The story of William Palmer, one of the most notorious poisoners in Victorian England - or was he?

The Mystery of Thirteen

The Edge of Innocence

Around the World in 90 Minutes

The last hours in the life of Spain's most celebrated matador.

The Death of Manolete

A drama set in 1956, during the unsuccessful Hungarian uprising against the Russians

The Dark Side of the Earth

A mild-mannered schoolteacher gradually abandons all his principles - and finds the success which has always hitherto eluded him.

Topaze

In a dystopian society, reading is forbidden.

A Sound of Different Drummers

When a mother wins an award, she finds out a few things about her three grown-up children.

The Playroom

October 17, 1957, the CBS Television Network diverted from its typical format of live dramatic presentations for "Playhouse 90" to cover Michael Todd's gigantic party commemorating the one-year anniversary of the release of his film "Around The World In 80 Days". Todd invited 18-thousand people to the gala in New York City's Madison Square Garden though the number probably was far greater because of party-crashers. Walter Cronkite hosted the coverage with future ABC Sports ace Jim McKay and news veteran Bill Leonard handling the interviewing of numerous celebrity party guests. During the broadcast, Garry Moore hosted occasional comedy vignettes of how Todd came to create his Academy award-winning movie.

A lawyer's new brother-in-law disapproves of his specialty of defending murderers. But when he finds himself accused of murder, he asks for his help.

The Clouded Image

Based on a case history in psychologist Dr. Robert Linder's book "The 50-Minute Hour." Unbeknownst to his friends and colleagues, the outwardly sane and secure atomic physicist Dr. Kirk Allen has for many years been embarking upon imaginary visits to another planet. At first this mental abnormality harms no one, but when Allen begins acting strangely on the job, the Pentagon begins to suspect that he is a security risk. Under psychological counseling, Allen reveals his "secret life" and provides surprisingly accurate extraterrestrial charts as "proof" that he is truly out of this world.

The Jet-Propelled Couch

The Troublemakers

A Civil Aeronautics Board investigation determines that the reason a plane crashed, killing all aboard except one of the pilots, is that either the dead pilot or the survivor became panic-stricken and pushed the wrong button, but the investigators aren't sure which one was at fault.

Panic Button

In a Northern prisoner-of-war camp during the Civil War, a crippled Yankee commander has a rebellious Rebel executed. The dead man's brother, also a prisoner, vows vengeance. He volunteers to accompany the commander on a mission, planning to murder him along the way but changes his mind and escapes instead, deciding the commander is "already dead." The commander, a changed man, covers up for the escapees and himself faces court martial.

Galvanized Yankee

Middle-aged actress Victoria Maxwell comes to terms with her destructive lifestyle as she struggles with the lead role in a Broadway-bound play. Matters are complicated by the fact that she is co-starring opposite her estranged husband, Allen Grant, whom she never stopped loving.

The Thundering Wave

For I Have Loved Strangers

The Lone Woman

A reunion party for old army buddies turns inexorably into something darker and more sinister.

Reunion

The Last Man

Long ago, Christian made a run of 80 yards to make the winning touchdown in a football game. It was the greatest moment of his life. Or was it the beginning of his decline?

The 80 Yard Run

An innocent man, doomed to die for the murder of a cop that he didn't commit, is rushed from prison to the county hospital for an emergency operation. The surgeon becomes convinced of the man's innocence when he mumbles a girl's name under anesthesia. The surgeon seeks the help of a psychiatrist to penetrate his patient's subconscious.

Before I Die

Mr. Golden wonders if he has wasted his life; but the news that he is to become a grandfather cheers him.

The Gentleman from Seventh Avenue

Photographer Paul is invited to a French estate to take pictures but a romance develops with the lady of the house. A sudden death creates a suspicion of murder.

The Violent Heart

An airliner flying nonstop at night from Miami to New York fails to check in, then disappears from radar. We see how its disappearance affects people on the ground. The Episode was directed by David Swift, who also collaborated with Charles Einstein with the screenplay. Charles Einstein is also credited with writing the story. Guests include William Lundigan, Betsy Palmer, Jane Greer, Buster Keaton, Chico Marx, Frank Wilcox & Charles Bronson. The Production Company was CBS Television Network and was distributed in the USA by CBS.

No Time at All

Waiting to find out if he's obtained a valuable promotion, a banker returns to the small town he grew up in.

Point of No Return

Based on a true story, Donald Bashor robs and bludgeons two women to their deaths. While committing the crimes he maintains a normal existence with his girlfriend Florry.

Portrait of a Murderer

A veteran lawyer must defend his own son when the latter is threatened with disbarment.

The Last Clear Chance

The trustees of Midwestern University have forced three teachers out of their jobs for being suspected communists. Trustee Ed Keller has also threatened mild mannered English Professor Tommy Turner, because he plans to read a controversial piece of prose in class.

The Male Animal

The story of a struggle for control of a Hollywood talent agency.

The Right Hand Man

Turn Left at Mount Everest

The Dungeon

A murder trial is followed through different jurors and their reactions.

Verdict of Three

Rumors of Evening

Not the Glory

After the first atom bomb test, scientists realize the bomb was more powerful than they expected - which may have terrible results.

Nightmare at Ground Zero

A hard-hearted Colonel loses many men in his group's bombing missions over World War II Germany, but keeps on going and won't tolerate a young lieutenant losing his nerve under the strain, who refuses to continue.

Bomber's Moon

A Civil War veteran returns home to find his father has become a social pariah.

Natchez

When a rich man marries a much younger wife and his ailing health gets rather worse, the housekeeper suspects a murder attempt is looming.

The Innocent Sleep

A weakling sheriff is unable to prevent a lynching. Can he redeem himself by preventing a second one?

A Town Has Turned to Dust

A Midwesterner becomes fascinated with his wealthy neighbor, who obsesses over his lost love.

The Great Gatsby

The James boys, being framed for a bank heist, are saved by the banker's daughter.

Bitter Heritage

Playhouse 90 is an American television anthology series that was telecast on CBS from 1956 to 1960 for a total of 133 episodes. It originated from CBS Television City in Los Angeles, California. Since live anthology drama series of the mid-1950s were usually hour-long shows, the title highlighted the network's intention to present something unusual, a weekly series of hour-and-a-half dramas rather than 60-minute plays. Playhouse 90 began as a pitch by Frank Stanton—the formidable, forward-thinking right-hand man to CBS chairman William S. Paley—during a brainstorming session for program ideas. The project was ultimately developed by Hubbell Robinson, a CBS vice president who received no screen credit on Playhouse 90 but is often described as its creator.

The Mystery of Thirteen

Seasons4

Season 2 Episodes40

Discussion

Episode Summary