Climax! (1954)
Plot.
Climax! is an American anthology series that aired on CBS from 1954 to 1958. The series was hosted by William Lundigan and later co-hosted by Mary Costa. It was one of the few CBS programs of that era to be broadcast in color. Many of the episodes were performed and broadcast live.
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Cast & Crew.
William Lundigan
Self - Host
Mary Costa
Self - Host
Martin Manulis
Producer
Elliott Lewis
Producer
Art Gilmore
Announcer
John Frankenheimer
Director
Allen Reisner
Director
Buzz Kulik
Director
William H. Brown Jr.
Director
Don Medford
Director
David Swift
Director
Ida Lupino
Director
Fielder Cook
Director
Jack Smight
Director
Bernard Girard
Director
Tony Barr
Director
Robert Stevens
Director
DeWitt Bodeen
Writer
Oliver Crawford
Writer
David Dortort
Writer
Charles Larson
Writer
Gore Vidal
Writer
Charles Bennett
Writer
Rod Serling
Writer
Raymond Chandler
Writer
Ian Fleming
Novel
Walter Newman
Writer
Antony Ellis
Teleplay
E. Jack Neuman
Writer
Malvin Wald
Writer
Wanda Hendrix
Maggie
Jack Lord
Charlie Mullaney
George Dolenz
Cortino
Jim Backus
Detective Herman
Nancy Kelly
Irene Marshall
Don Ameche
Sam Waterman
William Schallert
David
Brian Aherne
David
Verna Felton
Nurse
Lew Ayres
Bob Kilgore
Michael Wilding
Lieutenant MacKenzie Barton (uncredited)
Bethel Leslie
Jessica Colby
Jonathan Harris
Fritz Weiser
Milburn Stone
Mr. Dale
Ann Todd
Jane Palmer
Inger Stevens
Marge
Richard Arlen
Nevers
Barbara Nichols
Dale Benson
Corinne Calvet
Anna
Jill Corey
Linda Wallis
Linda Darnell
Helen Randall
Benay Venuta
Mrs. Stagg
Darren McGavin
Walter
Una Merkel
Maud
Mercedes McCambridge
Eliza
Coleen Gray
Amanda Shepard
Wally Brown
Tommy Haley
Richard Eyer
Muldoon
Dick Powell
Philip Marlowe
John Alvin
Sir Roscoe Crosby
Lynn Bari
Mrs. Combie
Richard Jaeckel
Hordan
Natalie Schafer
Lucrece Durhurst
Louis Jourdan
Pierre Mendes-France
Walter Catlett
The Dauphin
Pat Crowley
Sue Martin
Evelyn Keyes
Drusilla Cayley
Nancy Reagan
Carol Peterson
Gerald Mohr
Quinn
Jack Warden
Lt. Ravenna
Robert Newton
Keith Dorrant
Jean Hagen
Eleanor Gehrig
Gale Gordon
Dr. Raymond Forrest
Henry Hull
Abel Kirsch
Robert Young
Lieutenant Commander Knowles
Jean Porter
Joan
Tab Hunter
Jimmy Piersall
Akim Tamiroff
Albert Ganz
Reginald Denny
Ronnie Pond
Marie Windsor
Vivian Cummings
Jeff Morrow
Dr. Alvin C. Graves
Judith Anderson
Rachel
Frank Lovejoy
Ben Dana
