Sam Levene
Biography: Sam Levene was a Broadway, film, radio and television actor who in a career spanning 5 decades created some of the most legendary comedic roles in American theatrical history. Levene appeared in a staggering list of 38 Broadway productions, 33 of which were the original Broadway productions, including Nathan Detroit, the craps-shooter extraordinaire, in the 1950 original Broadway production of "Guys and Dolls", Max Kane, the hapless agent, in the original 1932 Broadway production of "Dinner at Eight", Patsy, the comedic gambler, in the 1935 Broadway farce "Three Men on a Horse" , Gordon Miller, the shoestring producer, in the original 1937 Broadway production of "Room Service", Sidney Black, the theatrical producer, in " Light Up the Sky" , Horace Vandergelder, the crotchety merchant of Yonkers, in the 1954 premier UK production of Thornton Wilder's "The Matchmaker" and Al Lewis, the retired vaudevillian, in the original 1972 Broadway production of Neil Simon's "The Sunshine Boys". Levene was a consistent presence on Broadway for 5 decades; Levene's first Broadway play was in 1927, the last in 1980. Throughout his career Levene effortlessly segued between starring roles in over 100 productions on stage, radio, television and film, appearing in a variety of roles, including policemen, servicemen, gamblers, gangsters, newspaper reporter, theatrical producer, actor's agent, dress manufacturer and even a psychiatrist and was equally adept in segueing from comedy to farce and drama. 9 years after making his Broadway debut, Levene was lured to Hollywood where he made his motion picture debut as Patsy in the 1936 film version of "Three Men on a Horse" earning $1,000 a week. Known as a dependable character actor, Levene appeared in 50 films, including 14 at MGM, which included two appearances as Police Lieutenant Abrams in the "Thin Man" series. During his five-decade Hollywood career, Levene established himself as one the great film noir stalwarts. Levene's film noir credits include his riveting performance as Samuels, the murdered GI, in "Crossfire" (1947), considered by many as one of RKO’s if not perhaps of any studio’s best film noirs. Other film noir credits include: William Holden's taxi-driving brother-in-law "Siggie" in "Golden Boy" (1939), "Action in the North Atlantic" (1943), a Doolittle Flyer and Japanese POW in "The Purple Heart" (1944), a police lieutenant in "The Killers" (1946), "Brute Force" (1947), "Boomerang" (1947), "Killer McCoy" (1947), "Dial 1119" (1950), "Sweet Smell of Success" (1957), "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue" (1957). In 1961 Levene was nominated for the 1961 Tony Award for Best Actor in a play for his performance as Dr. Aldo Meyer in Dore Schary's "The Devil's Advocate". Levene never received a Tony; by the time the Tony's were established in 1947, Levene had already created roles in 16 original Broadway shows, including legendary performances in the original Broadway productions of "Dinner at Eight"(1932), "Three Men on a Horse" (1935), "Room Service" (1937) and "Margin For Error" (1939). In 1984, Levene was posthumously inducted in the American Theatre Hall of Fame and in 1998, Sam Levene along with the original Broadway cast of the 1950 "Guys and Dolls" Decca cast album posthumously inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
Place of Birth: Not available
Birthday: August 28, 1905
Deathday: December 28, 1980
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Known For
Sweet Smell of Success
1957-07-04
Sweet Smell of Success
Overview: New York City newspaper writer J.J. Hunsecker holds considerable sway over public opinion with his Broadway column, but one thing that he can't control is his younger sister, Susan, who is in a relationship with aspiring jazz guitarist Steve Dallas. Hunsecker strongly disapproves of the romance and recruits publicist Sidney Falco to find a way to split the couple, no matter how ruthless the method.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1957-07-04
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Action in the North Atlantic
1943-06-12
Action in the North Atlantic
Overview: Merchant Marine sailors Joe Rossi (Humphrey Bogart) and Steve Jarvis (Raymond Massey) are charged with getting a supply vessel to Russian allies as part of a sea convoy. When the group of ships comes under attack from a German U-boat, Rossi and Jarvis navigate through dangerous waters to evade Nazi naval forces. Though their mission across the Atlantic is extremely treacherous, they are motivated by the opportunity to strike back at the Germans, who sank one of their earlier ships.
