Playhouse 90
Of the many anthology series, this is considered the most ambitious with outstanding talent in front of the camera. Attracting top ranked directors and scripts, it was often filmed live including the entire first season.
- 1956-1961
- 4 seasons
- CBS
- Comedy, Suspense, Drama, Action & Adventure
Of the many anthology series, this is considered the most ambitious with outstanding talent in front of the camera. Attracting top ranked directors and scripts, it was often filmed live including the entire first season.
Season 2 Episode Guide
40 Episodes 1957 - 1958
Episode 1
The Death of Manolete
Thu, Sep 12, 1957 90 mins
The story of the last hours in the life of Spain's most celebrated matador.
Episode 2
The Dark Side of the Earth
Thu, Sep 19, 1957 90 mins
A drama set in 1956, during the unsuccessful Hungarian uprising against the Russians.
Episode 3
Topaze
Thu, Sep 26, 1957 90 mins
A mild-mannered schoolteacher gradually abandons all his principles - and finds the success which has always hitherto eluded him.
Episode 4
A Sound of Different Drummers
Thu, Oct 3, 1957 90 mins
A young security police officer in a future totalitarian state is assigned to suppress illegal intellectual activity, including executing book readers. He catches a librarian hiding a banned book and joins her in reading books.
Episode 5
The Playroom
Thu, Oct 10, 1957 90 mins
Three siblings return home when their mother wins a "Mother of the Year" award from a magazine.
Episode 6
Around the World in 90 Minutes
Thu, Oct 17, 1957 90 mins
October 17, 1957, the CBS Television Network diverted from its typical format of live dramatic presentations for "Playhouse 90" to cover Michael Todd's gigantic party commemorating the one-year anniversary of the release of his film "Around The World In 80 Days". Todd invited 18-thousand people to the gala in New York City's Madison Square Garden though the number probably was far greater because of party-crashers. Walter Cronkite hosted the coverage with future ABC Sports ace Jim McKay and news veteran Bill Leonard handling the interviewing of numerous celebrity party guests. During the broadcast, Garry Moore hosted occasional comedy vignettes of how Todd came to create his Academy award-winning movie.
Episode 7
The Mystery of Thirteen
Thu, Oct 24, 1957 90 mins
The story of William Palmer, one of the most notorious poisoners in Victorian England - or was he?
Episode 8
The Edge of Innocence
Thu, Oct 31, 1957 90 mins
A lawyer's new brother-in-law disapproves of his specialty of defending murderers. But when he finds himself accused of murder, he asks for his help.
Episode 9
The Clouded Image
Thu, Nov 7, 1957 90 mins
A young stranger, Brat Farrar, shows up claiming to be the twin brother of a young Englishman, Peter Ashby, who is set to inherit a huge fortune. Farrar claim to have a right to half of the estate.
Episode 10
The Jet-Propelled Couch
Thu, Nov 14, 1957 90 mins
A psychoanalyst treats a noted atomic physicist who believes that he lives on Earth as a scientist in a government research laboratory, and on another planet where he is the dominant authority and has powers of telepathy and teleportation.
Episode 11
The Troublemakers
Thu, Nov 21, 1957 90 mins
A group of university students beat and kill an outspoken journalist for the school newspaper. One of the students struggles with his conscience over his vow to remain silent about the event.
Episode 12
Panic Button
Thu, Nov 28, 1957 90 mins
The investigation into a plane crash concludes that it was caused by pilot error. At the inquiry, the co-pilot seeks to place the blame on the captain who died in the crash.
Episode 13
Galvanized Yankee
Thu, Dec 5, 1957 90 mins
During the American Civil War, the commander of a Northern prisoner of war camp orders the execution of a Confederate soldier. The brother of executed soldier then seeks revenge on the commander.
