Radioactive (1956)

Director:

Herbert L. Strock

Writer:

Gene Roddenberry

Stars:

Richard Carlson, John Zaremba, Cynthia Leighton

Cast

Episode cast overview:
Richard Carlson	...	Herbert A. Philbrick
John Zaremba	...	Special Agent Jerry Dressler
Cynthia Leighton	...	Comrade Rita
Joseph Hamilton	...	Comrade Prentice (as Joe Hamilton)
Gil Frye	...	Leon (as Gilbert Frye)

Storyline

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Language:

English

Release Date:

1956 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

ZIV Television Programs

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

User Reviews

The Isotope

I LED 3 LIVES- "Radioactive" – 1956

This is episode 106 of the 3 year and 115 episode run of the Red Scare series, I LED THREE LIVES. This 1953 to 1956 series is based on the exploits of, Herbert A. Philbrick. Philbrick spent 9 years undercover for the FBI keeping tabs on the Communist party. Richard Carlson plays the title role.

FBI counter-spy, Richard Carlson is summoned to an emergency meeting of his communist cell. He is shown a picture of a female party member. The woman, Cynthia Leighton, is a party member who has dropped out of sight. She was on an important mission and needs to be found. His cell leader, Joe Hamilton will tell Carlson nothing more.

Carlson speeds off to keep a meeting with his FBI handler, John Zaremba. Zaremba knows all about Miss Leighton. It seems the woman has stolen a valuable radioactive isotope. The FBI also know where Leighton and her bodyguard, Gil Frye are hiding. Leighton has decided to become a free agent. She intends to sell the isotope to the Reds for 100 large. She intends a carefree life of drinks and sun tanning in Mexico. She has had enough of Moscow and the like.

The FBI, are watching the house and want Carlson to exchange the isotope for a useless one. That way Moscow will waste years studying a dead end. It seems that Leighton and her thug, Frye leave her hideout every day to use a pay phone several blocks away. That is when Carlson will change over the isotope.

Of course the pair return early and Carlson nearly goes for the long fall. He is lucky that his cell leader, Hamilton arrives with the payoff for Leighton. He tells Leighton that the party "will" get even with her at some time. He takes Carlson, the isotope and leaves. Carlson tells Hamilton that he had just located Leighton but had not had time to contact him. Hamilton is pleased with Carlson and will mention it to the higher ups.

This particular episode was written by, STAR TREK, creator, Gene Roddenberry. These are interesting little time capsules of the Red Scare era.