205:
183:
38:
948:
became an alternate sponsor when it became a weekly series in the fall of 1953 (both sponsors' names alternated as part of the show's title in its initial broadcasts). From
September 1952 through September 1954 it was broadcast on Thursdays from 8:30 to 9 p.m. Eastern Time. In October 1954, it was
1205:
Four Star was founded in 1952 by Dick Powell and David Niven with the sole aim of producing one top-quality dramatic series: 'Four Star
Playhouse.' It was an immediate success and soon launched Four Star into network production on a major
1233:). Upon his return to London, William mentions the ominous meeting to his business associates, who inform Langford of its impossibility—the man he claims to have seen is dead! Predictable but performed by master actors, it prefigured
1149:. In 1956 it was named the best syndicated dramatic show in Billboard's Fourth Annual Program and Talent Awards. Powell was named the best dramatic performer in the competition, and Niven took second place in that category.
952:
While it never made the
Nielsen Top 30, the ratings were sufficient to keep it on the air for four seasons. In 1954, Billboard voted it the second best filmed network television drama series.
1458:
971:, aired here (under that title, February 25, 1954), as did another episode in which Lovejoy recreated his role of Chicago newspaper reporter Randy Stone, from the radio drama
1468:
1438:
1463:
1453:
1448:
1443:
1218:
1303:
297:
Powell portrayed the recurring character of illegal gambling-house operator Willie Dante. The character was later revamped and spun off in his own
1360:
204:
1229:. William Langford (David Niven) is a London businessman who has a rather icy encounter with the titular 'Man' (Alan Napier, Alfred on TV's
360:
17:
247:. Its episodes ranged anywhere from surreal mysteries, such as "The Man on the Train", to light comedies, such as "The Lost Silk Hat".
1175:
1287:
387:
1261:
The Lord
Dunsany play, 'The Lost Silk Hat,' was given a delightful, whimsical production on 'Four Star Playhouse' Thursday (23).
1433:
1330:
958:
was among the writers and directors who contributed to the series, making his debut as a director on the program in 1952.
973:
1020:
381:
37:
480:
375:
1225:. p. 35. Retrieved July 23, 2024. "The ghost theme continues in 'The Man on the Train' (1953), from
1252:
1196:
816:
558:
188:
182:
705:
945:
861:
456:
244:
134:
61:
666:
909:
462:
426:
330:
570:
941:
885:
795:
672:
474:
342:
1408:
867:
855:
1395:
1283:
1171:
1105:
1038:
949:
moved to 9:30 to 10 p.m. E. T. on
Thursdays, remaining in that slot for the rest of its run.
642:
298:
274:
had replaced McCrea and
Russell. In addition to those four stars, other performers, including
1417:
1412:
741:
735:
600:
498:
438:
348:
259:
232:
51:
927:
879:
837:
831:
804:
678:
648:
540:
510:
492:
408:
1008:
897:
771:
765:
729:
660:
582:
516:
1427:
1400:
1072:
1032:
1026:
1014:
1002:
996:
968:
955:
849:
747:
723:
717:
630:
618:
612:
552:
504:
468:
444:
420:
396:
291:
283:
279:
275:
251:
210:
79:
921:
903:
810:
789:
753:
696:
684:
624:
546:
432:
414:
402:
369:
354:
324:
287:
214:
1338:
1256:
1168:
Total
Television: the Comprehensive Guide to Programming from 1948 to the Present
1200:
990:
963:
873:
843:
825:
783:
777:
759:
711:
690:
654:
606:
594:
588:
522:
336:
318:
302:
267:
263:
255:
192:
84:
74:
1060:
1054:
915:
891:
576:
564:
534:
528:
450:
271:
89:
1247:
Bril. (October 29, 1952). "TV-Films: TELEPIX REVIEWS - FOUR STAR PLAYHOUSE".
1280:
The
Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present
636:
486:
313:
Many actors appeared in different roles in more than one episode, including
1170:(4th ed.). New York, New York: Penguin Books USA, Inc. p. 299.
1389:
1282:(7th ed.). New York: The Ballentine Publishing Group. p. 363.
203:
181:
1191:
Charnay, John (February 11, 1977). "Spotlight on
Syndication".
235:
that ran from
September 25, 1952, through September 27, 1956.
149:
266:
would rotate as stars of episodes. By the time it debuted,
940:
The show was sponsored in its first bi-weekly season by
1361:"First-Run Shows, New Web Reissues Head Syndication"
155:
145:
140:
130:
122:
117:
106:
98:
67:
57:
47:
28:
977:(titled "Search in the Night", November 5, 1953).