Ward Bond
Sheriff Ab Kale
Arthur Treacher
Bishop Thornley
Bobby Driscoll
Gary
Sal Mineo
Miguel
Dan O'Herlihy
Ian Hamilton
Jean-Pierre Aumont
Father James Cannon
John Hoyt
Poole
Kathryn Card
Mrs. Craig
Theodore Bikel
Martin Humphries
Irene Papas
Maxanne York
Carolyn Jones
Helen
Peter Whitney
Peter Chubo
Susan Oliver
Pat Farley
Steve McQueen
Henry Reeves / Anthony Reeves
Robert Armstrong
Barney Farrell
Keye Luke
Chen
Betty Field
Callie Bellason
Marisa Pavan
Ginny Cabot
Jerry Colonna
Stan
Gene Raymond
Grady Lederer
Regis Toomey
Fred Warren
Marian Seldes
Betty
Walter Abel
Stewart
Patricia Cutts
Sharon Barton
Darryl Hickman
Joe Skinner
Shaike Ophir
Spider
Art Carney
Donald Lam
Eddie Bracken
Ira
Eli Wallach
Albert Anastasia
Reginald Owen
Doctor
Natalie Trundy
Sally Moore
Sebastian Cabot
Captain Wilkins
Oskar Homolka
Christy Christakos
Jacques Bergerac
Guy Pirard
John Litel
Judge Sam Crowley
Gene Reynolds
Hank
Barbara Britton
Duana Clarke
Paul Henreid
Capt. Sebastian Von Reis
Peggy Ann Garner
Nora Wallen
Elliott Reid
Scotty Henderson
Rhys Williams
Lieutenant Jamison
J. Carrol Naish
Mr. Combie
Frieda Inescort
Martha Hale
Charles Drake
Mickey Wayne
Margaret Field
M'liss
Barbara Ruick
Judith Kale
Jeff Donnell
Kay Matheson
Ethel Barrymore
Mme. Rosalie La Grange
Sean McClory
Mark Yorke
Katy Jurado
Margo Nieto
Joan Bennett
Honora
Marshall Thompson
(segment 'Child of the Wind')
Lloyd Nolan
Jack London
Louis Hayward
Randy Townsend
Brad Dexter
Harvey Bozer
John Craven
The Reporter
Claire Trevor
Phyllis Talbot
Walter Matthau
Charlie Mapes
Elaine Stritch
Kristie Crane
Don Dubbins
Chris Barker
Albert Salmi
Lt. Nichols
Peter Lawford
Tom Welles
Dennis Weaver
Steve Maclyn
Gene Lockhart
Henry Anderson
James Best
Shag
Ed Begley
Harry Rathvon
Isobel Elsom
Lady Grey
Julie Adams
Coleen
Nehemiah Persoff
Lieutenant Cal Nourse
Martha Hyer
Vi Johnson
Patricia Collinge
Mrs. Rampage
Tina Louise
Maxene Sumner
Helmut Dantine
Daniel
Mildred Dunnock
Aunt Ida
Laraine Day
Ellen Parker
Dina Merrill
Iris Farrar
Nita Talbot
Esther Gardener
Jane Darwell
B. Cool / Mrs. Koestler
Bonita Granville
Laura Jordan / Molly
Dean Stockwell
Les Marshall
Gig Young
Edgar Holt
Hoagy Carmichael
Jazzman
Robert Sterling
Husband
Osa Massen
Sister Veronica
John Ireland
Greg
Edmond O'Brien
Joel Flint / Leo Waldek
George Nader
Harry Parker
Robert Ellenstein
Dr. Bernstein
James Gleason
Reverend Mr. McCarkle
Elisha Cook Jr.
