MovieChat Forums > Highway Patrol Discussion > Writers guidelines for Highway Patrol

Writers guidelines for Highway Patrol

posted 14 years ago by ScotchRox
8 replies | jump to latest

http://www.highwaypatroltv.com/ZIV1955b/

"You can't go wrong drowning politicians Henry." The Black Swan (1942)

[–] mousalope 14 years ago

Excellent find.

I particularly enjoy the section on Dan Matthews walking:

"He walks very well and we prefer not to have him run unless absolutely necessary."

That's a much nicer way to put it then "Don't write a scenes that makes Crawford run, because we don't want him to have a coronary".

Several nights ago the most recent episode I've seen involved Matthews in pursuit of two escapee women convicts. The show ends with ladies running hard and Matthews ambling along in pursuit, and catches them. The thought actually occurred to me at the time how good a walker would have to be to accomplish this.

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] ZoneFighter 11 years ago

Wow, no food or drink could be named. No product placement in those days.

The ones I didn't get were no kidnapping unless victim was adult and no juvenile delinquents. What was the reason for those restrictions?

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] lynnsrealm-1 11 years ago

Thanks for posting this ScotchRox. It was a really fun read

I wish these guys would stop jumping

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] darkavenger77 10 years ago

He should never be brought into anything that would be out of his jurisdiction, such as -- investigating a pick pocket, etc.

Funny stuff there.  Highway Patrol officers do not investigate safes blown up by explosives (robberies) or most of the crimes I've seen depicted so far.

Dan Mathews, played by Broderick Crawford, is the head of the Highway Patrol...

Agency heads do not perform field work. They remain at HQ and shuffle papers and meet with people.

Kidnapping. We cannot do kidnapping stories unless the person kidnapped is obviously an adult.

I'm watching Deaf Mute now from Season 3. A 10 year old girl was kidnapped. Oops...

We want violence and impact but we try to stay away from unnecessary violence and wanton killing unless this is a story point.

Ah, the good old days before hyopocrites like Stallone and Neeson. 

We try at all times for complete authenticity. You should be cautioned that the technical advisor’s word is law, don't count on a dramatic license, which he may not understand.

As for authenticity, see the first two quotes above. If only modern cop shows behaved that way regarding technical advisors. I get the feeling it's like:
Technical advisor? What is that? Can't we make a gun-cocking sound every time we see a gun on screen?

They are polite at all times and do not push people around unless the situation calls for it.

Several of today's younger cops could learn from this.

Joe "We're authorized" Fontana: I can do this all day, Mitch. How about you?

[–] ScotchRox 8 years ago

BUMP

You can't go wrong drowning politicians Henry. The Black Swan (1942)