1459:Television series by 20th Century Fox Television
250:The original premise for the program was that
8:
16:For the radio program of the same name, see
1084:Frederick J. Lipp in 4 episodes (1954–1955)
1469:American English-language television shows
1439:1950s American anthology television series
702:Alexander Campbell (3 episodes, 1955–1956)
36:
25:
1464:Black-and-white American television shows
1454:Television series by Four Star Television
1069:Frederick Brady in 9 episodes (1954–1956)
986:Directors who worked on the show include
1304:"'Ford' Tops '4 Star' In Network Dramas"
1273:
1271:
1269:
1050:Writers who worked on the show include:
1449:1956 American television series endings
1158:
1123:Robert Eggenweiler in 2 episodes (1956)
1117:Oscar Millard in 2 episodes (1955–1956)
1111:Milton Geiger in 2 episodes (1954–1955)
1093:Marc Brandell in 3 episodes (1954–1956)
1090:Milton Merlin in 3 episodes (1952–1953)
1078:Seeleg Lester in 5 episodes (1953–1954)
1066:Richard Carr in 13 episodes (1954–1956)
1444:1952 American television series debuts
1418:Episode "The Stand-In" with Ida Lupino
1096:László Görög in 3 episodes (1955–1956)
1087:Larry Marcus in 3 episodes (1952–1954)
1099:James Bloodworth in 3 episodes (1956)
7:
1139:Official Films syndicated reruns of
1114:Thelma Robinson in 2 episodes (1954)
801:Ralph Peters (2 episodes, 1954–1956)
1329:Feiwell, Jill (December 12, 2003).
1129:Roland Winters in 2 episodes (1956)
1120:Willard Wiener in 2 episodes (1955)
366:Joan Camden (5 episodes, 1953–1955)
18:Four Star Playhouse (radio program)
1278:Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle (1999).
1081:Merwin Gerard in 4 episodes (1953)
393:Gene Hardy (4 episodes, 1953–1956)
23:1952 American TV series or program
14:
243:Four Star Playhouse was owned by
1217:Veilette, Eric (December 2009).
294:occasionally had leading roles.
1219:"The Ghosts in Johnny's Closet"
1126:Ida Lupino in 2 episodes (1956)
1102:Amory Hare in 2 episodes (1953)
822:William Swan (2 episodes, 1956)
217:in episode "Second Dawn" (1954)
107:
1:
1409:Episode "Ladies on His Mind"
1310:. July 31, 1954. p. 14
1485:
1063:in 13 episodes (1952–1954)
1057:in 15 episodes (1952–1954)
999:in 31 episodes (1952–1956)
993:in 41 episodes (1953–1956)
15:
1367:. July 7, 1956. p. 9
1108:in 2 episodes (1954–1955)
1075:in 7 episodes (1952–1954)
1041:in 2 episodes (1955–1956)
1017:in 5 episodes (1953–1954)
1011:in 5 episodes (1953–1954)
35:
321:(15 episodes, 1952–1956)
1420:at the Internet Archive
1331:"Life Oscar to Edwards"
930:(2 episodes, 1954–1955)
924:(2 episodes, 1954–1955)
918:(2 episodes, 1954–1955)
912:(2 episodes, 1953–1955)
906:(2 episodes, 1953–1956)
900:(2 episodes, 1952–1953)
882:(2 episodes, 1954–1955)
876:(2 episodes, 1953–1954)
852:(2 episodes, 1953–1954)
840:(2 episodes, 1954–1956)
828:(2 episodes, 1953–1956)
819:(2 episodes, 1955–1956)
813:(2 episodes, 1955–1956)
807:(2 episodes, 1954–1955)
798:(2 episodes, 1953–1954)
780:(2 episodes, 1953–1954)
774:(2 episodes, 1953–1954)
768:(2 episodes, 1954–1956)
762:(2 episodes, 1955–1956)
738:(2 episodes, 1954–1956)
726:(2 episodes, 1952–1954)
720:(2 episodes, 1953–1955)
708:(3 episodes, 1955–1956)
699:(3 episodes, 1954–1955)
693:(3 episodes, 1954–1955)
687:(3 episodes, 1954–1956)
681:(3 episodes, 1952–1954)
675:(3 episodes, 1953–1954)
669:(3 episodes, 1953–1954)
663:(3 episodes, 1952–1955)
657:(3 episodes, 1954–1956)
651:(3 episodes, 1952–1954)
645:(3 episodes, 1954–1956)
639:(3 episodes, 1954–1956)
633:(3 episodes, 1953–1956)
627:(3 episodes, 1954–1955)
621:(3 episodes, 1954–1955)
615:(3 episodes, 1952–1955)
609:(3 episodes, 1952–1955)
603:(3 episodes, 1953–1954)
597:(3 episodes, 1953–1955)
591:(3 episodes, 1952–1955)
585:(3 episodes, 1954–1956)
