When “Perry Mason” was cancelled in 1966, CBS tried to find another good lawyer show. This is a scene from a pilot called “Higher and Higher, Attorneys at Law” which my father made (as Production Manager). The cast was EXTRAORDINARY with PRE-”Graduate” Dustin Hoffman, PRE “MASH” Alan Alda and Sally Kellerman, “The Fugitive’s” Barry Morse, and Robert Forster. The pilot alone cost CBS more than a half-million dollars. It was so bad, CBS scrapped it almost without a second look…..and it has NEVER been seen (I don’t even remember if they aired it ONCE! Enjoy this piece of CLASSIC 60′s TV.
#1 by naizret on 11/30/2011 - 9:14 AM
Somebody aired it — once — circa 1968 because I remember seeing it at the time (the proof being that the attorney Higher was supposed to be a NYC aristo, his middle name being Stuyvesent). Don’t know why I remember that detail. But I assumed at the time it was aired to capitalize on Dustin Hoffman’s sudden fame after ‘The Graduate.’
#2 by RandyAKing on 11/30/2011 - 9:36 AM
I love Dustin Hoffman . . . but he seems out of place here. Just my opinion.
#3 by rockstarrist on 11/30/2011 - 10:22 AM
I am Dustin Hoffman’s biggest fan on earth ! I have seen every single thing he was in ….. and I never ever knew this existed. I am only 21 , maybe that’s why !
#4 by ralphus44 on 11/30/2011 - 10:44 AM
What a great find! Thank you for sharing it with us. Didn’t seem like a bad show at all.
#5 by Setebos on 11/30/2011 - 10:58 AM
Back when CBS used to show movies there would occasionally be moments when a movie wouldn’t fit a two-hour time slot (even with commercials, believe it or not). Depending on how large the remaining time slot was, CBS would plug all sorts of things in. On several occasions they put in unsold pilot episodes, and I remember this one being run twice (another one was, as I recall, a proposed series starring Peter Graves and titled CALL TO DANGER).
#6 by predlycon on 11/30/2011 - 11:40 AM
spotted hoffman and alda, but where’s sally?
#7 by Knoxvicious on 11/30/2011 - 12:38 PM
This is great!!! Thanks so much for posting!!! Your father knew Dustin then? Is it alright if I put this on my website? But anyways, thanks so much for putting this up!!! Dustin looks soo cute!!!
#8 by dekkoparsnip on 11/30/2011 - 1:21 PM
Very neat. I’d love to see the whole show.