User Reviews

FOR MANY years, the stressful life that is Police Work was almost always chalked up to the dangers that a Cop faces at every confrontation with the burglars, stick-up men, pickpockets and various sundry classes of vice (Whores, Junkies, Pimps, Pornographers, Vegans, etc.). The much higher rates of divorce, alcoholism and suicide than exists in the General Population were attributed to this stress on the individual Patrolman, Deputy, Detective or Trooper.

MORE RECENT studies have hinted that there is an additional, even more telling factor that hadn't merited consideration until these more recent times. Although that his dealings with the lawless elements of society surely takes its toll, far greater stress has been attributed to the so-called "Semi-Military" authority system. In regards to his job, the Police Officer finds himself to be at the complete beck & call of his superiors.

IN this NAKED CITY Episode: Today the Man who Kills the Ants is Coming (1962), the series at least touches on the subject of the Cop burn out or worse.

JOHN LARCH portrays one Patrolman John Clinton, a Uniformed Beat Cop with a fine, and blemish-free 18 year career under his belt. Suddenly, everything seems to be closing in on him. He gets periodic headaches that come and go with increased intensity. He finds himself as the recipient of a complaint of excessive force that seemed to be an impossibility to any who knew him, including his superior, Lt. Mike Parker (Horace McMahon).

LIEUTENNANT Parker is to be the one who is assigned to the investigation of the "Beef" (Citizen's Complaint, Excessive Force or whatever). Complicating matters is a pressing, unrelated matter that involves an unlicensed revolver in the possession of a Private Eye, Lowell F. Newton (Roger C. Carmel). The business of the criminal investigation divides the attention of the good Lieutenant, although he remains concerned, Mike sends Clinton out on his daily patrol; having failed to observe the continually worsening symptoms of a nervous breakdown that Officer Clinton was displaying.

A MINOR verbal admonishment given by Desk Sgt. Moroni (Jimmy Little) sets the troubled Officer off just a little more. The observation that Clinton needed a button to be replaced on his uniform jacket, which would normally go virtually unnoticed, becomes a major obstacle in the mind of the now visibly ill cop.

AFTER being on patrol for the morning, Clinton returns and pulls his revolver on Moroni; systematically making hostage of most of the watch. As they return to the Precinct House, Officer Clinton disarms them, one by one; placing them up against the wall, all the while venting his spleen by ranting about conditions today on the NYPD and in general about anything and everything.

THE CAREFULLY DISPENSED patience meted out by the Officers on the Watch (Shift), led by Lieutenant Mike Parker, eventually causes Clinton to talk himself out and into a peaceful and non-violent surrender. The Lt. calls for an ambulance to be sent.

MUCH IN the same way that many good screenplays are constructed, this episode draws a parallel of the plight of Officer Clinton to that of the Private Detective under investigation. Both men are said to have had 18 years in their chosen field; although further investigation reveals that the Private Dick was running an illegal gun selling scheme.

AS WAS the case for just about every NAKED CITY Episode, this one featured a fine supporting cast with special guests Geraldine Fitzgerald and John Larch ( as the wife and Officer Clinton respectively). Also appearing as Cops of the Precinct are Stand-up Comedians Godfrey Cambridge (Detective-Plain Clothes) and Milt Kamen (Uniformed Cop).

THIS EPISODE manages to touch on a heretofore undiagnosed problem; at least it provided a start in the area of providing proper medical attention and back-up for those suffering mental problems that are duty related. Much in the same way that Mike Parker's divided time on the job during his tour of duty (work day, shift), there are real Police Bosses can't or won't take the time to recognize the symptoms brewing; then wondering why some Cop goes and eats his gun. .

POODLE SCHNITZ!! Rm 8

John Larch gives tremendous performance of unhappy-at-home-and-work policeman on the workday when he finally "can't take it anymore" and suffers a mental breakdown, and not in a private way or at his home, but at his workplace (precinct headquarters) with 20 other cops watching on. Horace McMahon as Lt. Mike Parker is probably the most sensitive as ever seen in this episode as he recognizes what's happening with Larch, and at end of show when Larch breaks down completely, puts his arms around him. Tension in this episode was heavy as you don't know what Larch's character is going to do as his day gets worse and worse and you can see his mind just spinning out of control. Excellent portrayal of mental breakdown as result of everyday tensions building up.

***SPOILERS*** Getting no respect on the job in the criminals that he deals with who have him up on a case of police brutality and at home where his old lady Lillian,Geraldine Fitzgerald,insults him by not treating him like a man and bread winner in front his kids NYPD cop John "Cry Baby" Clinton, John Larch, is like a ticking time bomb about to go off at any moment.

It's at the 65 Precinct where he works out off that the final insult against his ability to do his job and have pride in doing it finally sets the poor guy off! Told by his desk sergeant that he's got a button missing from his police uniform Clinton finally lose it and flips out of his skull! First by going AWOL and then when he's high as a kite on over the counter drugs Clinton goes back to 65th and holds the entire place, some 20 or so cops, hostage in a crazed effort to prove to himself and everyone else that he still got what it takes!

In what can be called a performance of a lifetime John Larch as the mentally unstable cop John "Cry Baby" Clinton could have easily won the Academy Award for best actor if in fact this, a Naked City episode, was a full length motion picture and not a one hour TV program. The guy was so great playing a borderline, who soon crossed the border, psycho that it was hard to believe for anyone watching that he was in fact only acting. Even the cops that he held hostage including his boss Let.Mike Parker, Horace McMahon, were so fascinated with Larch's performance they seemed too hypnotized to do anything even when he had his back turned and his pistol put away. They just watch him do his thing not bothering to stop him in just how incredibly mind boggling it was!

If course it was Clinton's very pressing problems that were the reason that caused him to freak out before his almost shocking gushing, almost drowning the entire cast with his tears, meltdown so he wasn't really responsible for what he did. But it was that missing button on his uniform that was the straw that finally broke the camel's back or Clinton's mental balance and grip on reality. And it was that button that pressed his button that finally set him off on a one way ticket to LaLa land. In the end it was Clinton who finally realized that he needed help, psychiatric help, and needed it fast that had him drop all his inhibitions about what it takes in being a cop and husband that got him to see the light. And for him to get that help that he so desperately needed before he really lost it, his mind, and ended up losing everything that he loved so dearly, his job family & friends, by being institutionalized in a mental hospital for the rest of his life!