ROBERT MONTGOMERY PRESENTS: CATCH A FALLING STAR (TV)
Summary
One in this live dramatic anthology series produced and hosted by Robert Montgomery.
Hollywood actor Kenneth “Ken” Reed hosts a lavish party at his home, and his guests appear to have a good time. However, Ken’s agent Jim is concerned about him, as he has not gotten any acting work in some time and has deluded himself into believing that he is still as famous and beloved as he used to be. His contract has nearly expired and he is experiencing financial trouble, but Ken does not seem to acknowledge this. Meanwhile, Ken talks with his daughter Julie about the party; she very much looks up to her father and enjoys the lifestyle that his success affords the family. Jim tries to speak to Ken about getting him a supporting role in an upcoming film, but Ken is uninterested in it, feeling that the part is beneath him and that he is only fit for leading roles. Ken says he is worried about becoming “just another actor” rather than his long stint as a leading man. Jim, upset that Ken seems unwilling to listen to him, leaves. Linda, Ken’s wife, attempts to convince him to reconsider Jim’s offer, and he seems to mull it over.
The next day, Ken goes to visit Mr. Berman, a studio executive. Berman notes that the film business is changing rapidly, partially due to television, and says that Ken is no longer fully apprised of the way the industry works. They argue about Ken’s relevancy and lack thereof to modern film-watching audiences; Ken insists that he is capable of playing different types of parts than in the past, but Berman counters that the public would not “believe” in him in such roles. Ken becomes angry and nearly strikes Berman, but lets him go and leaves. Word of this encounter spreads, making Ken persona non grata amongst Hollywood executives. He decides to travel up to New York to try auditioning for Broadway, but after six weeks he remains without work. Jim suggests trying his hand at television, but Ken refuses unless his asking price is met. He and Ken meet with a young theater producer, Mr. Douglas, at Sardi’s. They talk for a while and then go to a reading for a play Douglas is producing, which he intends to cast Ken in. Ken crates friction due to his criteria for appearing in the play, and Jim talks to him in private. Ken feels insulted that Douglas asks him to read with the cast, feeling as though he is being patronized by Douglas and Jim, and leaves.
Julie becomes upset when she learns that her mother is putting some of her house’s possessions in storage and apparently intends to move into a smaller house in order to save on expenses. She views it as an insult to the family’s good name. Ken doesn’t get the part in Douglas’s play, and Linda informs him that she has already rented out the house. Julie comes to visit Ken in New York and explains that she needed to see him after her fight with her mother, seemingly unaware of the full implications of the family’s financial situation. They go out together and run into Berman, much to Ken’s displeasure. Ken receives a telegram from Jim explaining that he has landed him a deal for a lead role in a television series, although he will have to provide a screen test as a “mere formality.” Julie feels that the idea is insulting, but Ken finally admits that he has no other options and that he is considering taking the screen test. He decides to do so, and Julie finally admits that she was not being honest with herself about her father’s career slump.
Ken returns to Hollywood in order to shoot his screen test at NBC’s Burbank studio. Julie continues to come to grips with the realization of her father’s situation and identity. The screen test is set up and Jim talks with the director, who indicates that he does not particularly care for Ken and is only testing him as per instructions from the studio. Ken becomes uneasy when he sees Lance Harper, another actor testing for the part, go on to do his test. He and Jim argue about this development and Jim convinces him to go through with the screen test. Ken meets Bob Millis, the young director of the television series, and Jim convinces Bob to be polite to Ken. Berman arrives as well, curious about Ken’s screen test. Just before he goes on, he confides in Jim that he has grown dissatisfied with his lifestyle, calling his palatial estate “an eyesore.” The test begins, and Ken finds that he is too nervous to complete it properly, fumbling over his lines. However, he starts again and is able to go through with the screen test, impressing everyone assembled with his more nuanced performance. Berman congratulates him personally, revealing that he is in charge of the company producing the television series. He admits that Ken is perfect for the role, and Ken accepts the part.
Includes an in-studio commercial for Johnson’s wax with Margaret Scott.
(Series title varies according to sponsor; complete title for this program is "Robert Montgomery Presents: the Johnson’s Wax Summer Theatre: The Last Tycoon.")
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: July 23, 1956 9:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:59:22
- COLOR/B&W: B&W
- CATALOG ID: B:23041
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: TV - Drama
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1950-1957
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV – Commercials – Johnson’s wax products
- TV – Commercials – Raid insecticide
- TV – Commercials – Schick shaving razors
CREDITS
- Robert Montgomery … Producer
- James Beach … Director
- David Levy … Writer
- Raymond Scott … Composer, Conductor
- Gilbert Seldes … Host
- Bob Stanton … Announcer
- Charles Drake … Cast, Kenneth Reed
- Elizabeth Montgomery … Cast, Julie Reed
- Jan Miner … Cast, Linda Reed
- Tom Middleton … Cast, The TV Director
- John Gibson … Cast, Jim Lane
- Mary K. Wells … Cast, Mary Gray
- Sam Gray … Cast, Mr. Berman
- Ross Martin … Cast, Roger Douglas
- Tom Gorman … Cast, Everard Charles
- Kathern Shaw … Cast, Cathy Powers
- Anthony Messuri … Cast, The Hotel Clerk
- Vincent Sardi … Cast, Himself
- Margaret Scott … Talent, Johnson's Wax Commercial