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The Worst Episodes of Playhouse 90

Every episode of Playhouse 90 ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of Playhouse 90!

Worst episode
S3E7 Heart of Darkness
6.058 votes
Best episode
S3E3 The Time of Your Life
9.330 votes
Top season
Season 3
7.9avg
Binge time
8d 9h
134 episodes
BestEpisodes
WorstEpisodes
BestSeasons
AllEpisodes

Seasons4

All1234

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Worst Episode
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    Playhouse 90 Season 3 Episode 7 - Heart of Darkness
    6.0/10(58 votes)

    S3:E7

    A trading company manager travels up an African river to find a missing outpost head and discovers the depth of evil in humanity's soul.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. Playhouse 90 Season 2 Episode 6 - Around the World in 90 Minutes
    5.3/10(19 votes)

    S2:E6

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. Playhouse 90 Season 1 Episode 13 - Massacre at Sand Creek
    6.4/10(43 votes)

    S1:E13

    An investigation into a massacre of Native Americans.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. Playhouse 90 Season 2 Episode 19 - The 80 Yard Run
    5.9/10(13 votes)

    S2:E19

    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?

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Playhouse 90 Season 1 Episode 26 - Where's Charley?
    6.3/10(20 votes)

    S1:E26

    Lord Fancourt Babberley is forced to disguise himself as a woman - his aunt from Brazil, "where the nuts come from".

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Playhouse 90 Season 1 Episode 8 - Eloise
    6.6/10(28 votes)

    S1:E8

    It's not so much that Eloise is a mischievous child, but the darnedest things do happen when she's around.

    Director:John Frankenheimer
    Writer:Leonard Spigelgass

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  7. Playhouse 90 Season 1 Episode 1 - Forbidden Area
    6.9/10(134 votes)

    S1:E1

    Why are so many B-99 bombers from Hibiscus Air Base crashing or simply disappearing? Colonel Price comes up with a terrifying explanation, but will anyone believe him?

    Director:John Frankenheimer
    Writer:Pat Frank

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  8. Playhouse 90 Season 1 Episode 32 - Homeward Borne
    6.6/10(14 votes)

    S1:E32

    Just after World War Two ends, an American woman takes in a Polish war orphan boy, a concentration camp survivor. But conflict arises when her husband, a returning Air Force bomber pilot, hates the boy and his psychological baggage.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Playhouse 90 Season 1 Episode 25 - The Hostess with the Mostes'
    6.9/10(25 votes)

    S1:E25

    The story of Perle Mesta, who became, first, a renowned society hostess, and then an ambassadress.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. Playhouse 90 Season 1 Episode 16 - So Soon to Die
    6.8/10(18 votes)

    S1:E16

    Down on his luck, war hero Lionel Amblin contemplates committing a murder.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Playhouse 90 Season 2 Episode 40 - Bitter Heritage
    6.8/10(11 votes)

    S2:E40

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

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Playhouse 90 Season 4 Episode 16 - The Shape of the River
    6.8/10(9 votes)

    S4:E16

    Determined to pay off his debts, Mark Twain sets off on a lecture tour.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. Playhouse 90 Season 1 Episode 34 - Winter Dreams
    7.0/10(13 votes)

    S1:E34

    No description available

    Director:John Frankenheimer
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Playhouse 90 Season 3 Episode 24 - For Whom the Bell Tolls: Part 2
    7.1/10(17 votes)

    S3:E24

    The completion of the mission has tragic consequences.

    Director:John Frankenheimer
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. Playhouse 90 Season 1 Episode 36 - Without Incident
    7.1/10(16 votes)

    S1:E36

    Captain Russell Bidlack, commander of a U.S. Cavalry unit in 1870, determines to complete a rescue mission through dangerous Indian territory. In the course of the mission, he rescues the wives of two slain traders and captures the Indian chief accused of the murders. When he returns to the fort, he's faced with a revolt among his own men.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. Playhouse 90 Season 1 Episode 33 - The Helen Morgan Story
    7.2/10(21 votes)

    S1:E33

    Broadway legend Helen Morgan 's life as told by her mother, from her early start in second rate speakeasies to star of top rated shows and owning her own club. Also seen is her poor choices, such as her affair with a married man, her short marriage to a much younger man, a court fight over an adopted baby and her fatal descent into booze addiction.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. Playhouse 90 Season 2 Episode 1 - The Death of Manolete
    7.2/10(18 votes)

    S2:E1

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

    Director:John Frankenheimer
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. Playhouse 90 Season 3 Episode 23 - For Whom the Bell Tolls: Part 1
    7.3/10(22 votes)

    S3:E23

    During the Spanish Civil War, an American allied with the Republicans finds romance during a desperate mission to blow up a strategically important bridge.

    Director:John Frankenheimer
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. Playhouse 90 Season 3 Episode 35 - The Killers of Mussolini
    7.3/10(22 votes)

    S3:E35

    As the Salo Republic crumbles around him, Mussolini, along with his mistress and several of his ministers flee with retreating Nazi soldiers, but are caught at the town of Dongo by red partisans. All are brutally executed without trial.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. Playhouse 90 Season 3 Episode 36 - Project Immortality
    7.3/10(18 votes)

    S3:E36

    Key defense scientist Doner has cancer. Schramm is assigned to code Doner's thinking into a computer. He gets to know him as a friend, a husband and father. The project is successful, but he now knows identity is not programmable.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Playhouse 90 Season 3 Episode 10 - Free Weekend
    7.3/10(14 votes)

    S3:E10

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. Playhouse 90 Season 2 Episode 30 - The Dungeon
    7.4/10(13 votes)

    S2:E30

    No description available

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. Playhouse 90 Season 4 Episode 11 - The Cruel Day
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    S4:E11

    Violence and brutality greet a French Army captain when he arrives in Algeria to assume command of a remote outpost. He is appalled by the savage massacre of an Algerian family by the Rebels. When the French take a prisoner who knows the names of Rebel leaders, the captain is told that torture is the only way to make him talk. Then the captain meets the prisoner - a handsome, intelligent teenage boy.

    Director:Franklin J. Schaffner
    Writer:Reginald Rose

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  24. Playhouse 90 Season 3 Episode 32 - A Marriage of Strangers
    7.6/10(16 votes)

    S3:E32

    Marry in haste, repent at leisure? Well, maybe.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. Playhouse 90 Season 3 Episode 34 - The Rank and File
    9.0/10(1 votes)

    S3:E34

    A powerful union leader is interrogated by a Senate committee. Testifying before a Senate, William Kilcoyne tells the story of his career. He began as a factory worker and his shrewdness and ambition carried him up through the ranks to his present position as head of a large union.

    Director:Franklin J. Schaffner
    Writer:Rod Serling

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Worst Episodes Summary

"Heart of Darkness" is the worst rated episode of Playhouse 90. It scored 6.0/10 from 58 votes. Written and directed by Unknown, it aired on November 6, 1958.

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