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       Ben Casey (1961-66)  -  The Breaking Point (1963-64)

The Breaking Point
Episode Guide - April 2005
(ep. #1.29)
compiled by
The Classic TV Archive
with contributions by:
Rina Fox
references:
Library of Congress (telnet://locis.loc.gov)
Internet Movie Database (http://us.imdb.com)
UCLA Film and Television Archive

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THE BREAKING POINT
------------------
Bing Crosby Productions, Inc. (BCP)
for
ABC (Mondays 10:00pm EST)
Producer George Lefferts
Created by Meta Rosenberg

US medical drama series 1963-64 30 episodes x 60 min bw
starring
Paul Richards as Dr. 'Mac' McKinley Thompson
Eduard Franz as Dr. William Raymer

Premise:
Psychiatric case histories

Background:
Spin-off from 'Ben Casey'
Pilot film was the 9Sep63 episode of Ben Casey.  "The Breaking Point" had
the same producers as "Ben Casey".  Described 'as vibrant a
series of case studies as the titles' literary inspirations suggest.'
A.A. Milne's 'Four Friends' in 'When We Were
Very Young' for the episode 'And James Was A Very Small Snail',  Ralph
Hodgson's 'Reason' for the episode 'Confounding Her
Astronomers.'

Other Bing Crosby productions for television include:
"Slattery's People", Hogan's Heroes", "The Bing Crosby Show" (sitcom),
"The Queen and I" (sitcom) and "Ben Casey"

"The Breaking Point" Title Music by David Raskin

############# The Breaking Point #############
############### season 1963-64 ###############
##############################################
ABC Mondays 10:00 pm Eastern

[01] The Breaking Point: SOLO FOR B-FLAT CLARINET Pt. 2.
16-Sep-1963 ABC Mon
(part 1 aired as an episode of  Ben Casey 9Sep63)
written by George Lefferts
directed by Sydney Pollack
director of photography Hal Mohr
guest cast:
Scott Marlowe as Jason Landros
Sheree North as Lisa Adams
Oskar Homolka as Papa Landros
Millie Perkins as Helena Adams
Kermit Murdock as Dr. Graves
Irene Vernon as Nurse Olmstead
Dara Howard as Dr. Mady Miller
Russell Johnson as Eddy Mulhall
Irene Vernon
Garry Walberg
Dabney Coleman
John Yates
Eleanore Berry
Richard Reeves
and
Vince Edwards as Ben Casey
Dr. Mac accepts two cases: clarinetist Jason Landros, who both hates
and needs his domineering father; and actress Lisa Adams, who hates
herself. [RF]
(This episode is the second part of a story that began on "Ben Casey" and
finishes on "The Breaking Point".)


[02] The Breaking Point: LAST SUMMER WE DIDN'T GO AWAY
prod. no. 5222-3
23-Sep-1963 ABC Mon
guest cast:
Anthony Franciosa
Brenda Scott
Ed Asner

[03] The Breaking Point: FIRE AND ICE
prod. no. 5222-8
30-Sep-1963 ABC Mon
guest cast:
Kevin McCarthy
Janice Rule
Irene Tedrow

[04] The Breaking Point: BIRD AND SNAKE
prod. no. 5222-5
07-Oct-1963 ABC Mon
guest cast:
Robert Redford as Roger Morton
Jack Weston as Sam Keller
Marisa Pavan as Norma Rossiter

[05] The Breaking Point: THERE ARE THE HIP, AND THERE ARE THE SQUARE
prod. no. 5222-2
14-Oct-1963 ABC Mon
guest cast:
John Cassavettes as Evan Price
Carol Lawrence as Evelyn Denner
J. Pat O'Malley
Virginia Gregg
Beatnik Evelyn Denner and her boyfriend carry out a death pact. [ta]

[06] The Breaking Point: THE BULL ROARER
prod. no. 5222-9
21-Oct-1963 ABC Mon
guest cast:
Ralph Meeker
Mariette Hartley
Lou Antonio
Carmen Phillips

[07] The Breaking Point: CRACK IN AN IMAGE
prod. no. 5222-11
28-Oct-1963 ABC Mon
guest cast:
(Peter) Mark Richman as Steve Anson
Kim Hunter as Anita Anson
Paul Stewart as Paul Duval
Holly McIntire as Noel Anson

