CTVA US Legal Drama - "Sam Benedict" (MGM/NBC)(1962-63) starring Edmond
O'BrienCTVA The Classic TV Archive - US Legal Drama Series Edmond O'Brien Series Johnny
Midnight (1960) -
Sam
Benedict (1962-63) Sam Benedict (1962-63)
Episode Guide
compiled by
The Classic TV Archive
with contributions from Sandra Dziedziula's
Richard Rust website
Rina Fox, , Tom Alger, Sal Crisanti,
Cindy Rumbold
references:
Library of Congress (telnet://locis.loc.gov)
Internet Movie Database (https://us.imdb.com)
British Film Institute [BFI]
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Television production
for
NBC (Saturdays 7:30 pm EST)
Produced by William Froug
Created by E.Jack Newman
Based on the career of Jacob W. Ehrlich
US Legal Drama series 1962-63 28 episodes x 60 min bw
starring Edmond O'Brien
as Sam Benedict
with: Richard Rust as Hank Tabor (assistant to Benedict) Joan Tompkins as Trudy Wagner (secretary)
'Sam Benedict' theme music by Nelson Riddle
Premise:
Cases of an adventurous lawyer and his assistant.
Drawn from the experiences of renowned trial lawyer Jacob W. Ehrlich,
who served as technical consultant for the series, this attained some
interesting performances from several actors in even more interesting
situations. Robert Lansing was in fine form in Ep.#26 "Read No Evil,"
about a
high school teacher who battles censorship and accordingly suffers a
town's intolerance.Ep. #14 "So Various, So Beautiful"
- a title from Matthew
Arnold's 1867 masterpiece Dover Beach - dealt with a potential false
testimony (by Hazel Court in the role of Deborah Bowman) in a murder case
in which the accused had already been administered his capital punishment.
Edmond O'Brien bought stature and substance to the Sam Benedict/Ehrlich role
.
In 1960-61 Edmund O'Brien starred in the syndicated detective series
Johnny Midnight
################ Sam Benedict #################
############## season 1962-63 ###############
##############################################
NBC Saturdays 7:30 pm
1.1 [--] Sam Benedict: HANNIGAN aka 333
MONTGOMERY STREET
(pilot episode)
15Sep62 NBC Sat
Executive Producer: E. Jack Neuman/ Produced by William Froug
Written by E. Jack Neuman
Directed by Boris Sagal
Starring: Edmond O'Brien (as Sam Benedict)
with: Richard Rust (as Hank); Joan Tompkins (as Trudy Wagner)
Guest Cast:
Gene Raymond ............. James Hannigan
Lloyd Bochner ............ Judge Bentham
Donna Douglas ............ Francine
Arthur Hanson ............ Prosecuting Attorney
Katharine Bard ........... Patricia Hannigan
Tammy Marihugh ........... Bridgette Hannigan
Fred Coby ................ Bailiff
Jess Kirkpatrick ......... Court Clerk
Edgar Stehli
Synopsis:
When his brother dies, James Hannigan is overcome with grief at his
small share of the estate. [RF]
1.2 [--] Sam Benedict: A SPLIT WEEK IN SAN QUENTIN
22Sep62 NBC Sat
Written by Joseph Calvelli
Directed by Lamont Johnson
Starring: Edmond O'Brien (as Sam Benedict)
Guest Cast:
Jack Weston .............. Joey Kent
Katharine Ross ........... Teresa Parrelli
Joe de Santis ............ Judge Parrelli
Henry Beckman ............ Gerald Spanglor
Rex Ingram ............... Judge Larkin
Synopsis:
Entertainer Joey Kent was convicted on a narcotics charge mainly because
of his obnoxious and uncooperative attitude - and now he wants Sam to
help him. [RF]
1.3 [--] Sam Benedict: NOR PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
29Sep62 NBC Sat
Written by William Froug
Directed by Boris Sagal
Starring: Edmond O'Brien (as Sam Benedict)
Guest Cast:
Claude Rains
John Anderson