579:(3 episodes, 1954–1956)
567:(3 episodes, 1953–1954)
561:(3 episodes, 1953–1956)
555:(3 episodes, 1955–1956)
549:(3 episodes, 1954–1956)
543:(3 episodes, 1953–1955)
537:(3 episodes, 1953–1956)
531:(3 episodes, 1954–1955)
525:(3 episodes, 1953–1955)
519:(3 episodes, 1953–1956)
513:(3 episodes, 1954–1956)
507:(3 episodes, 1953–1956)
501:(4 episodes, 1953–1956)
495:(4 episodes, 1952–1956)
489:(4 episodes, 1954–1955)
483:(4 episodes, 1952–1955)
477:(4 episodes, 1953–1956)
471:(4 episodes, 1954–1955)
465:(4 episodes, 1953–1954)
459:(4 episodes, 1954–1956)
453:(4 episodes, 1955–1956)
447:(4 episodes, 1954–1956)
441:(4 episodes, 1953–1956)
435:(4 episodes, 1952–1956)
429:(4 episodes, 1954–1956)
423:(4 episodes, 1955–1956)
417:(4 episodes, 1953–1955)
411:(4 episodes, 1954–1956)
405:(4 episodes, 1953–1955)
399:(4 episodes, 1952–1954)
390:(4 episodes, 1953–1956)
384:(5 episodes, 1953–1955)
378:(5 episodes, 1953–1955)
372:(5 episodes, 1955–1956)
363:(6 episodes, 1952–1955)
357:(6 episodes, 1953–1956)
351:(6 episodes, 1955–1956)
345:(6 episodes, 1952–1956)
339:(7 episodes, 1954–1956)
333:(7 episodes, 1953–1956)
327:(8 episodes, 1952–1956)
245:Four Star International
135:Four Star International
62:Four Star International
219:
201:
1434:CBS television dramas
1405:at Classic TV Archive
1166:McNeil, Alex (1996).
207:
185:
1035:in 2 episodes (1954)
1029:in 3 episodes (1956)
1023:in 3 episodes (1954)
1005:in 7 episodes (1956)
481:William F. Leicester
1402:Four Star Playhouse
1391:Four Star Playhouse
1227:Four Star Playhouse
1141:Four Star Playhouse
910:Barbara Billingsley
224:Four Star Playhouse
30:Four Star Playhouse
942:The Singer Company
894:(2 episodes, 1954)
888:(2 episodes, 1954)
886:Marguerite Chapman
870:(2 episodes, 1956)
864:(2 episodes, 1956)
858:(2 episodes, 1954)
846:(2 episodes, 1955)
834:(2 episodes, 1953)
796:Virginia Christine
792:(2 episodes, 1956)
786:(2 episodes, 1953)
756:(2 episodes, 1955)
750:(2 episodes, 1956)
744:(2 episodes, 1953)
732:(2 episodes, 1953)
714:(3 episodes, 1956)
573:(3 episodes, 1954)
220:
202:
169:September 27, 1956
159:September 25, 1952
131:Production company
1341:on March 29, 2015
1235:The Twilight Zone
1106:Octavus Roy Cohen
1039:William A. Seiter
643:Frank J. Scannell
231:) is an American
180:
179:
99:Country of origin
1476:
1413:Internet Archive
1377:
1376:
1374:
1372:
1357:
1351:
1350:
1348:
1346:
1337:. Archived from
1326:
1320:
1319:
1317:
1315:
1300:
1294:
1293:
1275:
1264:
1263:
1244:
1238:
1215:
1209:
1208:
1188:
1182:
1181:
1163:
1146:Star Performance
1143:under the title
742:Elisabeth Fraser
736:Beverly Washburn
706:Norbert Schiller
601:Frances Rafferty
499:Barbara Lawrence
439:Walter Kingsford
349:Christopher Dark
260:Rosalind Russell
233:anthology series
229:Star Performance
176:
174:
166:
164:
141:Original release
109:
40:
26:
1484:
1483:
1479:
1478:
1477:
1475:
1474:
1473:
1424:
1423:
1386:
1381:
1380:
1370:
1368:
1359:
1358:
1354:
1344:
1342:
1328:
1327:
1323:
1313:
1311:
1302:
1301:
1297:
1290:
1277:
1276:
1267:
1246:
1245:
1241:
1216:
1212:
1190:
1189:
1185:
1178:
1165:
1164:
1160:
1155:
1137:
1132:
1048:
983:
938:
933:
928:Robert J. Wilke
880:Angela Lansbury
862:Jeanne Ferguson
838:Gloria Marshall
832:Lucille Barkley
805:Anthony Eustrel
679:Claire Carleton
649:George Macready
541:Lawrence Dobkin
511:Joanne Woodward
493:Brooks Benedict
409:Beverly Garland
382:William Forrest
311:
241:
227:(syndicated as
218:
200:
172:
170:
168:
162:
160:
94:
43:
24:
21:
12:
11:
5:
1482:
1480:
1472:
1471:
1466:
1461:
1456:
1451:
1446:
1441:
1436:
1426:
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1415:
1406:
1398:
1385:
1384:External links
1382:
1379:
1378:
1352:
1321:
1295:
1288:
1265:
1251:. p. 28.
