"The Jack Benny Program" Humphrey Bogart Show (1953)

User Rating:

8.5/10   

Director:

Ralph Levy

Writers:

Hugh Wedlock Jr. (writer) and
Howard Snyder (writer)

TV Series:

"The Jack Benny Program" (1950)

Original Air Date:

25 October 1953 (Season 4, Episode 3)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Police Lt. Jack Benny questions notorious killer "Babyface" Bogart (guest star Humphrey Bogart). |

Plot Keywords:

Breaking The Fourth Wall | Based On Radio Show | Character Name In Title

Cast

Jack Benny	...	Jack Benny / Det. Lt. Benny
Humphrey Bogart	...	Babyface Bogart
Bob Crosby	...	Himself / Det. Sgt. Crosby
Don Wilson	...	Don Wilson / Detective Wilson
Sara Berner	...	Slim Finger Sara
Benny Rubin	...	Detective O'Brien
Lou Little	...	Lucky Strike Commercial
Dorothy Collins	...	Lucky Strike Commercial

Runtime:

USA:30 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS)

Trivia:

Humphrey Bogart joined Jack Benny in a funny and lengthy Lucky Strike cigarette commercial midway through this episode. It must have been quite a coup for the sponsor to have a huge Hollywood screen star like Bogart participate in a TV commercial.

Movie Connections:

References Beat the Devil (1953)

Wonderful early television

Jack Benny was, first and foremost, a showman; and consistently displayed top guest stars on his television show. But, it must have been quite a scoop to bring in Humphrey Bogart. The year was 1953, his great gangster films were behind him, major roles in Casablanca and The Maltese Falcon were out there, and he had recently won the Academy Award. Starred in a very cute skit, Bogie showed a little discomfort with comedy, but all it all it is a delightful time. Benny always knew the value of a good script, too; and generally deplored ad lib. The gags are generous and the situation is very funny. Old television at its best, and part of American cultural history.