Pop
Amzie Strickland
Jane
Robert Middleton
Sheriff
Dorothy McGuire
Janet Spence / Miranda
Joanne Dru
Marcia / Nancy
James MacArthur
Hal Ditmar
Edward G. Robinson
Josef Vadassy
Henry Jones
Dr. Barney O'Keefe
Tom Laughlin
Paisan
Jean Del Val
Croupier
Virginia Grey
Edna
Farley Granger
John Haywood
Kenneth Tobey
Captain Coppedge
John Agar
Larry Dorrant
Sylvia Sidney
Louella Wheedron
Albert Dekker
Brewster
James Daly
George Norren
Janis Paige
Barbara
Tom Drake
Terry Lennox / Alan
Vic Morrow
Ted
Leo Fuchs
Moe
Tris Coffin
The Body
Dick York
Gordon Bates
Ann Harding
Lady Bertha Wetherby / Mrs. Roach
Debra Paget
Maria / Natalie
Miriam Hopkins
Amanda Hale
Forrest Tucker
Chips Murphy
Scott McKay
Tim Hampden
Steve Brodie
Bert Hendricks
Dean Harens
Michael
Wendell Corey
Lieutenant Erich Ganz / Lou Gehrig
Teresa Wright
Lorna Baylor / Eilene Wade / Louella Parsons
Fernando Lamas
Jose Aragon
George Tobias
Sergeant Levy
Boris Karloff
Dr. Philip Nestri / Vicar Tellworth
Steve Cochran
Jack Rice / Ralph Leslie
Hugh Marlowe
Jim Dekker
Leora Dana
Rose Skinner
Brian Donlevy
Sam Marvin
Hume Cronyn
Reverend Mr. Muldoon
Barbara Hale
Mamie Eunson
Richard Kiley
Charley Kincaid
Agnes Moorehead
(segment 'Child of the Wind') / Irene
Paul Stewart
Dave Hennessey / Paul Crichton
Joanne Woodward
Kathryn Winter
Rosemary DeCamp
Eleanor Farrington
John Cassavetes
Malcolm McCloud / Abel Winter
Rory Calhoun
Midge Kelly
Cathy O'Donnell
Mona Herbert
Barbara Morrison
The Dowager
Thomas Gomez
Senor Torres, Commandante of Police
Lilia Skala
Madame Muller
John Drew Barrymore
Matt / Herm Farley
Richard Carlson
Col. Dobie / Cass Terhgune
Blanche Yurka
Margaret
Edward Arnold
Lieutenant Shipley / Jock Fathian
John Qualen
Geist
Yma Sumac
Maria Santez
Eva Gabor
Josette / Elissa Carlton
John Conte
Dr. Duillermo Brown
Jack Carson
Art Shaddick / Eugene Skinner
Ernest Truex
Uncle William
Ruth Roman
Suzan Wayne
John Lupton
Eddie / The Mojave Kid
Lori Nelson
Mary
Richard Long
Max Harriss
Gigi Perreau
Laurette Bradshaw
Lorne Greene
Dr. Charles Saunders
Thomas Mitchell
Old Man Finn
Walter Cronkite
Self - Narrator (voice)
Brandon De Wilde
Tip Malone / Robbie Eunson
Red Skelton
Rusty Morgan
Peter Hansen
Lawyer
Jessie Royce Landis
Olivia Chesney
James Flavin
Hogan
Torin Thatcher
Fred Beresford / John Philippson
Ray Danton
Co-Pilot / Eric Bartholomew
Marsha Hunt
Julie Brennan / Ann Williams
Jeanette Nolan
Mrs. Barker
Ralph Meeker
Alex Hill / 'Griff' Griffith
Neville Brand
Killer
Anna Navarro
Teresa
Brian Keith
Sam Pryce
Herbert Anderson
Devlin
Don Keefer
Dr. Whittaker
Bradford Dillman
Greg Fletcher
Anne Bancroft
Audrey / Elena Vallejo
William Shatner
Ben Tate
Joi Lansing
Lucy
Maureen O'Sullivan
Lady Dominey / Miriam
Paul Douglas
Lieutenant Todd Thoman / Dr. Merle Gardner
Patricia Medina
Laura / Liz Burdock
Pat O’Brien
Police Lieutenant Moore / Ed Talbot / Police Lieutenant
Bob Sweeney
Gil Rodin / Johnny Gregg
Otto Kruger
Walter Farrington / Judge Mitchell
Barbara Baxley
Catherine Jones
Dennis O'Keefe
Inspector Marney / Evans / Howard Davenport / Fred Long
Beverly Garland
Jean / Shirley Connors / Daisy
Lamont Johnson
Lionel Trent
Geraldine Brooks
Emma Herich
Geraldine Fitzgerald
Miriam Lambert
John Kerr
Matt Sloane / Danny Barron/Steve Barron / Poggi
Gene Nelson
Jess Shepard
Claudette Colbert
Dr. Jane Everest / Sister Cecilia
Macdonald Carey
Allen Moore / Tom Ditmar / John Benson / Harry Belgard
Jesse White
Philly
Phyllis Kirk
Amy Connor / Mrs. Evans / Barbara Phillips
Sterling Holloway
Tobias
John Larch
Cab Driver
Noah Beery Jr.
