Theodore's World

Artists: Gipsy Kings

Track:”Trista Pena”
Genre: Catalan rumba

This is the full scene featuring the famous Argentine Tango from Valentino (1951), starring Anthony Dexter and Patricia Medina. Dexter, a virtual lookalike to the real Rudolph Valentino, was a dancer in real life. Unlike today’s refined “ballroom tango,” this tango makes use of a whip in the opening and closing moments, and Dexter is wearing real spurs. The original tango was often passionate and savage, and evolved in the barios of South America in the mid to late 1800s. It eventually became a popular salon dance in Victorian society.

No other tango sequence has matched the brilliant choreography found in this scene from the 1951 film. It has never yet been recreated for any other film or in live performance. The dancing part of the scene was likely filmed in one take, using a number of cameras for the angles and kinds of shots.

In mid-dance, Anthony Dexter as the gaucho appears to pull a few unrehearsed moves, and the surprise can clearly be seen on Patricia’s face. As good a dancer as he was, Dexter was able to bring all the steps together with perfect timing, and they concluded the dance with another unique and original move, ending with a kiss.

The cast:
Anthony Dexter as Rudolph Valentino
Eleanor Parker as Joan Carlisle / Sarah Gray
Richard Carlson as William ‘Bill’ King
Patricia Medina as Lila Reyes
Joseph Calleia as Luigi Verducci
Dona Drake as Maria Torres
Lloyd Gough as Eddie Morgan
Otto Kruger as Mark Towers

The song, considered to be the tango of all tangos:
La Cumparsita

The GOLDEN AGE of TELEVISION: This episode, originally from season 4 of the anthology series Four Star Playhouse, was first broadcast by CBS on January 26, 1956. Restored and edited by PizzaFLIX with recreated titles.

Stars: Dick Powell, Frances Bergen, Herb Vigran
Director: William A. Seiter
Created by: Blake Edwards

After a dangerous dame makes a move on Willie Dante at his nightclub, her husband comes back gunning for him. Dante returns fire in self-defense, but is charged with murder when the assailant’s weapon goes missing! Is this a frame job?

TRIVIA: Originally created by Blake Edwards for the anthology series Four Star Playhouse in 1953~1955. Eight episodes were produced by and starred Dick Powell as Willie Dante, a former card shark turned nightclub operator with a not-so-secret casino tucked in the back. The show was revisited in 1960 by producer Dick Powell as an actual TV series called “Dante,” but this time starred Howard Duff and set in San Francisco instead of Los Angeles.

To the old bar tune “One for my Baby (One More For The Road)” we “Meet McGraw.” He’s a crime fighter played by Frank Lovejoy (1912-1962). Frank’s best known for noir movies (“In a Lonely Place,” “The Hitch Hiker”) and radio fans might remember “Night Beat.” The Bronx born tough guy lasted battled “Broken Arrow” and “To Tell The Truth” for viewers, and a hard boiled detective show seemed like a good alternative. After 42 episodes (1958-59) the show ended, and oddly, few of them have survived in good condition.

Lovejoy said at the time, “I kind of like this guy McGraw. He’s not a superman. He’s just a guy who tries to do the best he can, and is interested in saving his own neck quite frequently….I don’t win all the fights I get into….I don’t always knock out the villain. Sometimes he knocks me out.”

To the interviewer, Dorothy Roe, he offered a gallant remark about ladies: “I don’t treat all women as if they were just bodies. I prefer to view them as people. Some of them can even be good companions, with a sense of humor, and an understanding of fair play. Lots of women are regular guys.” At the time, he was married to “regular guy” actress Joan Banks.

Our McGraw sample is “The Ballerina,” about a dancer and the shady guy she loves. It features Hans Conried, Ainslie Pryor, Joyce Vanderveen, Ron Hargrave, Darlene Fields and Glen Vernon.

The GOLDEN AGE of TELEVISION: This episode, originally from season 2 of the anthology series Four Star Playhouse, was first broadcast by CBS on March 25, 1954. Restored and edited by PizzaFLIX with recreated titles.

Stars: Frank Lovejoy, Joan Vohs, Ted de Corsia
Director: Alvin Ganzer

McGraw is back! A shady boxing promoter hires McGraw to keep Pretty Boy Mendero away from the “dolls” until his next fighting match.

The GOLDEN AGE of TELEVISION: This episode, originally from season 4 of the anthology series Four Star Playhouse, was first broadcast by CBS on June 28, 1956. Restored and edited by PizzaFLIX with recreated titles.

Stars: Dick Powell, Shirley Patterson, Regis Toomey
Director: Robert Florey

Wille Dante is back! A blackmailer fresh out of prison intends to use Willie’s casino to launder his victims’ money. To ensure his cooperation, thugs hold one of his waiters hostage. But Dante has a plan to trap the blackmailer as he violates parole.

TRIVIA: Originally created by Blake Edwards for the anthology series Four Star Playhouse in 1953~1955. Eight episodes were produced by and starred Dick Powell as Willie Dante, a former card shark turned nightclub operator with a not-so-secret casino tucked in the back. The show was revisited in 1960 by producer Dick Powell as an actual TV series called “Dante,” but this time starred Howard Duff and set in San Francisco instead of Los Angeles.

Song
Historia de un amor

Artist
Nancy Nuñez

Album
Cadence Latine

Stars: Bela Lugosi, Jack Haley, Jean Parker
Director: Frank McDonald

An insurance investigator arrives at a creepy mansion to protect a millionaire who has had death threats made against him.