The Lieutenant (1963)
Gene Roddenberry's pre-Star Trek military drama following a young Marine officer through the tensions of Cold War peacetime service.
The Lieutenant - Series Information
- Original Title: The Lieutenant
- First Air Year: 1963
- Last Air Year: 1964
- Created by: Gene Roddenberry
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Drama
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode: 60 minutes
- Number of Seasons: 1
- Number of Episodes: 29
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- Networks: NBC
- Production Companies: MGM Television, Arena Productions
The Lieutenant - Plot
Situated at Camp Pendleton, the West Coast base of the U.S. Marine Corps, The Lieutenant focuses on the men of the Corps in peace time with a Cold War backdrop. The title character is Second Lieutenant William Tiberius Rice, a rifle platoon leader and one of the training instructors at Camp Pendleton. An hour-long drama, The Lieutenant explores the lives of enlisted Marines and general officers alike.
The Lieutenant - Trailer
See the action unfold in this preserved footage from the 1963 NBC series:
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The Lieutenant - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- Gene Roddenberry
Main Cast
- Gary Lockwood
- Robert Vaughn
- Harold Gould
- James Gregory
- John Milford
- Henry Beckman
- Sandra Grant
- Yale Summers
- Christopher Connelly
- Mario Roccuzzo
Writers
- Gene Roddenberry
- Ellis Marcus
- Lee Erwin
The Lieutenant - FAQs
Who created The Lieutenant TV series?
The Lieutenant was created by Gene Roddenberry, who would later go on to create Star Trek. Roddenberry drew on his own military background to craft this drama set among U.S. Marines at Camp Pendleton, and he also contributed as a writer on the series.
Is The Lieutenant connected to Star Trek?
Yes. The Lieutenant was Gene Roddenberry's first major television series before he created Star Trek. Several cast and crew members from The Lieutenant later appeared in Star Trek, and the show is widely regarded as a creative stepping stone that helped Roddenberry develop his storytelling approach.
Where can you watch The Lieutenant online?
Streaming availability for The Lieutenant is limited given its age. You can check current viewing options, including any digital rental or purchase platforms, via JustWatch, which aggregates regional availability across multiple streaming and on-demand services.
What is The Lieutenant TV series about?
The Lieutenant is a one-hour drama set at Camp Pendleton, the U.S. Marine Corps base on the West Coast. It centers on Second Lieutenant William Tiberius Rice, a rifle platoon leader and training instructor, exploring the lives of enlisted Marines and officers during the Cold War era.
Who are the main actors in The Lieutenant?
The series stars Gary Lockwood as Lt. William Rice and Robert Vaughn as Captain Ray Rambridge. The supporting cast includes Harold Gould, James Gregory, John Milford, Yale Summers, Christopher Connelly, Sandra Grant, Henry Beckman, and Mario Roccuzzo.
How many episodes does The Lieutenant have?
The Lieutenant ran for one season comprising 29 episodes. It aired on NBC during the 1963–1964 television season before being cancelled after its debut year, leaving it as a single-season series in the network drama landscape of the early 1960s.
When did The Lieutenant first air on NBC?
The Lieutenant premiered on NBC in September 1963 and concluded its run in 1964. The series aired during the network's Saturday evening lineup and ran for a single season of 29 episodes before NBC chose not to renew it for a second year.
Was The Lieutenant based on a true story?
The Lieutenant was not based on a specific true story, but creator Gene Roddenberry drew heavily from real military life. Roddenberry served as a bomber pilot in World War II and a commercial airline pilot afterward, lending authentic detail to the portrayal of military culture and Marine Corps life at Camp Pendleton.
More About The Lieutenant
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