The Barbara Stanwyck Show, Vol. 2 (1960) Review

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(More customer reviews)Hot on the heels of the successful 2009 DVD release of "The Barbara Stanwyck Show" - Volume 1, E1 Entertainment has gone back to the vault to come up with this second collection of Miss Stanwyck's outstanding anthology television series. Newly restored and remastered in association with the Archive of American Television, this new DVD set will include 12 additional episodes of the classic 1960-1961 series, plus a rare bonus program that was never broadcast!
The fact is that most of these video treasures have been unseen by the general public for almost 50 years. The series was cancelled by NBC after its first season - despite Miss Stanwyck's Emmy win for Outstanding Actress in a Television Series (lead). After a handful of episodes were rerun during the summer of 1961, the films were never shown in syndication, and for many years, most of the programs were considered "lost".
This new collection picks up with the 23rd show to be aired, "The Golden Acres", and concludes with the 36th (and last) episode, "A Man's Game", which was broadcast in July of 1961 after the series was already in re-runs for the summer season. Missing are episode 27, "Call Me Annie" (alternately titled: "The Hunter Baby"), which was the pilot for a proposed new series starring Peggy Cass which Stanwyck only hosted, and episode 33, "Triple C", a western drama in which Stanwyck starred with James Philbrook and Stewart Bradley.
Here's hoping the nine missing episodes from Volumes 1 and 2 of "The Barbara Stanwyck Show" are someday found, restored and released on DVD - but in the meantime, the fact that the majority of these wonderful half hours are now available is ample cause for her many loyal fans to celebrate!
EPISODES INCLUDED:
"The Golden Acres" (originally aired 03.13.1961). Avis Fleming (Stanwyck) learns that a large firm is willing to pay a handsome price for a piece of land now owned by a friend of her family who's almost broke. Pretending to help him out, Avis purchases his land - planning to make a huge profit when she resells it. Kent Smith, Robert Emhardt, and John McGiver guest star.
"Adventure on Happiness Street" (03.20.1961). Stanwyck re-creates the character of Josephine Little, female tycoon of a Hong Kong import-export business. Josephine wants to help Dr. Paul Harris (Lew Ayres) get much-needed medicine for his clinic - which she thinks she can do by simply using her business contacts. Robert Culp also stars.
"High Tension" (03.27.1961). A snapped power line resulting from a bus accident endangers the life of Fran Elick's (Stanwyck) son Davey (Tony Maxwell). Her frantic attempts to warn the boy are hampered by the fact that he is a deaf-mute. The supporting cast includes Nora Marlowe and Richard Hale.
"Sign of the Zodiac" (04.03.1961). When the smooth talking Pierre (Dan Duryea) enters the lives of sisters Madge and Helene Terry (Stanwyck and Joan Blondell), all hell breaks loose.
"The Choice" (04.17.1961). It's closing time at Amanda Prescott's bar and restaurant, but two of her patrons ominously refuse to leave - and soon it looks as though Amanda (Stanwyck) may be a prisoner in her own establishment. Robert Horton and James Best co-star.
"Frightened Doll" (04.24.1961). Lonely Hazel Wexley (Stanwyck) meets a gangster named Jake Lytell (Harold J. Stone). Happy with him until he dies of a heart attack, she is flabbergasted when she finds a satchel with a fortune in it. Wallace Ford, Rex Holman and Jack Searl guest star.
"Yanqui Go Home" (05.01.1961). Porfiro (Rodolfo Acosta) hates Fanny Evans (Stanwyck) and her husband Clint (Dana Andrews) so much, he will stop at nothing to get rid of them.
"Little Big Mouth" (05.08.1961). The manner in which Indian agent Mark Carroll (Buddy Ebsen) pursues his duties may be unorthodox, but he is never inconsiderate. Back East, however, a dim view is taken of Carroll's activities and newspaperwoman Nellie Bly (Stanwyck) heads West to expose him. The guest cast includes Judy Strangis (as Little Big Mouth), Lane Bradford, and Roberto Contreras.

"Assassin" (05.15.1961). After the death of senior partner F.R. Monson at the firm of Monson & Carlisle, his secretary Louise (Stanwyck) is accused of embezzlement by the remaining partner. Threatening her with arrest, Carlisle (Leon Ames) wants Louise to payback every missing cent. Louise eventually undercovers a diabolical plot against herself as well - as a business cover-up. Peter Falk co-stars.
"The Hitch-Hiker" (05.29.1961). Lawyer Maggie McClay (Stanwyck) and her husband Mac (Joseph Cotten) see an immigrant girl named Anna (Elana Eden) collapse from exhaustion along the roadside. Taking her home, Maggie learns that Anna has been widowed and is leaving town to prevent her husband's grandmother from gaining custody of her child. Amy Douglas, Addison Richards, and Celia Lovsky play supporting roles.
"Big Jake" (06.05.1961). In this unsold pilot for a proposed series starring Andy Devine, Detective Jake Sloan (Devine) finally has the goods on safecracker Willie Teeter (John Harmon). But solid evidence or not, Jake gets a jolt when ex-convict Sam Lundborg (John Qualen) confesses to Willie's crime. Stanwyck introduces - but does not appear - in this episode which also features Jonathan Gilmore and Paul Bryar.

"A Man's Game" (07.03.1961). In the last first-run episode of the show to be broadcast, Chris Matthews (Stanwyck) is a lady saloonkeeper who has been losing a lot of her best customers in local gunfights. What the town needs, she decides, is a strong sheriff - so she volunteers for the job! Edgar Buchanan, Charles Drake, Clinton Sundberg, Jason Johnson and Sam Buffington guest star.
DVD BONUS FEATURES:
1. A never-aired episode, "Hong Kong and Little Joe"
2. A 16 page booklet including contributions by Kate Edelman Johnson


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In the stunningly acted and critically acclaimed NBC anthology series, The Barbara Stanwyck Show, the beloved actress served as host and starred in many of the productions. This collection showcases 12 memorable dramas from the Emmy-winning series.
Featuring performances from Dana Andrews, James Best, Joan Blondell, Joseph Cotten, Robert Culp, Buddy Ebsen, Peter Falk, Lawrence Tierney and more!
Includes the dramas: The Golden Acres, Adventure on Happiness Street, High Tension, Sign of the Zodiac, The Choice, Frightened Doll, Yanqui Go Home, Little Big Mouth, Assassin, The Hitch-Hiker, Big Jake,A Man\'s Game
Exclusive Bonus Features:Never-Before-Seen Unaired Episode "Hong Kong and Little Joe"Barbara Stanwyck\'s 1961 Emmy acceptance speech for "Best Actress in a Dramatic Series"16-page booklet with episode summaries and written contributions by Kate Edelman Johnson

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