Genres: War
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1943-06-12
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Follow the Boys
1944-05-05
Follow the Boys
Overview: During World War II, all the studios put out "all-star" vehicles which featured virtually every star on the lot--often playing themselves--in musical numbers and comedy skits, and were meant as morale-boosters to both the troops overseas and the civilians at home. This was Universal Pictures' effort. It features everyone from Donald O'Connor to the Andrews Sisters to Orson Welles to W.C. Fields to George Raft to Marlene Dietrich, and dozens of other Universal players.
Genres: Music Comedy War
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1944-05-05
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God Told Me To
1976-10-22
God Told Me To
Overview: A repressed Catholic NYPD detective uncovers a netherworld of deranged faith, alien insemination and his own unholy connection to a homicidal messiah with a perverse plan for the soul of mankind.
Genres: Crime Horror Science Fiction
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1976-10-22
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Designing Woman
1957-05-16
Designing Woman
Overview: A sportswriter who marries a fashion designer discovers that their mutual interests are few, although each has an intriguing past which makes the other jealous.
Genres: Comedy Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1957-05-16
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Crossfire
1947-08-15
Crossfire
Overview: A man is murdered, apparently by one of a group of soldiers just out of the army. But which one? And why?
Genres: Crime Mystery Thriller
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1947-08-15
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Brute Force
1947-07-16
Brute Force
Overview: Timeworn Joe Collins and his fellow inmates live under the heavy thumb of the sadistic, power-tripping guard Captain Munsey. Only Collins' dreams of escape keep him going, but how can he possibly bust out of Munsey's chains?
Genres: Crime Drama Thriller
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1947-07-16
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Dial 1119
1950-11-03
Dial 1119
Overview: A deranged killer escapes from a mental institution, intent on locating the psychiatrist whose testimony sent him to the asylum, holds the patrons of a bar hostage.
Genres: Thriller Crime
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1950-11-03
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After the Thin Man
1936-12-25
After the Thin Man
Overview: Nick and Nora Charles investigate when Nora's cousin reports her disreputable husband is missing, and find themselves in a mystery involving the shady owners of a popular nightclub, a singer and her dark brother, the cousin's forsaken true love, and Nora's bombastic and controlling aunt.
Genres: Comedy Mystery Crime
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1936-12-25
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Shadow of the Thin Man
1941-11-21
Shadow of the Thin Man
Overview: High society sleuths Nick and Nora Charles run into a variety of shady characters while investigating a race-track murder.
Genres: Comedy Crime Mystery
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1941-11-21
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The Killers
1946-08-30
The Killers
Overview: Two hit men walk into a diner asking for a man called "the Swede". When the killers find the Swede, he's expecting them and doesn't put up a fight. Since the Swede had a life insurance policy, an investigator, on a hunch, decides to look into the murder. As the Swede's past is laid bare, it comes to light that he was in love with a beautiful woman who may have lured him into pulling off a bank robbery overseen by another man.
Genres: Crime Mystery Thriller
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1946-08-30
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The Opposite Sex
1956-11-15
The Opposite Sex
Overview: Former radio singer Kay learns from her gossipy friends that her husband, Steve, has had an affair with chorus girl Crystal. Devastated, Kay tries to ignore the information, but when Crystal performs one of her musical numbers at a charity benefit, she breaks down and goes to Reno to file for divorce. However, when she hears that gold-digging Crystal is making Steve unhappy, Kay resolves to get her husband back. The Opposite Sex is a remake of the 1939 comedy The Women.
Genres: Comedy Music Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1956-11-15
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The Purple Heart
1944-02-25
The Purple Heart
Overview: This is the story of the crew of a downed bomber, captured after a run over Tokyo, early in the war. Relates the hardships the men endure while in captivity, and their final humiliation: being tried and convicted as war criminals.
