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Released by: Timeless Media
Released on: September 23rd, 2014.
Director: Various
Cast: Rod Cameron
Year: 1956-1959
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The Series:
"State Trooper" ran from 1956-1959 and starred Rod Cameron. I hadn't actually heard of this series until I started checking this set out and I'm slightly shocked since I'm a sucker for period police dramas based on true crime cases. This show is kind of a ""Dragnet" setup minus the hilarious po-faced Jack Webb delivery.
Set in various locations in the state of Nevada the show had a simple setup with trooper Blake (Cameron) investigating a large number of cases all over the state with some help from series guest stars playing various sheriffs and assorted statewide law enforcement. The two things that make the show so much fun are watching Cameron get his 50's lawman mojo on and the astounding collection of talent that passes through the show. James Coburn, Robert Vaughn, Lee Van Cleef, Star Trek's DeForest Kelley Claude Akins and Michael Landon are just a few of the stars that showed up during the show's three season run. The closest Cameron got to a guest star was a sheriff played by Dan Haggerty for 9 episodes.
Various topics were touched on from serious crimes like murder to lighter fare like bunco scams and check kiting. The show had an old west vibe at times but a defining feature was trooper Blake's snazzy 1956 Ford V-8 that he tools around in. Hey - Nevada's a big state and the guy was being sent all over the place. "State Trooper" had a pretty basic premise and message - crime doesn't pay - and wasn't all that quirky, but it delivered the kind of engaging no-frills storytelling that is easily digestible. It's also really fascinating as a period piece. Those open roads and stunning desert vistas seem more and more quaint in today's overpopulated world. The show also has the feel of aw-shucks Americana without being too obvious. And it hasn't aged as hilariously poorly as good old "Dragnet". The moral sanctimony is kept to straight levels on this show. "State Trooper" has probably been unfairly forgotten precisely because of the lack of misguided moralizing but don't let that put you off. This is a fun show packed with vintage guest stars. And Nevada isn't the usual hunting ground for 50's cop shows which makes "State Trooper" stand out from the pack.
There are very few outright poor episodes but my two personal favorites were the bookie themed "The Cash Out" where Blake ends up in Chicago and season 3's "The Patient Skeleton" which has a nice turn for "Star Trek"'s DeForest Kelley and a weirdly haunted vibe that made it unusual for the show. Some of the lighter episodes work surprisingly well considering how dated humor can be from this period but Rod Cameron had solid comic timing and knew how to play funny without falling into the trap of overdoing it.
Video/Audio/Extras:
Timeless Media (a subsidiary of Shout! Factory) haven't exactly broken the bank prepping this one. But considering what a hefty set this is (11 discs) and that it contains the entire three season run of the show plus a bonus disc, with a low MSRP I don't see any reason to complain. The full frame image hasn't been cleaned up but print damage is minimal. The pilot episode however is in extremely rough beat up VHS quality shape but that's all that was available. Aside from that episode everything here is watchable. Audio is a serviceable Dolby digital mono track with no major distortion. There are no subtitles. The only extra is a bonus disc filled with various period TV shows that guest starred Rod Cameron. These are also in decent condition and are a nice plus for the set since you get to see the actor in some more traditional Western fare like "Laramie".
The Final Word:
This one is recommended for vintage TV and crime show fans. "State Trooper" doesn't have "Dragnet"'s cheese factor or the steel balls of Lee Marvin's "M Squad" but it delivers solid storytelling, interesting true-life based cases and a plethora of top rank guest stars. It also has the excellent Rod Cameron to anchor the whole shebang. Recommended.
