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The Streets of San Francisco

What’s the Story?

Reviewed by Will Wade

Mike Stone (Karl Malden) is a veteran police detective, with well-trained instincts after years on the job. His much younger partner, Steve Keller (Michael Douglas), complements Stone’s experience with keen insights into the youth culture as they prowl THE STREETS OF SAN FRANCISCO investigating crimes. The mysteries are intriguing, though not necessarily groundbreaking, and probably not the most important part of the show. No, the real reason for the show’s appeal -- both in the 1970s when it originally aired and now -- was the way it made the city of San Francisco an important third character.

Is It Any Good?

4

The show is clearly a product of its time -- just look at the cops’ polyester suits and the far-out love beads on that hippie eyewitness. The structure, too, can be a bit formulaic, with its standard-issue conflict between Stone’s street smarts and Keller’s book smarts. And, of course, the crimes are always wrapped up in the final act, often following chase scenes or fight scenes that seem tame by today’s standards.

But the series also offers an intriguing, entertaining view of an important era. The counterculture movement was winding down, the sexual revolution was in full swing, and the disco era was heating up. San Francisco was at the center of all of this, and The Streets of San Francisco captured it all. Stone was the establishment -- paternal, gruff but lovable, and a bit befuddled by the young folks. Ladies’ man Keller, with his constant stream of girlfriends, embodied the freewheeling '70s. And the various characters they encountered while seeking out clues ran the gamut from spaced-out druggies to glam disco queens to conservative businessmen. The show wasn’t ahead of its time -- it was its time, and that’s why it’s worth revisiting.

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