Linda Watkins
Narda Onyx
1.4 [--] Sam Benedict: NOTHING EQUALS NOTHING
06Oct62 NBC Sat
Directed By Don Medford [SC]
Written By John W. Bloch [SC]
Starring: Edmond O'Brien (as Sam Benedict)
Guest Cast:
Constance Ford ........... Margaret Palmer
Nancy Kelly .............. Sarah Wallace Sykes
Otto Kruger .............. Judge Radcliffe
Synopsis:
San Francisco socialite Sarah Wallace Sykes shocks the city by
murdering her husband. Benedict agrees to handle the defense and
decides to plead insanity. [TA]
1.5 [--] Sam Benedict: TEARS FOR A NOBODY DOLL
13Oct62 NBC Sat (rebroadcast 13Apr63)
Written by Ellis Marcus
Directed by Roger Kay
Starring: Edmond O'Brien (as Sam Benedict)
Guest Cast:
Joanna Barnes ............ Cordelia Montagne
Miyoshi Umeki ............ Sumiko Matsui
Michael Constantine ...... Judge Tower
Robert F. Simon .......... Bill Gottlieb
Virginia Gregg ........... Judge Semmler
Aki Akleong .............. Arthur
Allen Jung ............... Mr. Matsui
Synopsis:
Sam agrees to help Sumiko Matsui, whose in-laws are suing to obtain
custody of her unborn child - on the grounds that Sumiko is mentally
retarded and unfit to be a mother. [RF]
1.6 [--] Sam Benedict: TWENTY ACHING YEARS
20Oct62 NBC Sat
Written by Ellis Marcus
Directed by Paul Nickell
Starring: Edmond O'Brien (as Sam Benedict)
Guest Cast:
Hershel Bernardi
Joanne Linville
Harry Townes
1.7 [--] Sam Benedict: MADDON'S FOLLY
27Oct62 NBC Sat
Written by E. Jack Neuman
Directed by William Graham
Starring: Edmond O'Brien (as Sam Benedict)
with: Richard Rust, Joan Tomkins
Guest Stars
Vera Miles ............. Midge Maddon
Robert Lansing ......... Owen Scott
with:
Woodrow Parfrey ........ Vernon Kurtz
Paul Newlan ............ Judge Quinbury
Ken Renard ............. Bentley Coombs
Edward O'Brien ......... Chris Dane
Joel Fluellen .......... Ames
Eric Norman ............ Father Doogan
and:
Bernard Kates .......... Dobmeyer
Synopsis:
Midge Maddon's world crashes when she hears that her father had
embezzled nearly $150,000 before his sudden death.
(UK airdate: 08Nov62 ITV Granada/A-R London UK, Thurs 8:00 pm)
1.8 [--] Sam Benedict: HEAR THE MELLOW WEDDING BELLS
03Nov62 NBC Sat (rerun 27Apr63 NBC Sat 7:30pm ET Cincinnati)
Written By Joseph Petracca and David Rayfiel [SC] & Paul Mason [BFI]
Directed By Ida Lupino [SC] /
Directed by Don Medford ? [BFI]
Starring: Edmond O'Brien (as Sam Benedict)
Guest Cast:
Joseph Schildkraut ...... Rabbi Gottlieb
Larry Blyden ............ Mort Friedman
Zohra Lampert ........... Sarah Friedman
Ross Elliott ............ Marty Rhodes
Lewis Charles ........... Charlie
Bernard Fein ............ Harry
Barry Kelley ............ Senator Condor
Darryl Richard .......... Leon Katz
Synopsis:
Sarah Friedman is expecting her first baby, and she's also expecting a
visit from her very religious mother. Sarah was married in a civil
ceremony, but she begs Sam to help persuade her husband to have a
second wedding performed by a rabbi - before Momma arrives. [RF]
1.9 [--] Sam Benedict: LIFE IS A LIE, LOVE IS A CHEAT
10Nov62 NBC Sat
Written by George Eckstein
Directed by Don Medford
Starring: Edmond O'Brien (as Sam Benedict)
Guest Cast:
Audrey Meadows
Ed Nelson
Joe Mantell
1.10 [--] Sam Benedict: THE BIRD OF WARNING
17Nov62 NBC Sat
Teleplay by Leonard Heideman & Paul Mason/ Story by Barry Trivers
Directed by Abner Biberman
Starring: Edmond O'Brien (as Sam Benedict)
Guest Cast:
Diana Hyland
Maria Palmer
George Tobias
1.11 [--] Sam Benedict: THE VIEW FROM AN IVORY TOWER
24Nov62 NBC Sat
Written by Frederick C. Houghton, Jr.
