The Golden Age of TV Drama Review

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(More customer reviews)Passport Video presents "The Golden Age of TV Drama", --- (Dolby digitally remastered)....relive those early years of television with 16 rare and remarkable dramas from 1951-1960...from the archives of Armstrong Circle Theatre, Cavalcade of America, Family Theater, Playhouse 90, The U.S. Steel Hour, Telephone Time, Four Star Playhouse, The Schaefer Century Theatre, Telephone Time and The DuPont Show of the Month ...some of the best writers and directors as Rod Serling, John Frankenheimer, Barnaby Conrad, John T. Coyle, Daniel Petrie, James Sheldon and David Susskind...just remember the mystery and suspense...hitting the bull's eye with excitement...so pop some popcorn, sit back and enjoy the movie.
The lineup is fantastic and gives the viewer a variety of what live television was all about in the "The Golden Age of TV Drama"
Tige Andrews, Michael Ansara, Ralph Bellamy, James Best, Charles Boyer, Henry Brandon, George Brenlin, Walter Brennan, Jeanne Cagney, Ray Danton, Jane Darwell, James Dean, King Donovan, Joseph Downing, Leif Erickson, Michael Gough, Hugh Griffith, Don Haggerty, John Hoyt, Kim Hunter, Ruth Hussey, Boris Karloff, Michael Landon, Joan Leslie, Gene Lockhart, George Maccready, Kevin McCarthy, Roddy McDowall, Robert Middleton, Mary Murphy, Alan Napier, Paul Newman, David Niven, Edmond O'Brien, Jack Palance, Suzy Parker, George Peppard, Patrick Peyton, Suzane Pleshette, Nicholas Pryor, Edward G. Robinson, Mickey Rooney, Albert Salmi, John Stephenson, Mel Torme, Robert Wilson, Natalie Wood, Joanne Woodward and Loretta Young,
The live dramas in alphabetical order and actors listed:
BANG THE DRUM SLOWLY (1956) - Paul Newman
BELLS OF COCKAIGNE (1953) - James Deanv & Gene Lockhart
THE COMEDIAN (1957) - Mickey Rooney & Mel Torme
DEATH OF MANOLETE (1957) - Jack Palance & Suzy Parker
FIGHT FOR THE TITLE (1957) - Michael Landon
FOR THE DEFENSE (1954) - Edward G. Robinson & John Hoyt
FULL CIRCLE (1955) - David Niven & Joanne Woodward
HILL NUMBER ONE (1951) - James Dean & Roddy McDowall
I BEHELD HIS GLORY (1953) - George Macready
LETTER TO LORETTA (1953) - Loretta Young
MAN AGAINST CRIME (1952) - Ralph Bellamy
PLAYMATES (1952) - Natalie Wood
SUMMER OF DECISION (1959) - Suzanne Pleshette
TREASURE ISLAND (1960) - Boris Karloff & Hugh Griffith
WILD BUNCH (1955) - Charles Boyer & Natalie Wood
WOMAN'S WORK (1956) - Walter Brennan & James Best
This collection of live television dramas still has the magic that we remember from those bygone years --- but as long as we have the labels and networks who play and show these wonderful films of yesteryear, they will never be forgotten ...hats off and a great job by Passport Video for releasing "The Golden Age of TV Drama", digital transfere with a clean, clear and crisp print...looking forward to more of the same from the '50s and '60s vintage...order your copy now from Amazon or Passport Video, stay tuned once again for more remarkable dramas from the vaults of classic television and classic Hollywood...just the relive the good old days from legendary writers and directors with an outstanding cast of actors...celebrating decades of live television with actors and directors who gave their all in the early pioneer days of TV drama, gotta love it!
Total Time: 714 mins on DVD ~ Passport Video 5210 ~ (7/11/2006)

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Golden Age Theater Volume 3 Review

