Ironside: Season 1

"Ironside" was one of the best detective shows of the 1960s and remains a classic of its genre. Memorable characters, brilliant acting, well-crafted stories and unforgettable theme music written by the legendary Quincy Jones, "Ironside" brought the beloved actor Raymond Burr back to series TV after a nine year Hall of Fame portrayal of the most famous lawyer in TV history: Perry Mason."Perry Mason" ended its run in 1966, but the remarkably robust, vigorous and energetic Burr jumped immediately back into the rigorous demands of series TV in 1967. He starred as former San Francisco Chief of Detectives Robert T. Ironside in a pilot movie that led to the very successful series, which itself ran for eight seasons.In the pilot, Burr's character, a tough, demanding and brilliant Detective with a quick wit and often just as quick temper, took his first vacation in 25 years. At a remote cabin while he is talking on the phone, Ironside is shot by a sniper with a grudge wielding a rifle and is left for dead. Somehow, he survives but is permanently disabled - he is paralyzed him from the waist down and confined to a wheelchair.The series was created by Collier Young. The decision to make Burr disabled was remarkable for the era, as few TV leads were ever depicted as anything but able bodied.Forced to cope with his disability, Ironside is humbled by his emotions, as well as the outpouring of support he receives from friends and colleagues.Determined not to be trapped in his wheelchair or give up his career, he volunteers to work within the police department as a "special department consultant," investigating his own attempted murder as his first case.Ironside drafts two young law enforcement officers, Detective Sgt. Ed Brown, portrayed by Don Galloway, and Officer Eve Whitfield, portrayed by Barbara Anderson.He also hired delinquent-turned-bodyguard Mark Sanger, portrayed by Don Mitchell, as his "legs." Sanger, an African-American with a chip on his shoulder and a hatred for the police, eventually went to law school and became an attorney.Ironside's consultant status was granted by Commissioner Dennis Randall, portrayed by Gene Lyons, who also frequently clashed with his long-time friend over Ironside's investigative methods and his willingness to break the rules to achieve true justice.Ironside was allowed to retain a floor (for living and office space) at police headquarters and made use of a specially modified and equipped police van to accommodate his wheelchair. The kitchen cupboards were filled with one provision: cans and cans of chili con carne, which Ironside called the "pefect food."Once his staff was assembled, Ironside "rolled" into his investigations, traveling in the specially equipped van that Mark had converted to accommodate the Chief's special needs.During the series, the show took an unflinching look at the social issues of the 60s and 70s, which included racial strife, the war in Vietnam, and drug use.As the stories evolved, the barely civil relationship between Ironside and Mark deepened to a close friendship, and eventually the three "staff" members became Ironside's true family.Whitfield, who was hugely popular, left the series in 1971. Elizabeth Baur joined the cast as Officer Fran Belding and remained until the series ended in 1975, but never found the fan base that Whitfield had.This boxed set includes all of the first season episodes including: The Pilot; Message from Beyond; The Leaf in the Forest; Dead Man's Tale; Eat, Drink and Be Buried; The Taker; An Inside Job; Tagged for Murder; Let My Brother Go; Light at the End of the Journey; The Monster of Comus Towers; The Man Who Believed; A Very Cool Hot Car; The Past Is Prologue; Girl in the Night; The Fourtenth Runner; Force of Arms; Memory of an Ice Cream Stick; To Kill a Cop; The Lonely Hostage; The Challenge; All in a Day's Work; Something for Nothing; Barbara Who?; Perfect Crime; Officer Bobby; Trip to Hashbury; Due Process of the Law; and Return of the Hero.A few of the actors who guest starred in the series over the years included Harrison Ford, Joan Van Ark, Bill Bixby, Kent McCord, John Rubinstein, Jack Lord, Norman Fell, Gavin MacLeod, Gary Collins, William Shatner and Martin Sheen. Even Quincy Jones had a guest starring stint.Raymond Burr was a truly unique man. He was a voracious reader with an almost photographic memory. Although he did not attend college, he had an interest in almost everything and studied on his own gaining an impressive bank of knowledge that rivaled university graduates with advanced degrees. In addition to his active mind and endless energy (he slept very little) he also cultivated orchids and even developed a variety he called "Della," named and inspired by his beloved former Perry Mason co-star Barbara Hale, who played his secretary Della Street."Ironside" is a release long overdue for fans of great detective dramas and Raymond Burr. Let us hope the remaining seasons of this outstanding series are released quickly!

Ironside is a great show to watch on DVD or on television. I have to get the other seasons to relive the nostalgia of the theme music and the title sequence.

now as to the series for some reason i missed this series but now having watched 2 discs i can empathize with those who did or were recently brought into the fold now as too the complaints they stem from the complaint he is not the same and why would he be he just has lost his ability to walk i,m quite sure this might put a real bite on his attitude but if anything it just made even more determined to catch killlers he still has the same wit and tenacity hard edged yes for one he now playing a much different role he now lives with hard cold fact that he can no longer do it but is forced to rely on others to do it for him he is once and foremost a determined man dedicated to cold hard facts due infact part of his socalled harshness he still cares very deeply for his people and feels entirely responsible for them but now due to his mind working round the clock and at such an extreme rate of understanding facts in the same manner he used facts in the court room yes a different role but one that just puts up with others that don,t have a mind like a steel trap i do hope those who said what they said watch it again and see he has not changed only wears a different hat in closing this only one mans opinion but if your mind works at 100 percent of your ability and your colleagues at best work at 70 percent he has trouble trying to understand there inability to think on his level so he does his best to lead them in hopes they will get it

i have now finished season 2 & am still loving it. I am a diehard Raymond Burr fan.I think that the Perry Mason movies 1985-95 are the best, followed by ironside. I've seen every Perry Mason TV episode & although I thoroughly enjoyed them, they got a little formulaic. I don't think that Ironside is miserable/cranky. He can be gruff but it is obvious that he is just doing it for show & doesn't really mean it. The supporting cast is fine altho i miss Della Street. The different mysteries have kept me interested tho sometimes they leave loose ends which bothers me. It's also fun to see young actors/actresses before they became famous like Richard Dreyfus & Margot Kidder & especially Chad Everett-he is just as gorgeous as I remembered him. Younger folks might not like them as much b/c there was essentially no technology. I can't fathom why they released all 8 seasons in Australia but not here!

I remember watching Ironside as a child, in the late 1960s, and was truly impressed with Raymond Burr's performance. He portrayed a man who had been at ( or near ) the top of his profession{in the San Francisco Police Department} when he was gunned down by an unknown assailant. As a result, he was paralyzed from the waist down. He would then be forced to retire from the SFPD, but due to his close relationship with the police commissioner, he was soon rehired as a " special consultant " to the commissioner, assisting with difficult cases. On a personal level, he displayed a very gruff, take-no-prisoners attitude in his dealings with his staff, but that was probably his way of avoiding expressions of pity from them. In reality, he was soft on the inside, very much concerned about their welfare. He was a good detective before his paralysis, and he was determined to show he was still one afterward. So, in conclusion, Ironside was a living example of the fact that what makes a good detective is all that they possess ABOVE the neck, not below it.

Very good programme to watch when I am ready to watch it

This was a present for my brother. Was something he has requested

My father In Law loved it, has it was a Christmas Present for him

Great value for money

If you watched as a kid you'll love this. Inside is a classic.