Directed by Paul Nickell
Starring: Edmond O'Brien (as Sam Benedict)
Guest Cast:
Dan O'Herlihy
Phyllis Avery
Lawrence Dobkin
1.12 [--] Sam Benedict: EVERYONE'S PLAYING POLO
01Dec62 NBC Sat
Written by Joseph Calvelli
Directed by Ida Lupino
Starring: Edmond O'Brien (as Sam Benedict)
Guest Cast:
Burgess Meredith
Irene Dailey
Joby Baker
1.13 [--] Sam Benedict: TOO MANY STRANGERS
08Dec62 NBC Sat
Written by Ellis Marcus
Directed by Larry Dobkin
Starring: Edmond O'Brien (as Sam Benedict)
Guest Stars:
Gloria Grahame ......... Rita Bain
Marsha Hunt ............ Cora Wilcox
with:
Judi Meredith .......... Diane Langley
Michael Parks .......... Larry Wilcox
cast also includes:
Joan Tomkins ........... Trudy Wagner (regular)
John Duke .............. Perry Lewis
Bernard Fein ........... Harry Owen
Robert Wilke ........... Lt Hanley
Synopsis:
Sam Benedict defends young Larry Wilcox, who is accused of the
murder of one of San Francisco's most respected citizens.
(UK airdate: 13Dec62 ITV Granada/A-R London, Thurs 8:00 pm)
1.14 [--] Sam Benedict: SO VARIOUS, SO BEAUTIFUL
15Dec62 NBC Sat
Written by ?
Directed by Abner Biberman
Starring: Edmond O'Brien (as Sam Benedict)
Guest Cast:
Theodore Bikel
Hazel Court ............... Deborah Bowman
Murray Matheson
Noah Keen
1.15 [--] Sam Benedict: WHERE THERE'S A WILL
22Dec62 NBC Sat
Written by Art Wallace
Directed by Paul Nickell
Starring: Edmond O'Brien (as Sam Benedict)
Guest Cast:
Geraldine Brooks
Frank Overton
Jean Inness
Norman Fell
1.16 [--] Sam Benedict: THE TARGET OVER THE HILL
29Dec62 NBC (NBC rerun 22Jun63)
Written by ?
Directed by ?
Starring: Edmond O'Brien (as Sam Benedict)
Guest Cast:
Inger Stevens .......... Theresa Stone
Everett Sloane ......... Judge Copeland
Arch Johnson ........... Frank Drucker
Dolores Sutton ......... Sarah Franklyn
Patrick Hale ........... Billy Stone
Synopsis:
The routine adoption hearing for custody of Billy stone is interrupted
by his natural mother, who insists that she has overcome her addiction
to narcotics and wants the boy back. [TA]
1.17 [--] Sam Benedict: NOT EVEN THE GULLS SHALL WEEP
05Jan63 NBC Sat
Written by Sidney Marshall
Directed by Richard Donner
Starring: Edmond O'Brien (as Sam Benedict)
Guest Cast:
Howard Duff
Ida Lupino
J. Pat O'Malley
Karl Swenson
David Sheiner
1.18 [--] Sam Benedict: THE BOILING POINT
12Jan63 NBC Sat
Teleplay by Paul Mason/ Story by Shimon Wincelberg
Directed by Richard Donner
Starring: Edmond O'Brien (as Sam Benedict)
Guest Cast:
Gary Merrill ............. Bill Merriman
David Wayne ............. Eddie Jerome
Elizabeth MacRae ......... Mrs. Jerome
Abner Biberman ........... Carl Grodek
Alexander Lockwood ....... Judge Baker
Kenneth Tobey
John McCliam
William Sargent
Synopsis:
A police officer out to make things difficult for an old friend: gangster
Eddie Jerome. [RF]
1.19 [--] Sam Benedict: GREEN ROOM, GREY MORNING
19Jan63 NBC Sat
Written by Carey Wilbur
Directed by Abner Biberman
Starring: Edmond O'Brien (as Sam Benedict)
Guest Cast:
Ruth Roman
Frank Albertson
Tige Andrews
1.20 [--] Sam Benedict: RUN SOFTLY, OH SOFTLY
26Jan63 NBC Sat
Written by Ed Waters & Leonard Heideman
Directed by Paul Henreid
Starring: Edmond O'Brien (as Sam Benedict)
Guest Cast:
Brian Keith .............. Mitch Dawlt
Lori Martin .............. Laurie Dawlt
Barbara Stuart ........... Mrs. Herman Beasley
Philip Ober .............. Leo Calbern
Max Showalter ............ John Buchanan
Bert Remsen .............. Jack Seibert
Synopsis:
After a big insurance swindle, executive Mitch Dawlt flees the country
with plenty of cash - but without his daughter Laurie. Mitch soon returns
and asks Sam for help - but the damage to Laurie is a more serious
problem. [RF]
1.21 [--] Sam Benedict: SUGAR AND SPICE AND EVERYTHING ....