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(More customer reviews)Collectors have long since learned to be wary of the DVD compilations offered by discount houses - there are plenty of unwatchably murky video transfers out there which aren't worth buying, even at bargain basement prices. And Alpha Video (Alpha Home Entertainment) hardly has a stellar record in this respect. But when they get it right, they deserve to be recognized for it! Volume 3 of their Golden Age Theater series has four episodes from a selection of fifties anthology shows (SINGER FOUR STAR PLAYHOUSE, TV READER'S DIGEST, and TELEPHONE TIME). And all of them are decently clear and reasonably crisp transfers from good quality source material. Hey, I'm as surprised as you are! Episodes featured:
The Adolescent - Campus counselor Ida Lupino has to investigate a student's troubled private life. With Hugh Beaumont.
The Brainwashing of John Hayes - A Protestant missionary in Communist China is subjected to a show trial. Pretty dreary cold-war-fare, but a good character study by lead Vincent Price.
A Place of His Own - Shellshocked vet Charles Boyer has to submit to the guardianship of imperious sister-in-law Jeanette Nolan. With its offbeat premise and a few suspenseful touches, this entry stands out a bit from the other (pretty routine) episodes. And it ends with a wry Hitchcock-ian twist: no surprise, since writers John and Gwen Bagni also did scripts for Hitchcock's own show.
The Golden Junkman - He built a fortune from nothing; now hardworking immigrant Lon Chaney, Jr. has to teach his privileged sons about humility and character.


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TV Golden Age Theater, Vol. 2 (1953) Review

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(More customer reviews)All four half-hour dramas in Volume #2 of GOLDEN AGE THEATER are from season #4 of "General Electric Theater." This show aired for 10 seasons (from 2/1/53 to 9/1/62) on the CBS network and was hosted by Ronald Reagan.
SYNOPSES--
THE EASTER GIFT-- A minister has his faith tested when Easter coincides with the anniversary of his son's death.
ESTABAN'S LEGACY-- A idler in a small Mexican village finds a gold coin and fears others will think he stole it, since he doesn't have a job.
THE HAT WITH ROSES-- A teacher spends her holiday with the one student that won't get along with her in class.
IN SUMMER PROMISE-- A May/December romance blossoms when a widowed Italian countess visits the Ohio town of her birth. TV GOLDEN AGE THEATER, Vol. 3 offers samples of three different half-hour drama series. Stars include Vincent Price, Charles Boyer, Ida Lupino and Lon Chaney Jr.Details below include episode numbers, original airdates and featured actors.
(#92) The Easter Gift (4/1/56) - Macdonald Carey/Robin Lawson/Michael Allen/Edward Brian
(#80) Estaban's Legacy (1/8/56) - Ricardo Montalban/David Colmans/Sid Cassel
(#98) The Hat With Roses (5/20/56) - Gisele MacKenzie/Margaret Barker/Joseph Sullivan
(#83) In Summer Promise (1/29/56) - Joan Fontaine/Scott Marlowe/Betsy Palmer

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Golden Age Theater, Volume 4 (2006) Review

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(More customer reviews)FOUR STAR PLAYHOUSE (The Wild Bunch) ran from Sept. '52 to July '56 on the CBS network and originally aired bi-weekly. The program had a regular rotation of four stars (thus the name). They were: Dick Powell, David Niven, Charles Boyer and Ida Lupino. In its second season the Playhouse went to a weekly schedule.
THE STAR AND THE STORY (Dark Stranger/Payment in Kind) was a syndicated anthology series hosted by Henry Fonda. It ran for two seasons, starting in Jan '55.
TV READER'S DIGEST (America's First Great Lady) presented stories based on true events. The program aired on ABC from Jan '55 to July '56. The host was Hugh Reilly.
SYNOPSES:
"America's First Great Lady" - The Pocohantas/John Smith legend, told in 24 minutes.
"Dark Stranger" - The main character from a novelist's latest book comes to life. When he falls in love with her the man tries rewriting the story's ending to eliminate her death in it.
"Payment in Kind" - A detective finds himself in a dilemma when the doctor that saved his wife's life confesses to a murder.
"The Wild Bunch" - Newlywed man gets stuck with his bride's three uncontrollable teenagers.
If you liked this collection, you'll also enjoy THE GOLDEN AGE OF TV DRAMA.
.
The following program list includes episode numbers, season and original airdates, plus main actors for all shows.
(#10) America's First Great Lady (S.1, 3/21/55) - Gloria Talbott/John Stephenson/Richard Ney
(.#1) Dark Stranger (S.1, 1/8/55) - Edmond O'Brien/Joanne Woodward
(#41) Payment in Kind (S.2, 1/28/56) - Howard Duff/Beverly Garland/Hal March
(#71) The Wild Bunch (S.3, 2/17/55) - Charles Boyer/Natalie Wood/Barbara Stuart/Tommy Cook