Episode 14
The Thundering Wave
Thu, Dec 12, 1957 90 mins
Middle-aged actress Victoria Maxwell comes to terms with her destructive lifestyle as she struggles with the lead role in a Broadway-bound play. Matters are complicated by the fact that she is co-starring opposite her estranged husband, Allen Grant, whom she never stopped loving. As the drama begins, Sydney Lowe, a Broadway director, is eager to hire Victoria Maxwell to star in his production of "Thundering Wave," written by his friend Lew Downs, an accomplished writer. Maxwell agrees to take the part, but insists that Sydney hire Grant to play opposite her. Sydney is thrilled with the suggestion since he was hoping to cast Grant, anyway. Grant, however, is not eager to take the part. He finally accepts it, however, in order to give his daughter Louise, who is practically engaged, some freedom from her overbearing mother. On the train ride to Boston where the show will premiere, Maxwell starts to get cold feet and angers Sydney when she pretends to be ill. Grant goes to her compartment to comfort her, but winds up telling her to grow up and stop depending on him for support. On opening night, things get progressively worse when Sydney's wife, Marcia, arrives in Boston to tell him she wants a divorce. After fifteen years of marriage, she has learned of his frequent indiscretions with other women. Upset by Marcia's request for a divorce, Sydney gets drunk, and then, needing to lash out at someone, tells Maxwell that she is doing a rotten job. Needless to say, opening night does not go well, and the notices in the newspapers reflect the disaster. However, when the show reaches New York, things change dramatically both on-stage and off. (The Paley Center for Media)
Episode 15
For I Have Loved Strangers
Thu, Dec 19, 1957 90 mins
An American is hired to work for a displaced persons camp in Italy. He falls in love with a Czechoslovakian refugee, but he is confronted with obstacles when he decides to marry and bring his bride back to the United States.
Episode 16
The Lone Woman
Thu, Dec 26, 1957 90 mins
Set in Colorado in 1830, the owner of a trading post seeks to annul the marriage between his brother and a Cheyenne woman.
Episode 17
Reunion
Thu, Jan 2, 1958 90 mins
A New York lawyer, Jason Merrick, organizes a reunion for his World War II comrades. Each tells a life secret. The reunion becomes a test of the relationship between Merrick and his wife.
Episode 18
The Last Man
Thu, Jan 9, 1958 90 mins
In the old West, Mitch Barrett's wife dies during childbirth. Barrett blames the town's leaders who failed to assist. He seeks revenge by robbing the bank where the rich cattleman who runs the town has deposited his money.
Episode 19
The 80 Yard Run
Thu, Jan 16, 1958 90 mins
Long ago, Christian made a run of 80 yards to make the winning touchdown in a football game. It was the greatest moment of his life. Or was it the beginning of his decline?
Episode 20
Before I Die
Thu, Jan 23, 1958 90 mins
A surgeon becomes convinced of the innocence of a convicted murderer based on the convict mumbling while under anesthesia. He risks his reputation to save the convict from the electric chair.
Episode 21
The Gentleman from Seventh Avenue
Thu, Jan 30, 1958 90 mins
Mr. Golden wonders if he has wasted his life; but the news that he is to become a grandfather cheers him.
Episode 22
The Violent Heart
Thu, Feb 6, 1958 90 mins
Photographer Paul is invited to a French estate to take pictures but a romance develops with the lady of the house. A sudden death creates a suspicion of murder.
Episode 23
No Time at All
Thu, Feb 13, 1958 90 mins
South Coastal Airlines Flight 214, a DC-4 carrying 16 souls and a valuable cargo of frozen seafood, departs uneventfully from Miami International Airport one evening, bound nonstop through the stormy night for Idlewild Airport in New York City. Shortly after takeoff, Air Traffic Control loses all communication with the airplane. Then Flight 214 disappears from their radar scopes. Everyone assumes the plane has crashed or ditched in the ocean, and air/sea rescue is dispatched. We see how the plane's disappearance is received by people on the ground, including: the pilot's brother, a young airline operations officer; the pilot's girlfriend and the other man she is seeing, a hard-drinking newspaper reporter hungry for a story; a callous airline executive, seemingly more concerned about the cargo than the passengers; the pilot's ex-wife, a lounge singer, and her unscrupulous agent; the parents of a newlywed couple returning from their honeymoon in Miami Beach; a kind-hearted champion boxer and his gruff manager, in a title bout with a challenger whose wife and child were on the plane; and a henpecked coastal plane spotter living with his domineering mother. What happened to Flight 214? Is it really lost at sea?
