I've always been a fan of crime dramas from the 50's, 60's, and 70's, particularly those that live up to the term "tense". "Treasury Men In Action" is one of these shows that lives up to that term, as well as its title.
The premise is basically interchangeable with other early series of its type ("Dragnet", "Racket Squad", etc.) In this case, the stories are from the files of the United States Treasury Department, complete with an officious-looking authority man (Walter Greaza as the no-name "Chief"). The stories themselves are not low-rent predictable pulp variety... okay, they are, but the producers were careful not to show it. Each episode was taut, gripping, and suspenseful. And the casting ain't bad, either... particularly some fast-rising newcomers like Charles Bronson, Carolyn Jones, Claude Akins, Strother Martin, and so on.
"Treasury Men In Action" ran for five good years, unfortunately, only its final season, 1954-55, is preserved on film. The first four years were live, and as no kinescope from these seasons exist to my knowledge, a pretty decent series is lost to the ages. At least we have a few of the 39 episodes on DVD under its syndicated title, "Federal Men". Granted, it's not as gripping a moniker as "Treasury Men In Action", but you gotta take what you can get. Check it out.
"Treasury Men In Action" is a Prockter Television Enterprises Production in association with Pyramid Productions and MCA TV, filmed by Conne-Stephens, Inc. 39 episodes were filmed for its final 1954 season.