Genres: Drama War
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1944-02-25
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The Babe Ruth Story
1948-09-16
The Babe Ruth Story
Overview: The baseball player goes from wayward youth to Boston Red Sox pitcher to New York Yankees home-run hero.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1948-09-16
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Guilty Bystander
1950-04-20
Guilty Bystander
Overview: A drunken ex-cop gets a shot at redemption when his young son is kidnapped after a smuggling deal goes belly up.
Genres: Drama Crime
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1950-04-20
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Golden Boy
1939-09-05
Golden Boy
Overview: Despite his talent as a musician, a city boy decides to become a boxer. He's successful as a fighter — much to the dismay of his parents. When gangsters try to buy a piece of him, he begins to have second thoughts.
Genres: Drama Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1939-09-05
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The Mad Miss Manton
1938-10-21
The Mad Miss Manton
Overview: When the murdered body discovered by beautiful, vivacious socialite Melsa Manton disappears, police and press label her a prankster until she proves them wrong.
Genres: Comedy Crime Mystery Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1938-10-21
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Last Embrace
1979-05-04
Last Embrace
Overview: Secret agent Harry Hannan suffers a mental breakdown when a botched mission in Mexico results in the death of his wife. He is sent to a mental asylum, after which he eventually returns to work. But, once again, he begins to doubt his sanity when he receives a bizarre death threat written in Hebrew. Not knowing which of his colleagues wants to kill him, Hannan teams up with pretty young college student Ellie Fabian to attempt to unravel the mystery.
Genres: Thriller Mystery Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1979-05-04
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...And Justice for All
1979-10-19
...And Justice for All
Overview: An ethical Baltimore defense lawyer disgusted with rampant legal corruption is forced to defend a judge he despises in a rape trial under the threat of being disbarred.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1979-10-19
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Grand Central Murder
1942-05-01
Grand Central Murder
Overview: Conniving Broadway starlet Mida King has plenty of enemies, so when she's found murdered at Grand Central Station, Inspector Gunther calls together a slew of suspects for questioning. Mida's shady ex-flame, Turk, seems the most likely culprit, but when smart-mouthed private eye Rocky Custer -- also a suspect himself -- begins to piece together the crime, a few clues that Gunther has overlooked come to light.
Genres: Mystery Crime Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1942-05-01
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Gung Ho!
1943-12-20
Gung Ho!
Overview: A true-life epic that revolves around an exclusive bataillon of the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II, "Carlson's Raiders," whose assignment is to take control of a South Pacific island once possessed by the United States but now under Japanese command.
Genres: Action Adventure Drama War
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1943-12-20
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Boomerang!
1947-02-28
Boomerang!
Overview: When a kindly priest is murdered while waiting at a street corner in a quiet Connecticut town, the citizens are horrified and demand action from the police. All of the witnesses identify John Waldron, a nervous out-of-towner, as the killer. District Attorney Henry Harvey is then put on the case and faces political opposition in his attempt to prove Waldron's innocence.
Genres: Drama Mystery
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1947-02-28
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Whistling in Brooklyn
1943-12-01
Whistling in Brooklyn
Overview: Radio crime show host "The Fox" finds himself on the trail of a serial killer while a suspect himself.
Genres: Comedy Crime Mystery Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1943-12-01
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Slaughter on 10th Avenue
1957-09-01
Slaughter on 10th Avenue
Overview: A rookie assistant DA is assigned to investigate the murder of a longshoreman, killed for exposing gangster involvement on the piers, and meets up with a "code of silence" amongst all potential witnesses.
Genres: Crime Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1957-09-01
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Killer McCoy
1947-12-01
Killer McCoy
Overview: Tommy McCoy grew up poor and scrappy. As a young man he discovers that he can fight with his powerful right arm. He becomes successful at boxing, however he has an alcoholic father.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1947-12-01
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The Big Street
1942-08-13
The Big Street
Overview: Meek busboy Little Pinks is in love with an extremely selfish nightclub singer who despises and uses him.
