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

User Rating:

7.1/10   

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:

The original four stars who were to appear in this show were Charles Boyer, Joel McCrea, Dick Powell and Rosalind Russell. McCrea and Russell pulled out soon after the company was formed and were replaced by Ida Lupino and David Niven.

Movie Connections:

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

The Lonely Ida Lupino

Although Ida Lupino was not that interesting to look at, her themes of loneliness and singleness made a valuable contribution to later projects such as 'The Twilight Zone' and 'Thriller'. I can't say that I enjoyed this particular project, or any of her projects leading up to 1959. She was probably a better writer than actress.