Climax! is an American anthology series that aired on CBS from 1954 to 1958. The series was hosted by William Lundigan and later co-hosted by Mary Costa. It was one of the few CBS programs of that era to be broadcast in color. Many of the episodes were performed and broadcast live.
The best episode of "Climax!" season 1 is "The Long Goodbye", rated 6.3/10 from 12 user votes. It was directed by William H. Brown Jr. and written by E. Jack Neuman. "The Long Goodbye" aired on 10/7/1954 and is rated NaN point(s) higher than the second highest rated, "The Thirteenth Chair".
Private Detective Philip Marlowe decides to help out a friend Lennox when his wife is found brutally murdered. Marlowe winds up in jail accused of her murder and tries to solve the case after his release.
Director: William H. Brown Jr.
Writer: E. Jack Neuman
When his friend is murdered, Edward Wales sets out to capture the killer. He stages a seance and invites 13 people, any one of who may have killed the dead man, but it ends in chaos when the killer strikes again during a blackout.
Director: Allen Reisner
Writer: Walter Newman
American spy James Bond must outsmart card wiz and crime boss LeChiffre while monitoring his actions. The first dramatization of a James Bond novel.
Director: William H. Brown Jr.
Writer: Charles Bennett
A neurotic invalid whose only contact with the outside world is her phone. One night, because of a crossed wire, she hears plans for a murder which turns out to be her own. Her frantic efforts to get help and her growing terror and realisation of the truth chill you to the bone.
Director: Allen Reisner
Writer: N/A
The death of his crippled wife causes upheaval for the husband and his mistress. Only his family friend believes in his innocence.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
A steward aboard a yacht thinks his job is easy sailing until the dream voyage turns into a nightmare. The ship's officer is thrown overboard and another is hacked to death who is next.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
A carnival huckster ingratiates himself with an elderly farmer and his naïve daughter; she soon falls for her new suitor and marries him, only to wind up dead shortly afterwards, the husband quick to confess.
Director: William H. Brown Jr.
Writer: David Dortort
An unsuspecting Iron Curtain refugee is used as a pawn by two French traitors while he is at a resort in France.
Director: Allen Reisner
Writer: N/A
A woman receives some mysterious white carnations, which seem to be an innocent gift but lead to terror.
Director: John Frankenheimer, Jack Smight, Don Medford
Writer: Raymond Chandler
Thru romantic eyes she knew not what he was.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
Private investigators Cool and Lam become involved in this suspenseful tale of thugs, thieves and legal chicanery.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
An American engineer in Germany crosses over into the Soviet Zone on business and becomes entangled with the secret police.
Director: Allen Reisner
Writer: N/A
The Mojave Kid is warned to stay away from a small town feud.
Director: William H. Brown Jr., Tony Barr
Writer: N/A
The story revolves around two women, one a successful career woman, the other an ambitious girl. After giving the daughter of an old friend a job, the successful businesswoman realizes the drawbacks of her generosity.
Director: Allen Reisner
Writer: N/A
Lt. Comm. Knowles is assigned to skipper the USS Hamilton from England back to New York. While he and his crew celebrate New Year's Eve 1943, an unknown danger lurks nearby.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
A hated columnist becomes involved in murder after receiving an innocent-looking box of chocolates with a note from the manufacturer asking him to try them.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
They were strangers to each other, even the married ones, and they all dreamed in human ways. But the least of these eight persons did something about his little dream. In so doing, he bound the strangers in an intimate circle, whether they knew it or not. He touched them all in passing and changed their lives and dreams forever, according to their own choices. In one turn of the earth something happened.
Director: John Frankenheimer
Writer: N/A
The action of this tale of intrigue and espionage takes place in the jungles of East Africa in 1914. The destinies of Germany and Great Britain are dependent upon one man whose decision is influenced by one of the two women in his life.
Director: Allen Reisner
Writer: N/A
An ex-cop is released from San Quentin after five years and sets out on revenge against the men who framed him for manslaughter.
Director: John Frankenheimer
Writer: N/A
The famous story deals with a boxer whose rise to fame has been at the expense of friends and associates. Through flashbacks, we see how Midge Kelly rose from the Chicago slums to a world championship.
Director: Allen Reisner
Writer: Rod Serling
A woman doctor probes the twisted minds of her patients in a mental institution.
Director: John Frankenheimer
Writer: N/A
A doctor forsakes the medical profession following a court trial where he was the defendant. Now a successful businessman travelling under an assumed name, he must decide between keeping his secret and saving the eyesight of a fellow passenger.
Director: Allen Reisner
Writer: N/A
The threat of scandal, revolving around the death of a man in London, prompts an ambitious lawyer to disregard both legan and moral principles. His concern for his own career puts an innocent man's life in jeopardy.
Director: John Frankenheimer
Writer: N/A
A courageous nun suffers ordeals while trying to escape from behind the Iron Curtain.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
A Scottish student has the historical Stone of Scone stolen from Westminster Abbey. His purpose is to get England to recognize Scotland's independence.
Director: John Frankenheimer
Writer: N/A