[08] The Breaking Point: A PELICAN IN THE WILDERNESS
04-Nov-1963 ABC Mon
guest cast:
Martin Balsam
Akim Tamiroff
Barbara Turner
Virginia Capers

[09] The Breaking Point: AND JAMES WAS A VERY SMALL SNAIL
11-Nov-1963 ABC Mon
written by Allan Sloane
directed by Robert Ellis Miller
director of photography Robert Hauser
guest cast:
Harold J. Stone as Joseph Babcock
Marsha Hunt as Fran Babcock
Martine Bartlett as Barbara Newly
Eddie Rossen as Petey Babcock
Donald Losby
Michael Fox
Marcia Dealy
Synopsis:
After an emotional disturbance, 7 year-old Petey Babcock becomes
completely withdrawn. Thompson must now cure the boy and help the family
adjust to the severity of Petey's illness. [RF]

[10] The Breaking Point: WHATSOEVER THINGS I HEAR
prod. no. 5222-7
18-Nov-1963 ABC Mon
written by Albert Sanders
directed by William A. Graham
guest cast:
Shelley Berman as Roy Chase
Sarah Marshall as Helen Chase
Joanna Frank as Alice Meade
Joe Maross as District Attorney Harris
Malachi Throne as Attorney Wilson
Hari Rhodes as Detective Shaw
Doreen Lang as Judge Walters
Suzi Carnell as Nurse Holland
Harry Bartell as Mr. Meade

[--] 25Nov1963 Episode rescheduled to 06Jan64, President Kennedy's Funeral.


[11] The Breaking Point: WHO IS MIMI? - WHAT IS SHE?
02-Dec-1963 ABC Mon
Guest Cast:
Ruth Roman ......... Alicia Howard
Sondra Kerr (aka Sondra Blake) ........ Mimi Casell
Vivian Nathan
Synopsis:
Though Mimi Casell is a grown woman, she can't control her tears
when critics ridicule her fading idol.

[12] The Breaking Point: MILLIONS OF FACES
prod. no. 5222-13
09-Dec-1963 ABC Mon
written by Alvin Boretz
guest cast:
Rip Torn as Roy Kendall
Jan Sterling as Nurse Murdoch
Susan Harrison as Martha

[13] The Breaking Point: THE GNU, NOW ALMOST EXTINCT
16-Dec-1963 ABC Mon
directed by William A. Graham
guest cast:
Walter Pidgeon as Leon Manville
Lillian Gish as Stella Manville
Sara Haden as Clara Bascome
Betsy Robinson as Lottie
Harvey Stephens as Charles Bascome
Vito Scotti as Tony
Clint Howard as Mikey
Shary Richards as Nurse
Synopsis:
Stella Manville is living an illusion. The husband of this once-great
stage actress has been dead for some time, but she refuses to believe
it. She talks about him - and to him - as if he were still alive. Both
Stella's sister, Clara Bascome, and Dr. Thompson believe that Stella must
be made to face the truth - and return to reality. But this raises a
serious question. What is the point of stripping away the illusions of an
aging and childless woman? Will she have anything left to live for? [RF]

1.14 [--] The Breaking Point: HEART OF MARBLE, BODY OF STONE
Bing Crosby prod. no. 5222-10
23Dec1963 ABC Mon (rebroadcast 11Apr64 Sat CFTO-TV Toronto)
guest cast:
Gena Rowlands ...... Shelley Osborne Peters
Burgess Meredith ... Walter Osborne
John Milford ....... Carl Peters
Synopsis:
An attractive model turnes up at the hospital in a sorry state - drunk,
injured and convinced she's about to give birth. [RF]

[15] The Breaking Point: DON'T CRY, BABY, DON'T CRY
30-Dec-1963 ABC Mon
guest cast:
Sheree North
Juanita Moore
Kathleen Catter
Robert Ellenstein

[16] The Breaking Point: A LITTLE ANGER IS A GOOD THING
06-Jan-1964 ABC Mon
written by Raphael Hayes
guest cast:
Arthur O'Connell as Joseph Baylor
Rosemary De Camp as Gertrude Komack
Dean Harens as Stanley Komack
Amanada Ames as Betty Komack
Marc Cavell as Billy Jackson
Helen Kleeb as Mrs. Miller
Clark Ross as Luigi
Synopsis:
After 72 humdrum years, Joe Baylor is despressed to learn he's probably
got another healthy 20 years ahead. [RF]

