(TV Series)

(1953)

User Reviews

Review this title
3 Reviews
Sort by:
Filter by Rating:
7/10
Quite good.
planktonrules26 September 2014
In this episode of "Four Star Playhouse", Charles Boyer stars. However, he doesn't JUST play one role but many--something very unusual and very confusing up until the end--when it all begins to make sense. It is well done and worth seeing.

When the show begins, Boyer is sitting in a box seat in a theater and a play is about to begin. However, a man notices him and voices his surprise to see him here--why you don't get to hear yet because the play is just starting. Next you see a play about a dictator--and the guy is a jerk. And, the guy is played by Boyer--which is confusing, as he's also sitting in the box seat. The confusion mounts when you then see ALL the guys in the play are Boyer. What gives? See the finale and understand....
5 out of 5 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
10/10
Once you're in the theater, you can never escape the theater.
mark.waltz4 February 2021
Warning: Spoilers
A brilliant psychological drama, not only for Charles Boyer as a man sitting in a box at a theater seeing himself in the leading role, but for the audience in trying to figure out what is going on. When a second man shows up and is also played by Boyer within the play, it becomes all the more compelling. Audience members whisper about the man sitting in the box, gossiping about something that happened a year ago, and the mystery becomes all the more compelling.

Patricia Morison, the breathtaking cool beauty who played Kate on Broadway as well as Mrs. Anna, plays the female lead within the play and is as good as Boyer, elegant and regal, having chemistry with both Boyer's. This really builds up in suspense with what is going on in the audience's mind as well as what is going on onstage. A very good teleplay makes you not even want to look away for one second as it's obvious that anything could happen at any moment. A sensational episode in every way with every detail letter perfect.
1 out of 1 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
Chuck can't redeem this shaggy-dog story
lor_20 March 2024
Charles Boyer gets to play four different roles in this frustrating edition of Four Star Playhouse, definitely not his finest hour. I suppose he couldn't refuse the chance to pull an Alec Guinness or Peter Sellers gimmick opportunity. He's "The Man in the Box", sitting in his box overlooking the stage watching a hoary drama being performed. On stage Boyer is the dictator of a country in turmoil who's informed by his servant that an assassination attempt targeting him is supposed to occur at midnight. He distrust his beautiful wife (Patricia Morison) who he believes is in love with General Topaz, the insurgent he believes will come to kiil him.

The turgid play unfolds drearily, with an extremely predictable plot twist. Eventually it comes to an end and we finally discover what is the secret about this man in the box.

The writing team of Gwen and John Bagni concocted this stinker, and were clearly proud of their prime gimmick, but I was not impressed.
1 out of 3 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

See also

Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews


Recently Viewed