Genres: Romance Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1942-08-13
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Three Men on a Horse
1936-11-21
Three Men on a Horse
Overview: A meek salesman with an uncanny ability to pick horses is virtually kidnapped by a trio of gamblers.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1936-11-21
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I Dood It
1943-09-01
I Dood It
Overview: Constance Shaw, a Broadway dance star, and Joseph Rivington Reynolds, a keen fan of hers, marry after she breaks up with her fiancé. Connie thinks Joseph owns a gold mine, but he actually works as a presser at a hotel valet shop. When everyone learns what he really is, Joseph is banned from the theater. When he sneaks in again, he learns of a plot to set off a bomb in the adjoining munitions warehouse.
Genres: Music Comedy Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1943-09-01
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Destination Unknown
1942-10-09
Destination Unknown
Overview: Foreign spies and police pursue an attractive Dutch spy throughout Peking.
Genres: War Drama Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1942-10-09
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Act One
1963-12-26
Act One
Overview: This autobiographical story traces the career of playwright Moss Hart. Moss struggles as a dramatic writer until he concentrates his efforts on writing comedy. He suffers through a series of professional and romantic failures before a meeting with George S. Kaufman which changes his fortunes.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1963-12-26
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Three Sailors and a Girl
1953-11-23
Three Sailors and a Girl
Overview: A group of sailors invest in a musical revue.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1953-11-23
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Kathy O'
1958-09-24
Kathy O'
Overview: A movie publicist is assigned to keep the public from learning that a beloved child star is an egotistical little brat.
Genres: Comedy Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1958-09-24
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Married Bachelor
1941-10-16
Married Bachelor
Overview: A man's marriage suffers when he pretends to be a bachelor while promoting "his" best-selling book about married life (actually written by an eccentric professor) in order to pay off a debt to a gangster.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1941-10-16
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The Talk of Hollywood
1929-12-10
The Talk of Hollywood
Overview: Schlock-movie producer J. Pierpont Ginsburg, after declaring, in a Yiddish accent, that "talking pictures are in their infantry," decides to put all of his savings into a big-budgeted musical, starring the sensation of Paris (with a bad French accent), Adore Renee, and a swishy leading man, Reginald Whitlock. Meanwhile, his daughter, Judy Ginsburg, gets involved in a romance with Ginsburg's Gentile lawyer, John Applegate. His efforts aren't helped any by the projectionist who mixes up the sound-disc reels, with the images not matching the dialogue and sound effects, during a showing for prospective film buyers and exhibitors.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1929-12-10
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Leather Gloves
1948-11-11
Leather Gloves
Overview: A fallen prizefighter must choose between two women from vastly different walks of life.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1948-11-11
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The Royal Family
1977-11-09
The Royal Family
Overview: George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber collaborated on this 1927 hit comedy about an eminent and slightly eccentric theatrical clan. A Barrymore-like brood, the Cavendishes are as flamboyant offstage as they are on. Their real-life family drama occurs in a Manhattan apartment when the grand matriarch, Fanny Cavendish, learns that her daughter and granddaughter may both be giving up the stage for marriage. Theatre legends Rosemary Harris, Eva LeGallienne, Sam Levene and Ellis Rabb have great fun portraying characters they know all too well from their years on stage.
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1977-11-09
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The Shopworn Angel
1938-07-15
The Shopworn Angel
Overview: During WWI Bill Pettigrew, a naive young Texan soldier is sent to New York for basic training. He meets worldly wise actress Daisy Heath when her car nearly runs him over.
Genres: Romance Drama War
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1938-07-15
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A Likely Story
1947-04-18
A Likely Story
Overview: A shell-shocked young GI mistakenly believes he is dying, and a young artist takes it upon herself to prove to him that he's not.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1947-04-18
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Sunday Punch
1942-05-08
Sunday Punch
Overview: Ma Galestrum (Connie Gilchrist) is a boardinghouse owner whose tenants are a group of aspiring boxers. When her young niece, Judy (Jean Rogers), comes to stay for a visit, college dropout Ken Burke (William Lundigan) and Swedish janitor Ole (Dan Dailey Jr.) immediately fall for her charms. Ken considers going back to college for Judy, but his fight promoter is less than thrilled with this idea. Meanwhile, Ole is determined to meet Ken in the ring to vie for Judy's heart.