[17] The Breaking Point: AND IF THY HAND OFFEND THEE
13-Jan-1964 ABC Mon
guest cast:
James Daly as Mitchell Farnum
Nobu McCarthy as Nobuko
Irene Tsu as Niki
Richard Webb as Lieutenant Spencer

[18] The Breaking Point: BETTER THAN A DEAD LION
20-Jan-1964 ABC Mon
written by Mort Fine & Shimon Wincelberg
guest cast:
Robert Ryan as Lloyd Osment
Bettye Ackerman as Eunice Osment (Ben Casey, Mrs. Sam Jaffee)
John Larkin as Walker Gosse

[19] The Breaking Point: A LAND MORE CRUEL
27-Jan-1964 ABC Mon
guest cast:
Eleanor Parker
Barry Livingston

[20] The Breaking Point: NO SQUARES IN MY FAMILY CIRCLE
10-Feb-1964 ABC Mon
written by Milton Merlin & Barbara Merlin
directed by Robert Stevens
guest cast:
Jack Warden as Carlo Scotti
Mariette Hartley as Lee Brandt
Johnny Seven as Ernie

[21] The Breaking Point: SO MANY PRETTY GIRLS, SO LITTLE TIME
17-Feb-1964 ABC Mon
written by Robert Towne
guest cast:
Cliff Robertson as Evan Ross
Mary Murphy as Katherine Ross
Ilze Taurins as Elise Martin
Mari Blanchard as Rose Sinclair
Alan Napier as Harold Major
Shary Richards Miss Hartford
Carol Andreson as Gerri Baines


[22] The Breaking Point: A CHILD OF THE CENTER RING
24-Feb-1964
Jack Oakie
Susan Strasberg (daughter of acting coach Lee)
James Callahan
Cesare Danova

 1.23 [--] The Breaking Point: TIDES OF DARKNESS
02-Mar-1964 ABC Mon
written by Jean Holloway
guest cast:
Edmond O'Brien as Roger Conning
Lori Martin as Julie Conning (National Velvet)
Edward Platt as Pat Callahan
Herb Armstrong as Dr. Fielding
Synopsis:
Thompson tries to help a 14 year old assault victim and her
father. [RF]


[24] The Breaking Point: THE SUMMER HOUSE
09-Mar-1964 ABC Mon (copyright date 16Mar64)
guest cast:
Piper Laurie as Alice Marin
Robert Loggia as Arnold Marin
Pamela Ferdyn as Little Girl
Phyllis Love

[25] The Breaking Point: SHADOWS OF A STARLESS NIGHT
16-Mar-1964 ABC Mon (copyright date 09Mar64)
guest cast:
Bradford Dillman as Dr. Peter Phillips
Dianne Foster as Deborah Phillips
Charles Robinson as Dr. Kenneth Watkins
Russell Collins
Dan Tobin

[26] The Breaking Point: GLASS FLOWERS NEVER DROP PETALS
23-Mar-64 ABC Mon
Guest Cast:
James Caan
Jessica Tandy
Peter Helm
James Gregory (Barney Miller)

[27] The Breaking Point: NEVER TROUBLE TROUBLE TILL TROUBLE TROUBLES YOU
30-Mar-1964 ABC Mon
guest cast:
Terry Carter as Rosie Palmer
Diana Sands as Sara Harris
Frankie Van as Referee
Mushy Callahan as Referee
Frederick O'Neal
Rex Ingram

[28] The Breaking Point: CONFOUNDING HER ASTRONOMERS
06-Apr-1964 ABC Mon
guest cast:
Kathleen Nolan as Dr. Judy Cole
Jennifer Gillespie as Virginia
Richard Devon as James Sumarra
Peter Leeds as Brodkin
Virginia Gregg as Mrs. Bronson
Patsy Garrett

1.29 [--] Breaking Point: I, THE DANCER
Bing Crosby prod.
20Apr1964 ABC Mon
Guest cast:
Joey Heatherton .... Dory Costain
Michael Callan ..... Gregory Costain
David Winters ...... Frank Boyd
Lili Valenty
Synopsis:
Dancer Dory Costain begins to suffer attacks of hysteria after
four months of marriage to her choreographer-husband. [RF]


[30] The Breaking Point: MY HANDS ARE CLEAN (final episode)
27-Apr-1964 ABC Mon
guest cast:
Telly Savalas
Henry Silva
Marian Seldes

########### The Breaking Point #############
################# the end ##################
##############################################

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