CTVA
The Classic TV Archive - US Legal Drama Series
The Trials of O'Brien (1965-66)
Episode Guide
compiled by
The Classic TV Archive
with contributions by:
Cindy Rumbold , Tom Alger, Rina Fox
references:
Library of Congress (telnet://locis.loc.gov)
Internet Movie Database (https://us.imdb.com)
---------------------
THE TRIALS OF O'BRIEN
---------------------
Mayo Productions, Inc.
The O'Brien Company.
Filmways TV Productions, Inc.
for
CBS (Saturdays 8:30 pm EST)(18Sep65-27Nov65)
CBS (Fridays 10:00 pm EST)(03Dec65-27May66)
Produced by Richard Alan Simmons
US Legal Drama series 1965-66 22 episodes x 60 min bw
starring
Peter Falk
as Daniel J. O'Brien
co-starring
Joanna Barnes as Katie O'Brien (ex-wife)
David Burns as The Great McGonigle
Elaine Stritch as Miss G
Ilka Chase as Margaret
Dolph Sweet as Lt. Garrison
Premise:
A flamboyant New York Defence Lawyer seems always to get into trouble.
Background:
The series made in black and white lead to a tv movie in color
called ' Too many Thieves' in 1966 - details at the end of this guide.
Peter Falk made this one season series just before his famous role
as Lt. Columbo.
########### The Trials of O'Brien ############
############# season 1965-66 ###############
##############################################
CBS Saturdays 8:30 pm Eastern
1.1 [--] The Trials of O'Brien: OVER DEFENSE IS OUT
18Sep65 CBS Sat
Written by Richard Alan Simmons
Directed by Stuart Rosenberg
Starring: Peter Falk
guest stars
Murray Hamilton ....... Eddie Hanover
Kathy Cody ............ Dinah Hanover
Vincent Gardenia ...... Lester
Ned Glass ............. Harry Gamon
Bill Lazarus .......... Paul Benedict
Meg Myles ............. Janice
Synopsis:
Eddie Hanover, in town after serving a stretch for theft, leaves his
daughter in O'Brien's care while he picks up the stashed loot. [RF]
1.2 [--] The Trials of O'Brien: BARGAIN DAY ON THE STREET OF REGRET
25Sep65 CBS Sat
Written by Irving Gaynor Neiman
Starring: Peter Falk
guest stars
Robert Blake .......... Joe Rooney
Hershel Bernardi ...... Grommet
Tony Mustante ......... Coley Thomas
Albert Dekker ......... George Brewer
Charles Dierkop ....... Sandor
Judi West ............. Cora Santelli
Philip Bruns .......... DA Quinn
Martin Wolfson ........ Dr. Amsterdam
Mike Keene ............ Judge Rogers
Edgar Stehli .......... Judge Altman
Synopsis:
In a dice game, O'Brien wins boxer Joe Rooney's contract. But luck runs
out when he finds Rooney in jail for stealing from his ex-manager. [RF]
1.3 [--] The Trials of O'Brien: NOTES ON A SPANISH PRISONER
02Oct65 CBS Sat
Written by Harold Gast
Starring: Peter Falk
guest stars
Buddy Hackett ......... Ollie Maxwell
Martyn Green .......... Judge Brisco
Mary Tahmin ........... Eva Grimaldi
Al Kelly .............. Tugboat Fenner
Ellen Madison ......... Elena
Dolph Sweet ........... Lt. Garrison (recurring)
Morgan Sterne ......... DA
Synopsis:
Bunco artist Ollie Maxwell was conned at his own game: his girl friend
took him for his money and ran. [RF]
1.4 [--] The Trials of O'Brien: NEVER BET ON ANYTHING THAT TALKS
09Oct65 CBS Sat
Written by Robert Van Scoyk
Starring: Peter Falk
guest stars
Kenneth Mars .......... Barry Schweitzer
Phil Foster ........... Jerry Traynor
Marian Hailey ......... Holly Marsh
Mischa Auer ........... Heinie
Synopsis:
O'Brien's "turf accountant" faces a murder rap and the only witness who
can prove the bookie's innocence has disappeared. [RF]
1.5 [--] The Trials of O'Brien: WHAT CAN GO WRONG?
