In "America's Boyfriend," the wife of a former Hollywood star tries to find the "pretty lady" their two year old son keeps mentioning to her.
Dickie Keith is a former child-star who is now a washed-up actor. His wife works and pays all of the bills, while Dickie takes care of their son during the day. She is resentful, but her thirty-three year old husband continues to believe that he is convincing as a teenage actor.
During an unpleasant meeting with his agent, Dickie is finally told that he has become unemployable. Dickie then assaults his agent, Harry Landman, but not very effectively.
Later, when Landman's murdered body is discovered, the police quickly suspect Dickie. He seems to have disappeared, but perhaps the "pretty lady" their son talks about can help.
"America's Boyfriend" was written by Sydney Renthal and produced/directed by William N. Robson. Mercedes McCambridge starred. This episode aired on July 21, 1957.
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I saw Mercedes McCambridge in "Johnny Guitar" recently and it's interesting to contrast her unsympathetic character in the movie to the protagonist in this episode. She had a wonderfully unique voice and a wide range of roles that she was capable of filling.
Posted by: Grigs | March 10, 2009 at 06:24 PM
True, she did play a variety of roles. For some reason, I don't know why, I just always associate her with that Lights Out episode "It Happened" a.k.a."Call Her Jean." (The one where she is kidnapped by a madman who lives in the Paris sewers.) Crazy episode.
Posted by: Cmillinsf | March 15, 2009 at 09:02 AM