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Golden Age Theater, Volume 5 (2006) Review

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(More customer reviews)CAVALCADE OF AMERICA (Don Marshall's Brat/The Boy Nobody Wanted) aired on radio for 18 years. DuPont brought their popular show to TV in October of 1952 for a five season run on the NBC network. Widely considered one of the best anthology series of its day, Cavalcade featured true stories of Americans both famous and obscure.
FOUR STAR PLAYHOUSE (The Bomb/A String of Beads) ran from September '52 to July '56, 9 PM Sundays on the CBS network and originally aired bi-weekly. The program had a regular rotation of four stars (thus the name). They were: Dick Powell, David Niven, Charles Boyer and Ida Lupino. In its second season the Playhouse went to a weekly schedule.
SYNOPSES:
"The Bomb" - "All's fair in love and war" is the sentiment that lands a man, his former lover and her new fiance in an "explosive" life and death situation. Directed by Blake Edwards (of Pink Panther fame).
"The Boy Nobody Wanted" - When a fight with a friend ends in a tragic accident, a youth's gambler dad is sent to prison after the dead boy's father smears the man in his newspaper. Essentially orphaned, the boy ends up at an agency that adopts him out to a loving couple. His life turns around completely, and he must make a tough decision when his father is eventually released from prison.
"Don Marshall's Brat" - A young girl wishes to end a feud between her parents and maternal grandfather. When she saves the life of an elderly Mexican bandit, he decides to help her.
"A String of Beads" - A governess attends a party her employer throws but is generally ignored until a Count declares that the costume beads she's wearing are expensive pearls. Story by Somerset Maugham; directed by William Cameron Menzies ("Gone With the Wind").
If you liked this collection, you'll also enjoy THE GOLDEN AGE OF TV DRAMA.
.
The following program list includes episode numbers, season and original airdates, plus main actors for all shows.
(_#41) The Bomb (S.2, 2/18/54) - David Niven/John Dehner/Anthony Marsh
(#103) The Boy Nobody Wanted (S.4, 5/29/56) - Johnny Crawford/Virginia Gregg/James Nolan
(#127) Don Marshall's Brat (S.5, 3/19/57) - Russell Johnson/Patty McCormack/Paul Fix
(_#37) A String of Beads (S.2, 1/21/54) - Angela Lansbury/George Macready/Nigel Bruce/Ronald Colman (host)

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Golden Age Theater - Volumes 1-6 (6-DVD) (2007) Review