Rev. Hall / The Sheriff
Peggy Maley
Grace Knight
Susan Kohner
(segment 'Child of the Wind')
Ethel Waters
Aunt Kate
Harry Bellaver
Craig / Inspector Matthews
Vanessa Brown
Marie Bannerman / Marian / Vera
Jeffrey Hunter
Wesley Jerome Penn / Phil Aubry
Jimmy Cross
Frankie Frannis
Booth Colman
Bruno McKee
Dale Robertson
Nicky Jordan
Howard Duff
Dr. John C. Clark
Horace McMahon
Detective
Katherine Warren
Matron
Elizabeth Montgomery
Betsy
Dan Duryea
Dr. Dennis Sullivan
Eduard Franz
Dr. James Lifford / Dr. Skinner
Irene Hervey
Nancy Blount
Ralph Bellamy
Phillip Hardecker, Sr. / Damon Runyon / Hap Kennelly
Marguerite Chapman
Myra Saunders / Kitty / Mrs. Carter / Wife
Warner Anderson
David Allen / Fleet
Stephen Wootton
Jimmie Eunson
Ricardo Montalban
Joe Bermudes / Pete McLean
Ray Collins
Jerome Harris
Eddie Albert
Barney Kanda / David Adams / Gabe Douglas
Ralph Sanford
The Warden
Janet Blair
Joan Hale
Lloyd Bridges
Jay Brackett / Jason Burrage / Mark Gillis / Joe Donner / Paul Bellamy
Edward Binns
Lieutenant Lewis
Raymond Burr
Lieutenant Shea / Philip Moran / Sergeant Ben Gurnick
Cloris Leachman
Anne Colt / Mrs. Sullivan
Dick Ryan
Detective Ryan
Buddy Baer
Moe
Ann Rutherford
Edith Enders / Bette Sullivan / Mary Townsend
Estelle Winwood
Mrs. Oliver / Mrs. Humphries
Dick Foran
Robert Maxwell / Luke Bradshaw
Rusty Lane
Luther Reeves
Terry Moore
Julie / Rosa / Chris
James Gregory
Dr. Froelich / Joe McCarthy
John Emery
Abel Dennis
Barry Sullivan
Dr. Edwards / Dr. Donald Carter
John Carradine
The Duke / Colonel Archer / John Evan
Conrad Nagel
Mr. Diamond
Charles Korvin
General Steck / Dr. Andre Demerre
Raymond Massey
Sir George Sidney / Doc Woodward
Rex Ingram
Petraca
Henry Silva
Marc / Slayer
June Lockhart
Jean Patterson / Irene Mitchell
John Williams
Sir Keith Nottingham / Harold Johnson
Whit Bissell
Whitfield Cook / Mr. Grubbs
Barry Nelson
Jimmy Bond
Zsa Zsa Gabor
Mme. Florizel / Princess Stephanie
Michael Pate
Clarence Leiter
Jay C. Flippen
Joe / Detective / Happy / Ed Bagley
Linda Christian
Valerie Mathis
Eugene Borden
Chef de Parte
Kurt Katch
Zoltan
Karen Steele
Lee Rogers / Gloria
Gene Roth
Basil
William Talman
Dr. Harry Martin / Stan / Joe MacKenzie / Gene
Sue George
Ann
Buddy Ebsen
Ben / Gaffney
James Dunn
Eldon Abernathy / Warren
Johnny Desmond
Johnny Spain / Mike Owens
Phyllis Thaxter
Olive / Joan Long / Mary / Helen Ditmar
Beulah Bondi
Countess / Aunt Caroline / Mrs. Jordan
Margaret Hayes
Sylvia / Eileen Shelton