1239:
1237:by six years."
1210:
1195:. p. 55.
1183:
1177:0-14-02-4916-8
1176:
1157:
1156:
1154:
1151:
1136:
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1131:
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1127:
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1070:
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1064:
1058:
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1044:
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1042:
1036:
1030:
1024:
1021:Frank McDonald
1018:
1012:
1009:Robert Aldrich
1006:
1000:
994:
984:
982:
979:
961:The pilot for
937:
934:
932:
931:
925:
919:
913:
907:
901:
898:Hillary Brooke
895:
889:
883:
877:
871:
865:
859:
853:
847:
841:
835:
829:
823:
820:
814:
808:
802:
799:
793:
787:
781:
775:
772:Larry J. Blake
769:
766:Willis Bouchey
763:
757:
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745:
739:
733:
730:James Millican
727:
721:
715:
709:
703:
700:
694:
688:
682:
676:
670:
667:Leonard Bremen
664:
661:William Boyett
658:
652:
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628:
622:
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610:
604:
598:
592:
586:
583:Herbert Lytton
580:
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568:
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538:
532:
526:
520:
517:Jeanette Nolan
514:
508:
502:
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472:
466:
460:
454:
448:
442:
436:
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424:
418:
412:
406:
400:
394:
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385:
379:
376:Richard Reeves
373:
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1340:
1336:
1335:Daily Variety
1332:
1325:
1322:
1309:
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1299:
1296:
1291:
1289:0-345-42923-0
1285:
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1162:
1159:
1152:
1150:
1148:
1147:
1142:
1134:
1128:
1125:
1122:
1119:
1116:
1113:
1110:
1107:
1104:
1101:
1098:
1095:
1092:
1089:
1086:
1083:
1080:
1077:
1074:
1073:Blake Edwards
1071:
1068:
1065:
1062:
1059:
1056:
1053:
1052:
1051:
1045:
1040:
1037:
1034:
1033:William Asher
1031:
1028:
1027:Laslo Benedek
1025:
1022:
1019:
1016:
1015:Blake Edwards
1013:
1010:
1007:
1004:
1003:Richard Kinon
1001:
998:
997:Robert Florey
995:
992:
989:
988:
987:
980:
978:
976:
975:
970:
969:Frank Lovejoy
966:
965:
959:
957:
956:Blake Edwards
953:
950:
947:
946:Bristol-Myers
943:
935:
929:
926:
923:
920:
917:
914:
911:
908:
905:
902:
899:
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893:
890:
887:
884:
881:
878:
875:
872:
869:
866:
863:
860:
857:
854:
851:
850:Frank Gerstle
848:
845:
842:
839:
836:
833:
830:
827:
824:
821:
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815:
812:
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806:
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788:
785:
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764:
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755:
752:
749:
748:Maxine Cooper
746:
743:
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737:
734:
731:
728:
725:
724:Virginia Grey
722:
719:
718:Joan Fontaine
716:
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707:
704:
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689:
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656:
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650:
647:
644:
641:
638:
635:
632:
631:Harry Bartell
629:
626:
623:
620:
619:Chuck Connors
617:
614:
613:Howard McNear
611:
608:
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602:
