20 years before Erik Estrada and Larry Wilcox started issuing tickets to motorists on California's highways, we had the Highway Patrol series that starred Broderick Crawford for four years. His role of Inspector Dan Matthews became one of two signature roles for him, the other is his Oscar winner from the big screen Willie Stark in All The King's Men.This man was a criminal investigator and he commanded searches for criminals on California's highways. Be it looking for a radioactive part or a fleeing fugitive Matthews was out on the job directing the CHIPS officers in whatever case he was assigned.Crawford's style was no nonsense, a lot like Jack Webb without the staccato speech pattern. The half hour stories were mini- documentaries unto themselves. And in those more innocent days, Crawford always nailed his quarry.I'm surprised no one ever revived this on the big or small screen.

... and in fact I've been doing just that with the new DVD releases of the show! Each episode was built for a half-hour TV slot in the 1950's, so in fact they run about 25 minutes apiece. I think they kept things quite inventive with all kinds of different crimes, with the chief of Highway Patrol, Dan Matthews, played by Broderick Crawford, heading the investigation in each case. You've got truck hijackers stopping their prey by faking accidents, a couple of brothers robbing stores and restaurants that cash payroll checks and using a hot-rod to outrun the police, and even a typhoid carrier. You can start watching in any episode since there is really no story continuity to trip you up. Dan Matthews is a very impersonal presence as he outsmarts the crooks, questions witnesses that are often overly chatty about things that have nothing to do with the crime, and sets up road blocks that often catch the criminal. Ironically, most of the "backstory" in each episode usually involves the criminals, often one of which is rather a reluctant accomplice and wants to give himself/herself up.The atmosphere is great with all of those shots of the open road and those late 50's cars, any one of which makes today's cars look like dixie cups on wheels. Then there are all of those independent motels, cafés, and gas stations, just a brief time before they all became just a series of plain vanilla homogenized chains. Although it is never clearly stated that this is the California Highway Patrol, it is implied by the geography and some of the cities mentioned. Check it out if you are a fan of 50's TV.

I've always thought it to be very interesting that all of the guest stars whether they be criminals or victims all drive exactly the same make and model of car. This is especially noticeable in the episodes made in about 1958. All of the cars used by criminals and victims are Plymouth Furys. Some are convertibles, some are sedans but they are always Plymouth Furys. This is a bit ridiculous as in reality criminals and victims in 1958 as well as any other modern year would have used a multitude of different types of vehicles. Granted, in 1958 the selection of vehicles may have been a bit less, but still, there were Buicks, Chevys, Pontiacs, Cadillacs, Olsmobiles, Fords, Mercurys, Lincolns, Ramblers, Chryslers, Dodges, etc. and all of the various models produced by each. For the show to assume that ALL criminals and victims would drive Plymouth Furys is simply ridiculous and unbelievable.

"Whenever the laws of many states are broken, a fully organized organization swings into action. They may be called the Troopers,the Rangers,the State Police or the HIGHWAY PATROL." This is how each show started and I remember it almost fifty years later. My dad's sold Fords at the time and he didn't like the Buick's and Oldsmobiles saying. "Police forces don't drive high priced cars." It was a really good show. I'd like to see it again.