"Four Star Playhouse" (1952) TV series 1952-1956

Director:

Tay Garnett

Writers:

Jerome Gruskin (writer)
Frank L. Moss (adaptation) (story "Listener, The")

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Release Date:

25 September 1952 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

This show featured four rotating stars, Charles Boyer, David Niven, Ida Lupino and Dick Powell in individual episodes consisting of everything from comedy to drama.

Plot Keywords:

Anthology | Number In Title

Awards:

Nominated for 14 Primetime Emmys. Another 2 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

David Niven	...	Various Characters / ... (33 episodes, 1952-1956)
Dick Powell	...	Willie Dante / ... (32 episodes, 1952-1956)
Charles Boyer	...	Paul / ... (29 episodes, 1952-1956)
Ida Lupino	...	Ann / ... (19 episodes, 1952-1956)
Herb Vigran	...	Monte - Bartender / ... (15 episodes, 1952-1956)

Also Known As:

Best in Mystery (USA) (syndication title)
Four Star Theatre (UK) (new title)
Singer Playhouse (USA) (syndication title)
Star Performance (USA) (rerun title)

Runtime:

USA:30 min (129 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Four Star Productions

Trivia:

During the third and fourth seasons (September 1954 to June 1955 and October 1955 to June 1956), this program was broadcast on the CBS-TV network on Thursday evenings between 9:30 and 10:00 PM.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Biography: Angela Lansbury: A Balancing Act" (1998)

High Quality Anthology, West Coast Style

This first television series produced by the company that became Four Star Productions was a surprisingly good, well written and directed show to have been produced on the west coast in the early fifties (the "quality" shows made in those days mostly emanated from New York, while the filmed shows made in Hollywood were mostly children and family fare such as Superman and The Lone Ranger, or else situation comedies). Four Star Theater was an attempt to make a first-class anthology series in Hollywood, and as such it succeeded. There were many outstanding episodes, and some highly gifted people worked on it from time to time, from writers of the caliber of Blake Edwards to such gifted directors as Robert Florey, Robert Aldrich and Tay Garnett. The shows ranged from mysteries to dramas to comedies; one never knew quite what to expect, which was part of the show's charm. I wish that some cable network would-rerun them,--they probably won't, since they're all filmed in black and white--or that they'll be reissued on tape or DVD. It's a show well worth looking for.