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(More customer reviews)TV GOLDEN AGE THEATER, Vols. 1-6 offers 24 examples of five different half-hour TV drama series from the 1950s.
THE PROGRAMS--
CAVALCADE OF AMERICA-- DuPont brought their long-running radio show to TV in October of 1952 for five seasons on the NBC network. Widely considered one of the best anthology series of its day, "Cavalcade" featured true stories of Americans both famous and obscure.
FOUR STAR PLAYHOUSE-- Ran from Sept. '52 to July '56 on the CBS network. The program had a regular rotation of four stars (thus the name). They were: Dick Powell, David Niven, Charles Boyer and Ida Lupino.
GENERAL ELECTRIC THEATER-- This show aired for 10 seasons (from 2/1/53 to 9/1/62) on the CBS network and was hosted by Ronald Reagan, who also appeared occasionally as part of an episode's cast.
THE STAR AND THE STORY-- A syndicated anthology series hosted by Henry Fonda. It ran for two seasons, starting in Jan '55.
TV READER'S DIGEST-- Series presented stories based on true events. The program aired on ABC from Jan '55 to July '56. The host was Hugh Reilly.PASSPORT's GOLDEN AGE OF TV DRAMA would be a good supplement to this DVD box. It contains 15 programs not in this collection.For synopses of all episodes, see my reviews of each individual volume.
Details below include episode and season numbers, original airdates and featured actors.
VOLUME #1 ("General Electric Theater," season #4)--
(#75) Feathertop (12/4/55) - Natalie Wood/John Carlyle/Carleton Carpenter
(#99) The Golden Key - Joe E. Brown/Kenny Delmar/Van Dyke Parks
(#86) The Honest Man (2/19/56) - Jack Benny/Charles Bronson/Zsa Zsa Gabor/Jack LaRue
(#77) Let it Rain (12/18/55) - Ronald Reagan/Cloris Leachman
VOLUME TWO ("General Electric Theater," season #4)--
(#92) The Easter Gift (4/1/56) - Macdonald Carey/Robin Lawson/Michael Allen/Edward Brian
(#80) Estaban's Legacy (1/8/56) - Ricardo Montalban/David Colmans/Sid Cassel
(#98) The Hat With Roses (5/20/56) - Gisele MacKenzie/Margaret Barker/Joseph Sullivan
(#83) In Summer Promise (1/29/56) - Joan Fontaine/Scott Marlowe/Betsy Palmer
VOLUME THREE--
(#55) The Adolescent ("Four Star Playhouse") (S.3, 10/28/54) - Ida Lupino/Hugh Beaumont/John Doucette
(_#1) The Golden Junkman ("Telephone Time") (S.1, 4/8/56) - Lon Chaney Jr./Leslie Dennison/Corey Allen
(#30) The Brainwashing of John Hayes ("TV Reader's Digest") (S.2, 11/7/55) - Vincent Price/Steven Geray
(#22) A Place of His Own ("Four Star Playhouse") (S.2, 10/8/53) - Charles Boyer/Ralph Moody/Jeanette Nolan/Ellen Corby
VOLUME FOUR--
(#10) America's First Great Lady ("TV Reader's Digest") (S.1, 3/21/55) - Gloria Talbott/John Stephenson/Richard Ney
(.#1) Dark Stranger ("The Star and the Story") (S.1, 1/8/55) - Edmond O'Brien/Joanne Woodward
(#41) Payment in Kind ("The Star and the Story") (S.2, 1/28/56) - Howard Duff/Beverly Garland/Hal March
(#71) The Wild Bunch ("Four Star Playhouse") (S.3, 2/17/55) - Charles Boyer/Natalie Wood/Barbara Stuart/Tommy Cook
VOLUME FIVE ("Four Star Playhouse")--
(_#34) House For Sale (S.2, 12/31/53) - Ida Lupino/George Macready/Howard Negley
(__#9) Man on the Train (S.1, 1/15/53) - David Niven/Alan Napier/Gordon Richards
(_#11) Sound Off, My Love (S.1, 2/12/53) - Merle Oberon/Barbara Billingsley/James Seay
(#112) The Story of Emily Cameron (S.4, 3/29/56) - Ida Lupino/Scott Forbes/Arthur Space
VOLUME SIX--
(_#41) The Bomb ("Four Star Playhouse) (S.2, 2/18/54) - David Niven/John Dehner/Anthony Marsh
(#103) The Boy Nobody Wanted (Cavalcade of America") (S.4, 5/29/56) - Johnny Crawford/Virginia Gregg/James Nolan
(#127) Don Marshall's Brat ("Cavalcade of America") (S.5, 3/19/57) - Russell Johnson/Patty McCormack/Paul Fix
(_#37) A String of Beads ("Four Star Playhouse") (S.2, 1/21/54) - Angela Lansbury/George Macready/Nigel Bruce/Ronald Colman (host)

