Philip Marlowe
Created byRaymond Chandler
StarringPhilip Carey
Country of originUnited States
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes26
Production
Running time30 minutes per episode
Production companiesMark Goodson-Bill Todman Productions
in association with
California National Productions
Original release
NetworkABC
ReleaseOctober 6, 1959 (1959-10-06) –
March 26, 1960 (1960-03-26)

Philip Marlowe is a half-hour ABC crime series, featuring Philip Carey as Marlowe,[1] the fictional detective created by Raymond Chandler. It was broadcast from October 6, 1959, until March 29, 1960.[2]

Premise

Like the Marlowe in Chandler's novels, the detective worked alone in the TV show, but he "had become a much more gentlemanly sort than on the printed page."[2] He avoided personal involvement while he sought "to protect people, solve crimes, and track down missing persons."[2]

Episodes of the series contained no surprise endings. As each episode progressed, viewers had the same information that Marlowe had, enabling them to try to solve the crime along with him.[3]

Cast

Episodes

No. Title Directed by Written by Original air date
1"The Ugly Duckling"Robert Ellis MillerGene WangOctober 6, 1959 (1959-10-06)
2"Prescription for Murder"UnknownUnknownOctober 13, 1959 (1959-10-13)
3"Buddy Boy"UnknownUnknownOctober 20, 1959 (1959-10-20)
4"Death in the Family"UnknownUnknownOctober 27, 1959 (1959-10-27)
5"Mama's Boy"UnknownUnknownNovember 3, 1959 (1959-11-03)
6"Child of Virtue"UnknownUnknownNovember 10, 1959 (1959-11-10)
7"Bum Wrap"UnknownUnknownNovember 17, 1959 (1959-11-17)
8"The Temple of Love"UnknownUnknownNovember 24, 1959 (1959-11-24)
9"The Mogul"UnknownUnknownDecember 1, 1959 (1959-12-01)
10"Hit & Run"UnknownUnknownDecember 8, 1959 (1959-12-08)
11"Mother Dear"UnknownUnknownDecember 15, 1959 (1959-12-15)
12"The Hunger"UnknownUnknownDecember 22, 1959 (1959-12-22)
13"Ricochet"UnknownUnknownDecember 29, 1959 (1959-12-29)
14"The Scarlet A"UnknownUnknownJanuary 5, 1960 (1960-01-05)
15"A Standard for Murder"UnknownUnknownJanuary 12, 1960 (1960-01-12)
16"Poor Lilli, Sweet Lilli"UnknownUnknownJanuary 19, 1960 (1960-01-19)
17"Death Takes a Lover"UnknownUnknownJanuary 26, 1960 (1960-01-26)
18"One Ring for Murder"UnknownUnknownFebruary 2, 1960 (1960-02-02)
19"Gem of a Murder"UnknownUnknownFebruary 9, 1960 (1960-02-09)
20"Time to Kill"UnknownUnknownFebruary 16, 1960 (1960-02-16)
21"Murder in the Stars"UnknownUnknownFebruary 23, 1960 (1960-02-23)
22"Murder by the Book"UnknownUnknownMarch 1, 1960 (1960-03-01)
23"Murder is a Grave Affair"Paul StewartGene WangMarch 8, 1960 (1960-03-08)
24"Murder is Dead Wrong"UnknownUnknownMarch 15, 1960 (1960-03-15)
25"Last Call for Murder"UnknownUnknownMarch 22, 1960 (1960-03-22)
26"You Kill Me"UnknownUnknownMarch 29, 1960 (1960-03-29)

Production

NBC-TV financed the original pilot for a Marlowe series starring Carey, but it sold the program and Carey to ABC, which revamped it.[6] Mark Goodson and Bill Todman produced the series. The directors were Irvin Kershner, Robert Ellis Miller, and Paul Stewart. The writers were Charles Beaumont and Gene Wang.[5]

The program's lack of success was attributed to its similarity to other contemporary detective series.[7] Sponsors were Brown & Williamson and American Home Products.[4] The series had 26 episodes.[7] It was broadcast from 9:30 to 10 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesdays.[2] Its competition included The Red Skelton Show on CBS. NBC initially had Startime, which was succeeded by The Arthur Murray Party.[8]

References

  1. ^ Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 831. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
  2. ^ a b c d Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle (1999). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present (7th ed.). New York: The Ballentine Publishing Group. p. 805. ISBN 0-345-42923-0.
  3. ^ "Sinister world of crime background for Raymond Chandler's 'Philip Marlowe'". The Gazette. Iowa, Cedar Rapids. October 25, 1959. p. 79. Retrieved August 8, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b "Philip Marlowe" (PDF). Broadcasting. September 28, 1959. p. 50. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  5. ^ a b Terrace, Vincent (October 21, 2022). From Radio to Television: Programs That Made the Transition, 1929-2021. McFarland. p. 170. ISBN 978-1-4766-4693-0. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
  6. ^ Scheuer, Steven H. (September 3, 1959). "TV Keynotes: Another Private Eye". The Morning Call. Pennsylvania, Allentown. p. 42. Retrieved August 8, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ a b Brunsdale, Mitzi M. (2010). Icons of Mystery and Crime Detection: From Sleuths to Superheroes [2 volumes]: From Sleuths to Superheroes. ABC-CLIO. p. 531. ISBN 9780313345319. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  8. ^ Hyatt, Wesley (October 6, 2015). Short-Lived Television Series, 1948-1978: Thirty Years of More Than 1,000 Flops. McFarland. ISBN 978-1-4766-0515-9. Retrieved August 8, 2023.

External links

Categories