16Oct65 CBS Sat
Written by Irving Gaynor Neiman
Starring: Peter Falk
guest stars
Roger Moore ........... Roger Taney
Michael Constantine ... Colin Kipner
Nathaniel Frey ........ Willie Benjamin
Jose Duval ............ Lou Valente
John Cecil Holm ....... Judge
Leon B. Stevens ....... DA
Dolph Sweet ........... Lt. Garrison (recurring)
Synopsis:
When star witness Lou Valenti is killed before he can testify, O'Brien
moves in to trap the murderer. [RF]
1.6 [--] The Trials of O'Brien: GOODBYE AND KEEP COOL
23Oct65 CBS Sat
Written by Gene Wang
Starring: Peter Falk
guest stars
Robert Loggia ......... Johnny Arno/Nick Arno
Cloris Leachman ....... Isobel Ballentine
Monique Van Vooren .... Eve St. Clair
Marian Hailey ......... Burdine Vogel
Ilka Chase ............ Margaret (recurring)
Synopsis:
O'Brien tries to check the story of his witness in a murder trial but
the witness has made himself scarce. [RF]
1.7 [--] The Trials of O'Brien: A GAGGLE OF GIRLS
30Oct65 CBS Sat (rerun 01Apr66)
Script by Robert J. Crean
Starring: Peter Falk
Co-Starring: Joanna Barnes, David Burns, Dolph Sweet, Elaine Stritch
Guest Cast:
Tammy Grimes .......... Mother Superior
Reni Santoni .......... Leonard
Jennifer West ......... Rosetta
David Doyle ........... Murray
Noelle Adarn .......... Roselie
Valerie Allen ......... Roseanne
Synopsis:
Sister Mary Anthony wants the owner of the Rosebud Café to donate
his property to the St. Anthony's Youth Center. But Murray who
owns the Rosebud isn't in a chararitable mood: The café is a front
for his numbers racket - and the sisters are already having a bad
effect on business. [TA]
1.8 [--] The Trials of O'Brien: THE TROUBLE WITH ARCHIE
06Nov65 CBS Sat
written by George Bellak
Starring: Peter Falk
guest stars
Lou Jacobi ............ Archie Vasoulian
Theodore Bikel ........ Ben Moravian
Alice Ghostley ........ Eve Roberti
Simon Oakland ......... Harry
Gordon Clarke ......... Judge Melnick
Dan Frazer ............ Anderson
Bruce Hyde ............ Malcolm
Phil Leeds ............ MacIlvaney
Bernie West ........... Brody
Synopsis:
Archie Vascoulian was embezzling from his company. Then things got hot
and Archie shopped for an arsonist to burn the books. [RF]
1.9 [--] The Trials of O'Brien: HOW DO YOU GET TO CARNEGIE HALL?
13Nov65 CBS Sat
written by George Bellak
Starring: Peter Falk
guest stars
Norman Fell ........... Mickey
Kurt Kasznar .......... Manos Baroutos
Zohra Lampert ......... Penelope
Dana Elcar ............ Sam Styles
Woody Romoff .......... Rapak
Edgar Stehli .......... Judge Prescott
Eugene Roche .......... Henchley
Frank Langella
Synopsis:
O'Brien tries to clear Mickey the Miser of a rap, and Mickey is out
getting arrested on another charge. [RF]
1.10 [--] The Trials of O'Brien: CHARLIE HAS ALL THE LUCK
20Nov65 CBS Sat
Written by Heywood Peters
Starring: Peter Falk
guest stars
Tony Roberts .......... Charlie
Jack Albertson ........ Leo Beckett
Martin Sheen ......... Arthur Beckett
Judi West ............. Bonnie
Philip Bosco .......... Theo
Joe Smith ............. Barney
Edgar Stehli .......... Judge Prescott
Synopsis:
Arthur Beckett "borrows" $12,000 from his dad's safe to bet on a horse.
