HALLMARK HALL OF FAME: BLITHE SPIRIT (TV)
Summary
One in this series of dramas presented by Hallmark. This "improbable farce" by Noel Coward focuses on marriage -- in this world and the next.
The spirit of Charles's late wife, Elvira, is accidentally brought back during a seance with spiritualist Madame Arcati. Elvira, still in love with Charles and visible only to him, tries to kill him so that they may reunite but accidentally kills Charles's present wife, Ruth.
Madame Arcati calls on Charles to help him exorcise Elvira, and they inadvertently bring back Ruth. The two bickering wives demand to be returned, and when it is discovered that Edith, the maid, is responsible for somehow summoning the spirits, a successful exorcism is performed. Charles leaves, happy to be free again. Commercials deleted.
("Hallmark Hall of Fame" aired on NBC from 1952 to 1978; network affiliation varies after 1978.)
(Beginning with the live telecast of the opera "Amahl and the Night Visitors" on December 24, 1951, Hallmark has sponsored a series of dramatic specials which since 1952 have been titled "Hallmark Hall of Fame." From 1952 to 1955 Hallmark also presented "Hallmark Hall of Fame," a weekly half-hour dramatic anthology series hosted by Sarah Churchill. The first program, "Dr. Serocold," was televised in January 1952 under the title "Hallmark Television Theatre." This series also ran under the title "Hallmark Summer Theatre" in July and August 1952.)
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: December 7, 1966 7:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:17:06
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T81:0856
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: Comedy
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1951-1978
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- George Schaefer … Producer, Director
- Robert Hartung … Associate Producer, Adapted by
- Noel Coward … Writer
- Bernard Green … Music by
- Dirk Bogarde … Cast, Charles
- Rosemary Harris … Cast, Elvira
- Rachel Roberts … Cast, Ruth
- Ruth Gordon … Cast, Madame Arcati
- Geoffrey Lumb … Cast, Dr. George Bradman
- Joan White … Cast, Mrs. Bradman
- Mildred Trares … Cast, Edith