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TV Golden Age Theater, Vol. 1 (1953) Review

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(More customer reviews)All four half-hour dramas in Volume #1 of TV GOLDEN AGE THEATER are from season #4 of "General Electric Theater." This show aired for 10 seasons (from 2/1/53 to 9/1/62) on the CBS network and was hosted by Ronald Reagan, who also appeared occasionally as part of an episode's cast.
SYNOPSES--
FEATHERTOP-- Adapted from a Nathaniel Hawthorne tale set in 1600's New England of a scarecrow that magically comes to life.
THE GOLDEN KEY-- An elderly, retired railroader develops a friendship with a young boy. This one has an interesting supporting cast. Kenny Delmar portrayed Senator Claghorn on radio in the "Allen's Alley" segment of "The Fred Allen Show." Mel Blanc adapted Delmar's Southern accent and voice for the Foghorn Leghorn rooster cartoons produced by WARNER's. Van Dyke Parks (a small boy here) is best known for his musical collaborations in the late 1960s with Beach Boy Brian Wilson. Their "Heroes and Villains" was a Top 40 hit in 1968.
THE HONEST MAN-- A piano tuner gets caught up with fast women, gangsters and stolen jewels.
LET IT RAIN-- A ghost story set in a small Southern town that well recalls its Civil War past.TV GOLDEN AGE THEATER, Vol. 2 features four more season #4 "General Electric Theater" episodes that star Ricardo Montalban, Joan Fontaine, Macdonald Carey and Gisele McKenzie. Details below include episode numbers, original airdates and featured actors.
(#75) Feathertop (12/4/55) - Natalie Wood/John Carlyle/Carleton Carpenter
(#99) The Golden Key - Joe E. Brown/Kenny Delmar/Van Dyke Parks
(#86) The Honest Man (2/19/56) - Jack Benny/Charles Bronson/Zsa Zsa Gabor/Jack LaRue
(#77) Let it Rain (12/18/55) - Ronald Reagan/Cloris Leachman

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Golden Age Theater - Volume 6 (2007) Review

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(More customer reviews)This edition of GOLDEN AGE THEATER features four episodes from FOUR STAR PLAYHOUSE. This half-hour anthology series ran from September '52 to July '56, 9 PM Sundays on the CBS network and originally aired bi-weekly. The program had a regular rotation of four stars (thus the name). They were: Dick Powell, David Niven, Charles Boyer and Ida Lupino. In its second season the Playhouse went to a weekly schedule.
SYNOPSES:
"House For Sale" - While house shopping in the country, a woman encounters a killer.
"Man on the Train" - A train passenger overhears a conversation about a fortune in a briefcase which leads to murder. Directed by Robert Florey of Marx Brothers/"The Cocoanuts" fame.
"Sound Off, My Love" - A beautiful but vain woman finally gets a hearing aid and overhears her husband plotting her murder. Another one directed by Florey.
"The Story Of Emily Cameron" - A man is guilt-ridden over the car wreck that disabled his wife.
If you liked this collection, you'll also enjoy THE GOLDEN AGE OF TV DRAMA.
.
The following program list includes episode numbers, season and original airdates, plus main actors for all shows.
(_#34) House For Sale (S.2, 12/31/53) - Ida Lupino/George Macready/Howard Negley
(__#9) Man on the Train (S.1, 1/15/53) - David Niven/Alan Napier/Gordon Richards
(_#11) Sound Off, My Love (S.1, 2/12/53) - Merle Oberon/Barbara Billingsley/James Seay
(#112) The Story of Emily Cameron (S.4, 3/29/56) - Ida Lupino/Scott Forbes/Arthur Space

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