Deadline: The Complete 39 Episode Series!

We are so lucky that a series such as this was suddenly found in someone's garage and brought to us by Filmchest Media Group based in CT. It is classic late 50’s early 1960’s television at it's finest with well paced storylines, fine acting with many familiar faces, well above average picture and sound quality and all for a bargain price of $11.99. What sets apart Deadline (1959-1961) from most other shows from this period, and similarly like Naked City (1958–1963) and Route 66 (1960-1964), every episode was filmed on location revealing unseen footage of American cities and places which no longer exist. This is truly amazing for those of us who remember these landmarks. Though not mentioned in the item description this DVD release includes a beautiful and extremely thorough slick paper booklet. The Bonus Features include a fascinating 25-minute interview with Broadcast Journalism Professor Joe Alicastro. The show is a champion for freedom of the press, something that is extremely prevalent in our society today. Reporters ARE still heroes!! There are some rather violent episodes that perhaps should not be viewed by young children. I try not to write reviews before I complete viewing of all episodes but I want readers to know it's important to support companies like Filmchest that bring us rare classic television without the CBS MOD price gouging!! I intend to update this review if my opinion changes in any way.

I had never heard of the Deadline Series until it popped up on Amazon as something I might like. The Series is a must have if you, like my husband Jim and me, like to watch old fashioned movies and TV series, and are a newspaper reader. The series is full of powerhouse actors, wonderful storylines and cinematography. I'm sure we will be watching this series many times over. Both captivating and fun to watch. I highly recommend the Deadline Complete DVD Series.

Early TV series with somewhat interesting stories that are close to boring. They are from an early time in TV movies where audiences accepted the programming.

Quite an amazing series - my family & I were very pleased with it. The acting can be a bit uneven, but if you are a fan of 50s - 70's television, you will see dozens of your favorite stars in this - we had many "a-ha!" moments as we recognized faces and looked people up on IMDB and remembered them from work they did years, even decades later. Peter Falk as a deranged con in a prison riot is particularly wonderful! The outdoor scenes are particularly fascinating, most of them shot candidly in small towns and cities, watching the passers by who appear in the shots as well as the fabulous 50's cars was a treat. The "When Reporters Were Heroes" tag isn't all hype. These are real stories of real reporters who took the idea that journalism is a life of service and a duty to the public absolutely to heart. This makes a pretty stark contrast to the politically biased and shrill reporting that we see today in papers, television, and social media. Some of the attitudes may shock you, but much of the compassion and humanity will delight you. One sad note, of all the newspapers mentioned in the 39 episodes, only a handful are still publishing today. You will notice that most of the papers are hyphenated - they were already the product of mergers and a shrinking market for physical newspapers. This series documents the death of an honest 4th Estate, and the death of the American newspaper as a local organization.

This series was pretty much what I expected, a look into the past. It is almost an educational/documentary experience. The show came out in 1959 so there is no blood and gore but there are some pretty grim stories (and a few pleasant ones.) One bonus is if you pause the DVD when it is displaying the headline you get a history lesson on the other news of the day. The synopsis/trivia booklet lets you know what's ahead and something behind each show. I learned that the world really hasn't changed that much although news reporting has. People have always been both good and bad and it is the duty of a real reporter to show these faces to the world. That's what these men and women did. Technically it is in black and white and the picture is great a little over 90% of the time. The deviation comes in some less than ideal stock shots and a few times the frame shakes. Although this is free of gore it is not for children although teens could probably handle it. I don't have any children but I know they have imaginations and murder, rape and kidnapping could lead to some restless sleep.

Headline would have been an important show in any era. Those who view it after a steady diet of modern shows may find it quaint, even tacky. There are few recognizable actors but most acting is superb. Comes with a booklet lamenting the fact that internet misinformation and gossip has largely implanted the art of newspaper reporting, writing and reading. Thoroughly more entertaining than say, Man With a Camera or Decoy. Enough noir to make it noir; enough action to make it alive. Highly recommended.

This 1959 syndicateed series ran on local station WPIX in NYC, but as a young avid TV drama viewer, I honestly don't remember it. It is not listed in the massive TV Directory (1946 -) which includes even little 15 minute programs, but it is on the IMDb. The series is based on actual headline news stories and series from across the US in which the reporter risked a lot to get at the truth or was personally responsible for the story's outcome. Paul Stewart is the host/narrator and sometimes plays the episode's reporter and is among the directors. Production values are modest; the on screen episode intro by Stewart begins with the same awkward line: "These are the stories that shocked a nation, that moved THEM and made THEM laugh." !?! The stories can be predictable or jolting, and the performances range from mediocre to Emmy-worthy (Joanne Linville in one episode, Edgar Stehli in another). Three of my five stars are for the series content and the other two for presentation: the prints (rescued from a garage!) have been cleaned up quite well with occasional streaks and blemishes. The booklet is outstanding, and considering the obscurity of the program, was quite an effort. A nice package for $11.99.

The acting is adequate, the plots are pedestrian and the photography is just 50s. The is little suspense and the plot lines, while perhaps real, are weak. Easy to see why this show didn't last long. Three stars is 'charitable.'