Genres: Comedy Drama Romance
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1942-05-08
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With These Hands
1950-06-15
With These Hands
Overview: Produced by the International Ladies Garment Workers Union, the film used actors to recreate the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire and compare working conditions of the early 20th century to that of the 1950s.
Genres: Drama Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1950-06-15
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A Dream of Kings
1969-12-15
A Dream of Kings
Overview: A Greek American father of a dying boy decides to take his son to Greece to breathe the clean air of his ancestors, in an attempt to save the boy's life. However, money is a problem.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1969-12-15
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The Money
1976-05-31
The Money
Overview: A prominent businessman's children become the target of a young, unemployed man, who sees them as his ticket to wealth.
Genres: Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1976-05-31
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Such Good Friends
1971-12-16
Such Good Friends
Overview: Julie Messinger, a repressed woman, grapples with her hidden passions when a routine hospital visit for her husband, Richard, spirals into chaos. As secrets unravel, her quest for authenticity clashes with societal expectations.
Genres: Comedy Drama
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1971-12-16
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Sing Your Worries Away
1942-03-06
Sing Your Worries Away
Overview: This package for comedy and the musical numbers has Luke Brown being drugged by the gangster operators of the swank Boathouse Inn; most notably Roxie a sexy pickpocket. Brown has information that Chow Brewster and his cousin have inherited $3,000,000. The owner of the Inn intends to keep Brown under wraps until they can drive Chow to suicide. He will then marry Chow's cousin before she finds out about her inheritance.
Genres: Comedy Music
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1942-03-06
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Shoe Shine Boy
1943-12-25
Shoe Shine Boy
Overview: A teenaged shoeshine boy urgently tries to raise the remaining amount of money he needs to purchase a secondhand bugle before 6p.m.
Genres: Drama Music
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1943-12-25
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Yellow Jack
1938-05-19
Yellow Jack
Overview: A fairly accurate historical account of Walter Reed's search for the cause of "Yellow Jack" or Yellow Fever and those who risked their lives in the pursuit.
Genres: Drama History Mystery Romance War
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1938-05-19
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James Stewart: A Wonderful Life
1988-11-22
James Stewart: A Wonderful Life
Overview: Documentary about James Stewart's long career as an actor and positive personal life.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1988-11-22
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The True Glory
1945-08-27
The True Glory
Overview: A documentary account of the allied invasion of Europe during World War II compiled from the footage shot by nearly 1400 cameramen. It opens as the assembled allied forces plan and train for the D-Day invasion at bases in Great Britain and covers all the major events of the war in Europe from the Normandy landings to the fall of Berlin.
Genres: Documentary War
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1945-08-27
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A Small Rebellion
1966-02-09
A Small Rebellion
Overview: An angry young man of the theatre, who has written a play that could be a hit, if actress Sara Lescaut agrees to play the lead. Kolinos, however, is determined not to alter one word of his script to make it a more commercial vehicle.
Genres: Drama TV Movie
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1966-02-09
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The World of Sholom Aleichem
1959-12-14
The World of Sholom Aleichem
Overview: This omnibus release consists of three playlets filmed and aired during television's Golden Age, and starring some of the legends of film and television. The collection originally ran as a two-hour segment on December 14, 1959, on the anthology series The Play of the Week, broadcast locally in New York City via the independent radio station WNTA. Each "tale" in the anthology was adapted from a single tale by the inimitable Sholom Aleichem, regarded by many as the "Yiddish Mark Twain". Included are: "A Tale of Chelm" starring Zero Mostel and Nancy Walker in the story of a bookseller attempting to buy a goat; "Bontche Schweig" about a poor man (Jack Gilford) whose recent arrival in Heaven makes the angels cry; and "The High School" about a Jewish merchant (Morris Carnovsky) persuaded by his wife (Gertrude Berg) to let their son attend a particular high school despite the enforcement of quotas for Jewish students.
Genres: Drama TV Movie
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1959-12-14
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