The pilot episode of Highway Patrol introduces Dan Mathews as the gruff, fast-talking, no-nonsense Chief of the Highway Patrol unit of an unidentified state. Up against Ralph Neal, a ruthless criminal who killed a guard to escape from prison, and leaves behind him a trail of scared and injured victims, time is of the essence as capture would become almost impossible once Neal reaches the big city.
In its very first episode it is already clear as day what has made Highway Patrol such a favourite among young audiences of the day. With its fast-paced dialogue and cuts, high-speed chases filmed from airborne cameras, and action-packed shoot-outs, it is much more hard-hitting than most other crime thrillers of the era. This is in a nice contrast with the desert plains in the background, which don't have the effect of giving the pictures an empty feel, but rather create a sense of total freedom. Anything can happen anywhere, and it seems almost impossible for a handful of Highway Patrol Officers to capture one escaped criminal amidst the endless roads and fields he hides out in.
A few of the cuts in the middle of dialogues feel very unnatural to contemporary eyes and ears-they just don't fit, as characters sometimes change position and tone several times during a conversation. But that's really all that would betray this program's age. The cars might be a bit faster today, the criminal jargon changed. But the raw facts and events that it ultimately all comes down to are still just as current.
As a viewer who was born some 30 years after this episode first aired, I could instantly see the charm and suspense that have made this show such a success in the 1950s, and I am very much looking forward to watching further episodes.moreless
A guard is killed during a prison break and the escapee is a ruthless career criminal who will stop at nothing to prevent capture by Chief Dan Mathews and the Highway Patrol.
 Broderick Crawford |
Chief Dan Matthews |
Robert J. Stevenson |
Ralph Neal (as Robert Forrest) |
Guest Star |
Isa Ashdown |
Maggie Peterson |
Guest Star |
Fritz Ford |
Officer Petersen |
Guest Star |
Art Gilmore |
Narrator |
Recurring Role |
Jay Douglas |
Officer Len Dorsey |
Recurring Role |
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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions
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TRIVIA (1)
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This is the only episode in which Broderick Crawford does not give a driving safety tip in his parting shot scene before the closing credits.
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QUOTES (1)
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Ralph Neal: There's lotsa traffic for this time of morning, we'll have to keep running all the way. Can you make it?
Jeff Parker: Just give me a second to rest this leg. The slug missed the bone alright but it feels like it's still in there.
(Ralph Neal proceeds to punch out Jeff Parker and takes off alone)
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NOTES (0)
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ALLUSIONS (0)
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Highway Patrol Now Available on MGM DVD-R From Amazon.com
07/15/123
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That's a big 10-4!
07/31/102
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Christmas Story
S 1 : Ep 39
(26:13)
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Prospector
S 1 : Ep 38
Aired 6/1/56 (26:19)
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Missing Witness
S 1 : Ep 37
(26:18)
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Taxi
S 1 : Ep 36
Aired 6/1/56 (26:16)
Season 1 Episodes
See AllEp 39
Christmas Story
Ep 38
Prospector
Ep 37
Missing Witness
Ep 36
Taxi
Ep 35
Runaway Boy
Ep 34
Art Robbery
Ep 33
Dead Patrolman
Ep 32
Anti-Toxin
Ep 31
Blast Area Copter
Ep 30
Hitchhiker Dies
Ep 29
License Plates
Ep 28
Mental Patient
Ep 27
Motorcycle A
Ep 27
Motorcycle
Ep 26
Released Convict
Ep 25
Plant Robbery
Ep 24
Desert Copter
Ep 23
Plane Crash
Ep 22
Human Bomb
Ep 21
Car Theft
Ep 20
Hit And Run
Ep 19
Harbor Story
Ep 18
Scared Cop
Ep 17
Lie Detector
Ep 16
Mountain Copter
Ep 15
Girl Bandit
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