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587:
584:
581:
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559:Craig Stevens
557:
554:
553:Morris Ankrum
551:
548:
545:
542:
539:
536:
533:
530:
527:
524:
521:
518:
515:
512:
509:
506:
505:Frank Lovejoy
503:
500:
497:
494:
491:
488:
485:
482:
479:
476:
473:
470:
469:John Doucette
467:
464:
461:
458:
455:
452:
449:
446:
445:Hugh Beaumont
443:
440:
437:
434:
431:
428:
427:Joseph Waring
425:
422:
421:Berry Kroeger
419:
416:
413:
410:
407:
404:
401:
398:
397:Ronald Colman
395:
392:
389:
388:Dorothy Green
386:
383:
380:
377:
374:
371:
368:
365:
362:
361:Rhys Williams
359:
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353:
350:
347:
344:
341:
338:
335:
332:
329:
326:
323:
320:
317:
316:
314:
308:
306:
304:
300:
295:
293:
292:Teresa Wright
289:
285:
284:Frank Lovejoy
281:
280:Joan Fontaine
277:
276:Ronald Colman
273:
269:
265:
261:
257:
253:
252:Charles Boyer
248:
246:
238:
236:
234:
230:
226:
225:
216:
212:
211:Charles Boyer
206:
198:
194:
190:
189:Adam Williams
184:
158:
154:
151:
148:
144:
139:
136:
133:
129:
125:
121:
116:
112:
105:
102:United States
101:
97:
91:
88:
86:
83:
81:
80:Charles Boyer
78:
76:
73:
72:
70:
66:
63:
60:
56:
53:
50:
46:
39:
34:
31:
27:
19:
1401:
1390:
1369:. Retrieved
1364:
1355:
1343:. Retrieved
1339:the original
1334:
1324:
1312:. Retrieved
1307:
1298:
1279:
1260:
1248:
1242:
1234:
1230:
1226:
1222:
1213:
1204:
1192:
1186:
1167:
1161:
1145:
1144:
1140:
1138:
1049:
985:
972:
962:
960:
954:
951:
939:
922:Paul Picerni
904:Stacy Harris
811:Irene Tedrow
790:Harry Lauter
754:Steven Geray
697:Hugh Sanders
685:Ross Elliott
625:Edward Platt
571:Ted Stanhope
547:Arthur Space
457:Lewis Martin
433:Walter Sande
415:Nestor Paiva
403:Merle Oberon
370:Alan Mowbray
355:Richard Hale
325:Regis Toomey
312:
296:
288:Merle Oberon
249:
242:
228:
223:
222:
221:
215:Dorothy Hart
196:
123:Running time
29:
1135:Syndication
991:Roy Kellino
967:, starring
964:Meet McGraw
874:Martha Hyer
844:Jimmy Baird
826:Nick Dennis
784:Alix Talton
778:Ellen Corby
760:Tris Coffin
712:Nolan Leary
691:John Dehner
655:Don Shelton
607:Jay Novello
595:Jean Willes
589:Noreen Nash
523:Jean Howell
475:Alex Frazer
463:John Harmon
337:Robert Bice
331:Ralph Moody
319:Herb Vigran
303:Howard Duff
268:David Niven
264:Joel McCrea
256:Dick Powell
195:in episode
193:David Niven
110:of episodes
85:Dick Powell
75:David Niven
1428:Categories
1345:21 January
1257:1032341645
1223:Rue Morgue
1193:Back Stage
1153:References
1061:John Bagni
1055:Gwen Bagni
936:Production
916:Hal Baylor
892:Vera Miles
868:Tony Dante
856:Jack Lomas
817:Tim Graham
673:John Alvin
577:Paul Bryar
565:Joan Banks
535:James Seay
529:Dick Foran
451:Walter Coy
343:Ray Walker
272:Ida Lupino
197:Night Ride
173:1956-09-27
163:1952-09-25
126:25 minutes
118:Production
90:Ida Lupino
58:Created by
42:Title card
1365:Billboard
1308:Billboard
1201:963037768
981:Directors
974:Nightbeat
637:John Hoyt
487:Sam Flint
301:starring
52:Anthology
1371:July 24,
1314:July 21,
1253:ProQuest
1197:ProQuest
239:Overview
68:Starring
1411:at the
1249:Variety
1046:Writers
199:(1953)
171: (
167: –
161: (
156:Release
146:Network
1286:
1255:
1231:Batman
1206:scale.
1199:
1174:
299:series
290:, and
262:, and
191:&
209:L–R:
187:L–R:
48:Genre
1396:IMDb
1373:2024
1347:2015
1316:2024
1284:ISBN
1172:ISBN
309:Cast
270:and
213:and
1394:at
150:CBS
113:129
108:No.
1430::
1363:.
1333:.
1306:.
1268:^
1259:.
1221:.
1203:.
944:.
305:.
286:,
282:,
278:,
258:,
254:,
1375:.
1349:.
1318:.
1292:.
1180:.
175:)
165:)
20:.
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