Four Star Playhouse 

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.

Stars:

David Niven, Dick Powell, Charles Boyer

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

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
David Niven	...	Adams / ... 33 episodes, 1952-1956
Dick Powell	...	Willie Dante / ... 31 episodes, 1952-1956
Charles Boyer	...	Paul / ... 30 episodes, 1952-1956
Ida Lupino	...	Ellen / ... 19 episodes, 1953-1956
Herb Vigran	...	Monte / ... 14 episodes, 1952-1956

Storyline

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.

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Plot Keywords:

early television | anthology | number in title | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 September 1952 (USA)

Also Known As:

Star Performance

Filming Locations:

Republic Studios - 4024 Radford Avenue, North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Four Star Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min (129 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System) Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

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.

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Crazy Credits

In episode 1.2, "Dante's Inferno," the character played by Regis Toomey is listed as "Lt. Wald," even though he is referred to in dialog several times as "Lt. Waldo." The role of Herb Vigran is identified there as "Monty Leeds," but in all subsequent episodes set in the titular nightclub the name is given as "Monte [no surname]."

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Alternate Versions

The syndicated rerun version of the episode "The House Always Wins" (4/28/1955), also used for at least one video release, is missing Jack Benny's cameo appearance.

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Connections

Referenced in Death in Hollywood (1990)

User Reviews

Four Star Playhouse

I remember several episodes of Four Star Playhouse from 1953-54. Ida Lupino was in one of them called "The green Dress" or something like that. It scared the blazes out of me. In it, Ida Lupino starred as a housewife murdered by her husband. She was pushed down a flight of stairs and broke her neck. Later, she returned to haunt him as an apparition at the top of the stairs, wearing the same green dress that she died in. I was five or six years old at the time of viewing this. Guess you could say it stuck in my mind! The other episode was the story of a woman who was being exploited by relatives for money. They were attempting to drive her mad or cause her suicide. The story unfolds as this young woman is looking for a new place to live. Her calculating uncle and aunt show her a renovated apartment that they know of. She is shown in, and while she is distracted, the sinister couple slips out and locks the door. Eventually this young woman becomes quite desperate as all the doors and windows are locked,the phone is disconnected, and nobody can hear her banging on the door. One scene shows her opening a closet door only to be greeted by the site of a hanging rope noose. She gets revenge by tricking her adversaries inside and locking the door on them.

I was too young at the time to be a movie critic. In retrospect however, I think these were classics that shouldn't be missed by those who love unique,unsettling dramas.