Gloria Talbott
Susan Anders / Carol
Doris Dowling
Alicia / Maria
Anna Maria Alberghetti
Angele Corton / Edna / Kate
Betsy Palmer
Elizabeth / Fran Coates / Connie Rankin Hill
Addison Richards
Papa
Viveca Lindfors
Lisa Muller / Soledad Barojo / Solange Tanbeau
Warren Stevens
Dr. Alec McGregor / Phil / Henry Oliver
Royal Dano
Doctor / Sergeant
Victor Jory
Robert / Sam Bellows / John Coulter
Wallace Ford
Dr. Karl Wexdig / Sheriff / Bunco Kelly / Samuel Cramer
Charlton Heston
Chipman / Lt. Paul Peterson
Nina Foch
Caroline Emmet / Emily Rone
Leif Erickson
Robert Eunson / Richard Carmichael / Richard Moore / Doug Randell
Peter Lorre
Normie / Benny Kellerman / Mr. Ho / Le Chiffre / Mr. Vorhees
Cedric Hardwicke
Danielson / Mr. Utterson / Sir Francis Brittain / Clifton Lattimer / Dr, Martin Crandall / Professor Robertson
Diana Lynn
Ruth Barrows / Hilde Fraser / Julie Morton / Catherine Barkley
Harry Carey, Jr.
Bill Dickey
Cesar Romero
Mendy Mendez / Miguel
Sally Forrest
Jean Hamilton / Cherry Carson / Nina
Ruth Hussey
Katherine Benson / Martha / Alice Moore
Edgar Buchanan
Spencer / Constable
Anna May Wong
Clerk / Mayli
Scott Brady
Matt Beldon / Johnny Stanton
Hurd Hatfield
Paul Randolph / Morini / Ted
Alex Nicol
Robert Brewster / Michael Patterson
Richard Boone
David Neff / Col. William Hughes / Detective Ed Brooks / Jarech
James Whitmore
Tom Miller / Stash Prohaska
Arthur Franz
Dick Crosby / Walt / Franco / Dr. Joyce
Stephen McNally
Clark Rutman / Steve Corbett
Elizabeth Patterson
Aunt Polly / Mrs. Garr / Jane Connor / Nellie Eldredge
Kurt Kasznar
Karfas / Lustig / Jean Duclerc
Angela Lansbury
Justina Marshall / Judith Beresford
Byron Foulger
Frank Steel / Mr. Montrose / Man in Theatre
Robert Preston
William Struthers / Cleve Gordon / Lt. Hogue
Kathleen Crowley
Sally / Jeanne Warren / Laura Harriss / Louise
Audrey Totter
Dr. Helen Koenig / Anna Lederer / Edna Shaddick
Cameron Mitchell
San
Vincent Price
Gideon Rone / Dr. Farrin / Casey Lodge
Edward Andrews
Arnold / George Emlen
Dane Clark
Detective Nick Vallejo / Harry Harper
Mary Astor
Martha / Ethel Allen / Mrs. Harriss / Clarissa Bowman
Judith Evelyn
Susan Garsten / Lydia / Evelyn / Nurse Helm
Shelley Winters
Leona Stevenson / Carol / Margaret Corey / Ethel / Lillian / Ann
Jan Sterling
Dinah Lake / Audrey Caldwell
Peter Graves
Stanley / Steve Baxter
Constance Ford
Ellen MacKenzie / Helen / Harriet Adams
Skip Homeier
Tim / John Moran / Dr. Landry
Lon Chaney Jr.