The nag wins, but Arthur is still a loser the safe's combination was
changed. [RF]
1.11 [--] The Trials of O'Brien: PICTURE ME A MURDER
27Nov65 CBS Sat
written by George Bellak
Starring: Peter Falk
guest stars
Alan Alda ............. Nick Staphos
Harold J. Stone ....... Max Fabrikant
Joanna Pettet ......... Liz Martin
Jessica Walter ........ Carole Ann Muffit
Charles Grodin ........ Peter Farnum
Claude Akins .......... Glen Daley
Salem Ludwig .......... Judge Matkis
John Hawkins .......... Ralph Ennis
Louis Zorich .......... Manuel Farago
John Randolph
Synopsis:
O'Brien gets involved in the way-out world of New York City's
underground moviemakers. [RF]
------------------------------------
CBS Fridays 10:00pm Eastern
New Day and Time Slot from 03Dec65
replacing mid-season cancellation of "Slattery's People"
-------------------------------------
1.12 [--] The Trials of O'Brien: DEAD END ON FLUGEL STREET
03Dec65 CBS Friday
Written by Robert Van Scoyk
Starring: Peter Falk
Guest Cast:
Milton Berle .......... Boozey Bailey
Rita Moreno ........... Caressa
Ann Corio ............. Rosie Dawn
Hal March ............. Chuck Lewis
Virginia Wing ......... Baby Bare
Danny Dayton .......... Dinky Moore
Truman Smith .......... Judge
Conrad Bain ........... DA
Synopsis:
Burlesque comic Boozey Bailey has his troubles. His wife, an exotic
dancer called Caressa, has fallen for the show's straight man. [RF]
1.13 [--] The Trials of O'Brien: NO JUSTICE FOR THE JUDGE
10Dec65 CBS Friday
Written by David Ellis
Starring: Peter Falk
guest star
Burgess Meredith ...... Judge Vincent
Barnard Hughes ........ Chief Judge
Robert Emhardt ........ Corbett
Ken Kercheval ......... Dr. McCahey
Leona Mariele ......... Mrs. Murray
Synopsis:
O'Brien represents an eccentric old jurist at a hearing to determine
whether he is fit to remain on the bench. [RF]
1.14 [--] The Trials of O'Brien: LEAVE IT TO ME
17Dec65 CBS Friday
Written by Philip H. Reisman Jr.
Starring: Peter Falk
guest star
Angela Lansbury ....... Celeste Thurlow
Thayer David .......... Regis Thurlow
George Rose ........... James Thurlow Gedney
House Jameson ......... Surrogate Swinnerton
MacIntyre Dixon ....... Charles Lemp
George Turner ......... W.W. Thurlow
Synopsis:
Eccentric W.W. Thurlow couldn't take it with him, but he may have the
last laugh: his fortune must be held in escrow until two of his three
heirs are dead. [RF]
1.15 [--] The Trials of O'Brien: ALARMS & EXCURSIONS
07Jan66 CBS Friday
Written by Robert J. Crean
Starring: Peter Falk
guest stars
John McGiver .......... Ben Gully
Estelle Parsons ....... Miss Baines
Sal Lombardo .......... Mike
Nan Martin ............ Margo
Marc Connelly ......... Judge
Synopsis:
Bachelor Ben Gully has the noisiest apartment in town. No wonder: he
took in seven foster children, to sponge off their support checks. [RF]
1.16 [--] The Trials of O'Brien: THE 10-FOOT, SIX INCH POLE
14Jan66 CBS Friday 10:00pm EST
Written by Don M. Mankiewicz
Starring: Peter Falk
Guest Cast:
Murray Hamilton ....... Morton Lee
Albert Paulsen ........ Lopert
Faye Dunaway .......... Myra
Will Geer ............. Sheldon
Joe Julian ............ Yancy
Salem Ludwig .......... Judge
Lou Gilbert ........... Steinberg
Ken Kercheval ......... Jerry Quinlan
Rex Everhart .......... Coffee Man
Ken Martin ............ First Reporter
Ben Yaffee ............ Second Reporter
Synopsis:
Accountant Jerry Quinlan became a little suspicious of his own
firms bookkeeping records, but he was found dead - an apparent
suicide - before he could report to the authorities. [TA]
1.17 [--] The Trials of O'Brien: A HORSE CALLED DESTINY
21Jan66 CBS Friday (copyright date 12Jan66)
Written by Robert Van Scoyk
Starring: Peter Falk
guest stars
J.D. Cannon ........... Polo Romaine
Barbara Barrie ........ Jean Fields
Jack Ging ............. David Fields
Frank Converse ........ Ray Lambert
Grayson Hall .......... Louise Malcolm