Episode 24
Point of No Return
Thu, Feb 20, 1958 90 mins
Financier Charles Gray, under consideration for a promotion, is sent to his home town in New England, visits his childhood sweetheart, and questions his life and marriage.
Episode 25
Portrait of a Murderer
Thu, Feb 27, 1958 90 mins
Based on a true story, Donald Bashor robs and bludgeons two women to their deaths. While committing the crimes he maintans a normal existence with his girlfriend Florry.
Episode 26
The Last Clear Chance
Thu, Mar 6, 1958 90 mins
A veteran lawyer must defend his own son when the latter is threatened with disbarment.
Episode 27
The Male Animal
Thu, Mar 13, 1958 90 mins
The trustees of Midwestern University have forced three teachers out of their jobs for being suspected communists. Trustee Ed Keller has also threatened mild mannered English Professor Tommy Turner, because he plans to read a controversial piece of prose in class. Tommy is upset that his wife Ellen also suggested he not read the passage. Meanwhile, Ellen's old boyfriend, the football player Joe Ferguson, comes to visit for the homecoming weekend. He takes Ellen out dancing after the football rally, causing Tommy to worry that he will lose her to Joe.
Episode 28
The Right Hand Man
Thu, Mar 20, 1958 90 mins
The story of a struggle for control of a Hollywood talent agency.
Episode 29
Turn Left at Mount Everest
Thu, Apr 3, 1958 90 mins
Story begins at Calcutta, near the end of World War 2. The hero of this romantic comedy is Pvt. Linus Powell of the USAAC. When Powell is transferred across the Himalayas to China he is determined to get back to his girlfriend in Calcutta.
Episode 30
The Dungeon
Thu, Apr 17, 1958 90 mins
Karl Ohringer is acquitted of murder on grounds that the killing was not intentional. A wealthy and eccentric man, Emery Ganun, decides to take justice into his own hands.
Episode 31
Verdict of Three
Thu, Apr 24, 1958 90 mins
Marina Arkwritght is put on trial for allegedly poisoning her son. Three of the jurors have prejudices that they bring to the case.
Episode 32
Rumors of Evening
Thu, May 1, 1958 90 mins
A married American bomber pilot, Capt. Neil Dameron, is stationed at an air base in England during World War II. He falls in love with an English entertainer, Sidney Cantrell.
Episode 33
Not the Glory
Thu, May 8, 1958 90 mins
A Nazi spy, Wilhelm Konreid, travels to London in 1939, posing as a Polish patriot. He ingratiates himself into high British government circles and is offered a job with the BBC.
Episode 34
Nightmare at Ground Zero
Thu, May 15, 1958 90 mins
After the first atom bomb test, scientists realize the bomb was more powerful than they expected - which may have terrible results.
Episode 35
Bomber's Moon
Thu, May 22, 1958 90 mins
A hard-hearted Colonel loses many men in his group's bombing missions over World War Two Germany, but keeps on going and won't tolerate lightly a young LIEUTENANT losing his nerve under the strain,who refuses to continue.
Episode 36
Natchez
Thu, May 29, 1958 90 mins
A Civil War veteran returns home to find his father has become a social pariah.
Episode 37
The Innocent Sleep
Thu, Jun 5, 1958 90 mins
When a rich man marries a much younger wife and his ailing health gets rather worse, the housekeeper suspects a murder attempt is looming.
Episode 38
A Town Has Turned to Dust
Thu, Jun 19, 1958 90 mins
A weakling sheriff is unable to prevent a lynching. Can he redeem himself by preventing a second one?
Episode 39
The Great Gatsby
Thu, Jun 26, 1958 90 mins
A Midwesterner becomes fascinated with his wealthy neighbor, who obsesses over his lost love.
Episode 40
Bitter Heritage
Thu, Aug 7, 1958 90 mins
Following the death of Jesse James, his peace-loving, law-abiding son, Jesse Jr., and his uncle Frank return to the family's home town, hoping to live peaceably and raise horses.