Old Man Hawley / Frank Wiggins
Lee Marvin
'Little Man' Brush / Mannon Tate / Capt. Cavallero
Michael Rennie
'Irish' Sean Dillon / James MacLennan / Lorenzo / Dr. Fitzroy / Charles Martin Westling / Lord Edward Dominey / Major Ge...
John Forsythe
Tommy Jordan / Frank Colby / Adam Barclay / Joe Sullivan / Graham Johnson
Kevin McCarthy
Brooks / Halsey / Hal Carmichael
Franchot Tone
Henry Hutton / Dr. Ken Jaynes / Kurt Baumann / Scott Malone
Robert H. Harris
Porfear / Grady
Joe Mantell
Angelo / Chet Martin / Father Maclyn
Eduardo Ciannelli
Mr. Brenero / Martinez / Papa Raoul / Amelio / Guilio
Guy Madison
Werner Klemperer
Hugh Beaumont
Queenie Leonard
Mimi Gibson
Tyler McVey
Marjorie Lord
Hilda Plowright
Dorothy Adams
Sheila Bromley
Rick Vallin
Lenore Kingston
Lillian Bronson
Leonard Carey
Anthony Eustrel
Louis Jean Heydt
Melville Cooper
Paula Winslowe
Paul Cavanagh
Milton Parsons
Paul Guilfoyle
Martin E. Brooks
Jay Novello
Robert B. Williams
Nestor Paiva
Mona Freeman
Cynthia Crane / Mary Piersall / Helen / Polly / Sylvia Marshall
Steven Geray
David O'Brien
Tiger Fafara
Don Brodie
Mari Blanchard
George Brent
Paul Picerni
Ivan Triesault
Hans Conried
Kim Hunter
Barbara Williams / Lynn Griffith / Ann Brewster
Vera Miles
Jan Michaels / Sally Jordan / Janet Reese
Rita Moreno
Irene / Denise Cardoza / Francesca / Maria
Sidney Blackmer
Prrof. Watson / Frank Bellason
Don Taylor
Julian Coates / John Appleby / Timothy Colt
Alexander Scourby
David Potter / Eric Betzdorff / Frank Martin
Margaret O'Brien
Chip / Angie Hawley / Kathy Fathian
Steve Forrest
Ben / Tom Gardener / Pete Mayer
Anne Francis
Teddy Baxter / Mary Bellason
Dewey Martin
Tom Coulter / Emmett Shore / Steve Hammond / Rocky Webb
Shepperd Strudwick
Doc / Bert / Dr. Giffin / Father
Betty Furness
Ann Kilgore / Beth Jaynes
Harry Townes
Mr. Stagg / Reverend Muir / Joe Barron / Baker / Sheriff Will Brennan / Don Randall / Arthur Cook / Harry Collier
John Ericson
Lindy Jackson / William Herrick / Cameron Lacey
Everett Sloane
Uncle Max Brewster / Dave Dixon / Joseph Nezumi / Dr. Emil Garsten / Matthew Quade / Captain Henry Wirtz
Media.
Details.
Release DateOctober 7, 1954
StatusEnded
Seasons4
Episodes166
Running Time1h
Genres
Last updated:
This TV Show Is About.
anthology
Scripted
Wiki.
Climax! (later known as Climax Mystery Theater) is an American television anthology series that aired on CBS from 1954 to 1958. The series was hosted by William Lundigan and later co-hosted by Mary Costa. It was one of the few CBS programs of that era to be broadcast in color, using the massive TK-40A color cameras pioneered and manufactured by RCA, and used primarily by CBS's rival network, NBC (the broadcasting division of RCA). Many of the episodes were performed and broadcast live, but, although the series was transmitted in color, only black-and-white kinescope copies of some episodes survive to the present day. The series finished at #22 in the Nielsen ratings for the 1955–1956 season and #26 for 1956–1957.
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