Lucienne Bredou ....... Dinah Kling
Barnard Hughes ........ Judge
Synopsis:
Clairvoyant Polo Romaine has a vision: he predicts that wealthy Louise
Malcolm will be murdered and that he will be accused of the crime. [RF]
1.18 [--] The Trials of O'Brien: THE BLUE STEEL SUITE
28Jan66 CBS Friday
Written by David Ellis
Starring: Peter Falk
guest stars
Pat Hingle ............ Jocko
Warren Finnerty ....... Charlie Sanders
Tony Musante .......... Callison
Al Freeman, Jr. ....... Conroy
Leonardo Cimino ....... Fidgy
Tim Signorelli ........ Fletcher
Ted Gunther ........... McCrory
David Hooks ........... Warden
Synopsis:
Inmates of the state prison have O'Brien up against a wall. Unless he
takes their case to the public, they will refuse to release their
hostages. [RF]
1.19 [--] The Trials of O'Brien: THE PARTRIDGE PAPERS
04Feb66 CBS Friday
Written by George Bellak
Starring: Peter Falk
guest stars
Paul Massie ........... James Partridge
Sheila MacRae ......... Mitzi Kortner
Oscar Beregi Jr. ...... Lazlo Kortner
Louise Sorel .......... Sally Cutler
Peggy Pope ............ Miss Archduke
Michael Kermoyan ...... Hajib
Byron Webster ......... Major Levering
Frederick Rolf ........ D'Agincourt
Michel Molnot ......... Felipe
Mohammed Ali Khan ..... Projectionist
Eugene R. Wood ........ Elderly Projectionist
Synopsis:
O'Brien, victim of a hit-and-run driver, is not consoled by the fact
that writer James Partridge was the intended victim. [RF]
1.20 [--] The Trials of O'Brien: THE GREATEST GAME [Part 1]
04Mar66 CBS Friday
Written by George Bellak
Starring: Peter Falk
guest stars
Nehemiah Persoff ...... Georgi
Britt Ekland ......... Claudia
David Carradine ....... Felix
George Coulouris ...... Cassiano Andrews
Ludwig Donath ......... Bulanerti
Pierre Olaf ........... Milan Petros
Synopsis:
Thieves of a jewel-encrusted national treasure are willing to return
the loot for $500,000, if O'Brien negotiates the deal. [RF]
1.21 [--] The Trials of O'Brien: THE GREATEST GAME [Part 2]
11Mar66 CBS Friday
Written by George Bellak
Starring: Peter Falk
guest stars
Nehemiah Persoff ...... Georgi
Britt Ekland ......... Claudia
David Carradine ....... Felix
George Coulouris ...... Cassiano Andrews
Ludwig Donath ......... Bulanerti
Pierre Olaf ........... Milan Petros
Synopsis:
O'Brien's negotiations for a stolen treasure become complicated. Petros
is willing to sell but finds that his life is in danger. [RF]
1.22 [--] The Trials of O'Brien: THE ONLY GAME IN TOWN
18Mar66 CBS Friday
Written by Robert Van Scoyk
Starring: Peter Falk
guest stars
Robert Walker, Jr. .... Arthur Barry
Gene Hackman .......... Roger Nathan
Jennifer West ......... Laura Cooper
Brock Peters .......... Isadore Joconey
Alejandro Rey ......... Francisco Perez
Will Geer ............. Judge Lindemann
Synopsis:
O'Brien is filling an interim vacancy on the state supreme court but
his judicial robes don't stop him from helping an inept young attorney. [RF]
[--] 01Apr66 CBS Friday - rerun of "A Gaggle of Girls"
(first aired 30Oct65)
[--] 27May66 - final rerun
########### The Trials of O'Brien ############
################# tv movie #################
##############################################
The Trials of O' Brien: TOO MANY THIEVES
(2 hour TV movie)( color)
Written by George Bellak
Directed by Abner Biberman
guest stars
Nehemiah Persoff ...... Georgi
Britt Ekland ......... Claudia
David Carradine ....... Felix
George Coulouris ...... Cassiano Andrews
Ludwig Donath ......... Bulanerti
Pierre Olaf ........... Milan Petros
Synopsis:
New York Attorney, O'Brien helps ransom a priceless Middle Eastern
treasure stolen from its shrine.
Adapted from episodes 20 & 21 of the series.
########### The Trials of O'Brien ############
################# the end ##################
##############################################
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