, Marion Ross and Mark Hamill.

FOUR THE HARD WAY – Tony’s latest client is a crotchety recluse (Strother Martin) whose friends have hired our main character to defend him on a murder charge. Shug Fisher also stars.   

DEATH IN SMALL DOSES – A man is charged with murdering the callous, neglectful nurse who was mistreating his wheelchair bound grandfather for revenge when he found her elderly patient dead. Guest stars included Robert Mandan, Stephen Elliott and Elizabeth MacRae.

A NIGHT OF TERROR – Lois Nettleton portrays the physically abused mistress of a gangster accused of killing her abuser but Petrocelli wants to question a cat burglar who was in the vicinity and may have witnessed something that would acquit his client. Also with Peter Mark Richman and Alan Fudge.

SEASON TWO (1975-1976) STANDOUT EPISODES

DEATH RIDE – Petrocelli defends a rodeo clown accused of murdering a rival. THAT old trope! With Ned Beatty, Gerald McRaney and Diana Ewing.

FIVE YARDS OF TROUBLE – A mechanic (Glenn Corbett) is charged with murdering a womanizing photographer the mechanic suspected of hitting on his wife. Also starring Barbara Luna and H.M. Wynant. 

SHADOW OF FEAR – Tony is hired by a woman (Anne Archer) to defend her current husband, who is charged with murdering her ex-husband. William Windom and “the most interesting man in the world” Jonathan Goldsmith appear.

CHAIN OF COMMAND – Our main character’s latest client is a man (John Ritter himself) accused of murdering a general officer who fired him. Lee Montgomery and Kenneth Tobey guest star. 

TO SEE NO EVIL – A blind woman is charged with murdering an undercover cop and is represented by Petrocelli. The one and only Julie Kavner is in the cast along with Erica Hagen.

TERROR BY THE BOOK – Master thespian Dick Butkus appears in this episode about Tony solving the murder of an author. Anne Francis and Marj Dusay guest star.

FACE OF EVIL – Petrocelli gets mixed up in a case involving twins (both played by Kay Lenz), one of whom is accused of murder and the other of whom disappears. Also with Robert F. Lyons.

TOO MANY ALIBIS – Tony represents a black doctor (THE Robert Hooks) charged with killing a hospital chief of staff. Susan Sullivan, Sally Kirkland and Gloria Calomee guest star.

SIX STRINGS OF GUILT – Petrocelli’s leg man Pete (Albert Salmi) is charged with murdering the man blackmailing his girlfriend. Also with Joanna Miles and Martin Kove himself.

THE PAY OFF – Maggie Petrocelli’s uncle is accused of murdering a prostitute so Tony defends him. The guest cast includes Donny Most, Victor French, Joanna Moore, Dabney Coleman, Linda Dano and Whit Bissell.

SHADOW OF A DOUBT – Petrocelli himself needs an attorney in this episode when he is charged with criminal misconduct in a case. Tim Matheson, Katherine Helmond and William Prince guest star.

JUBILEE JONES – This final episode of Petrocelli was directed by Victor French and guest stars Scatman Crothers as Jubilee Jones, a night club entertainer accused of murdering a club manager who was skimming the pay of his entire staff. Also with Barbara Rhoades. 

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