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Four Star Playhouse

  • TV Series
  • 1952–19561952–1956
  • 30m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
196
YOUR RATING
Episode guide
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Four Star Playhouse (1952)
  • Comedy
  • Crime
  • Drama
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.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.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.
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
196
YOUR RATING
  • Stars
    • David Niven
    • Dick Powell
    • Charles Boyer
Top credits
  • Stars
    • David Niven
    • Dick Powell
    • Charles Boyer
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 6User reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 14 Primetime Emmys
      • 2 wins & 16 nominations total

    Episodes130

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated

    Photos1177

    Four Star Playhouse (1952)
    Four Star Playhouse (1952)
    Four Star Playhouse (1952)
    Four Star Playhouse (1952)
    Four Star Playhouse (1952)
    Four Star Playhouse (1952)
    Four Star Playhouse (1952)
    Four Star Playhouse (1952)
    David Niven and Barbara Lawrence in Four Star Playhouse (1952)
    Robert Nichols in Four Star Playhouse (1952)
    Four Star Playhouse (1952)
    Four Star Playhouse (1952)

    Top cast

    Edit
    David Niven
    David Niven
    • Adamsas Adams…
    33 episodes33 eps • 1952–1956
    Dick Powell
    Dick Powell
    • Willie Danteas Willie Dante…
    32 episodes32 eps • 1952–1956
    Charles Boyer
    Charles Boyer
    • Paulas Paul…
    30 episodes30 eps • 1952–1956
    Ida Lupino
    Ida Lupino
    • Ellenas Ellen…
    19 episodes19 eps • 1953–1956
    Herb Vigran
    Herb Vigran
    • Monteas Monte…
    14 episodes14 eps • 1952–1956
    Ray Walker
    Ray Walker
    • Conversing official at funeralas Conversing official at funeral…
    9 episodes9 eps • 1952–1956
    Regis Toomey
    Regis Toomey
    • Lt. Manny Waldoas Lt. Manny Waldo…
    8 episodes8 eps • 1952–1956
    Ralph Moody
    Ralph Moody
    • Conductoras Conductor…
    7 episodes7 eps • 1953–1956
    Richard Hale
    Richard Hale
    • Judgeas Judge…
    7 episodes7 eps • 1953–1956
    Robert Bice
    Robert Bice
    • Al Newsomeas Al Newsome…
    7 episodes7 eps • 1954–1956
    Rhys Williams
    Rhys Williams
    • Bumas Bum…
    6 episodes6 eps • 1952–1955
    William Forrest
    William Forrest
    • Charlieas Charlie…
    6 episodes6 eps • 1953–1955
    Christopher Dark
    • Craigas Craig…
    6 episodes6 eps • 1955–1956
    Alan Mowbray
    Alan Mowbray
    • Jacksonas Jackson…
    5 episodes5 eps • 1955–1956
    Nestor Paiva
    Nestor Paiva
    • Judge Le Beauas Judge Le Beau…
    5 episodes5 eps • 1953–1955
    Walter Sande
    Walter Sande
    • First Mateas First Mate…
    5 episodes5 eps • 1952–1956
    John Doucette
    John Doucette
    • Bartenderas Bartender…
    5 episodes5 eps • 1954–1955
    John Harmon
    John Harmon
    • Coonsas Coons…
    5 episodes5 eps • 1953–1954
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    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.
    • anthology series
    • early television
    • anthology
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Crime
      • Drama
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • 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.
    • 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]."
    • 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.
    • Connections
      Featured in Biography: Angela Lansbury: A Balancing Act (1998)

    User reviews6

    Review
    Top review
    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.
    helpful•11
    0
    • epaul27
    • Oct 5, 2005

    FAQ1

    • Watch this show on YouTube

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 25, 1952 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Charles Boyer Stars
    • Filming locations
      • Republic Studios - 4024 Radford Avenue, North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Four Star Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      30 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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