06Feb63 NBC Sat
Written by Sidney Marshall
Directed by Ida Lupino
Starring: Edmond O'Brien (as Sam Benedict)
with: Richard Rust (as Hank Tabor)
Guest Cast:
Arthur O'Connell ......... Noah Jackson
Yvonne Craig ............. Amy Vickers
Robert Emhardt ........... Judge
Gail Kobe ................ Beth Kendall
William Schallert ....... Neil Carlson
Paul Birch ............... Captain Boyd
Peter Mamakos ............ Marco
Synopsis:
When Sam is called in to handle the defense of dancer Amy Vickers,
charged with murder, he's busy with another trial - so he sends Hank
to fill in for him. [RF]
1.22 [--] Sam Benedict: SOME FIRES DIE SLOWLY
16Feb63 NBC Sat
Written by Art Wallace
Directed by Richard Donner
Starring: Edmond O'Brien (as Sam Benedict)
Guest Cast:
Barry Sullivan ........... Doug Stover
James MacArthur .......... Bert Stover
Betty Field .............. Mrs. Stover
George Mitchell .......... Joe Martinson
Gage Clarke .............. Judge Edward Rogers
Karl Swenson ............. Watchman
Synopsis:
Doug Stover has built up his lamp factory just for his son Bert, but
the boy refuses to join the firm. When the factory burns down, the
elder Stover is accused of setting the fire to collect the insurance. [RF]
1.23 [--] Sam Benedict: IMAGE OF A TOAD
23Feb63 NBC Sat
Written by Ellis Marcus
Directed by Don Richardson
Starring: Edmond O'Brien (as Sam Benedict)
Guest Cast:
Nehemiah Persoff .......... Vernon Hill
Beverly Garland ........... Jan Fielding
Russell Collins ........... Walker Smith
Doro Merande .............. Elizabeth Campbell
Patricia Huston ........... Mildred Hunter
James Flavin .............. Douglas Ward
Synopsis:
Convict Vernon Hill has fallen in love - on Alcatraz - with prison
psychologist Jan Fielding, who is preparing him for a parole. But
Vernon insists he doesn't want to see her once he is released. [RF]
1.24 [--] Sam Benedict: SEVENTEEN GYPSIES AND A SINNER NAMED CHARLIE
MGM prod. no. 6831
02Mar63 NBC Sat
Written by Joseph Calvelli
Directed by Abner Biberman
Starring:
Edmond O'Brien (in a dual role - as Sam Benedict & Charlie Dunphie)
with: Richard Rust (as Hank)
Guest Cast:
Maria O'Brien ........... Mary (Edmond O'Brien's 12 yr-old daughter)
Katie Sweet ............. Emily
Rory Stevens ............ Augie
Kyle Johnson ............ Dutch
Barry Livingston ........ Frankie
Manuel Padilla .......... Joey Cairo
Kurt Russell ............ Knute
Ross Elliott ............ Marty Rhodes
Synopsis:
Jailed on several charges of grand theft, Charlie Dunphie appears to
have bilked a lot of money from a lot of charities, for 17 reasons -
the 17 children he "adopted". [TA]
1.25 [--] Sam Benedict: ACCOMPLICE
prod. no. 6835
09Mar63 NBC Sat
Written by Larry Cohen
Directed by Richard Donner
Starring: Edmond O'Brien (as Sam Benedict)
Guest Cast:
Eddie Albert .......... Lewis Wiley
Brock Peters .......... Elton
Roger Perry ........... Pittman
Ellen Holly ........... Elissa
Phillip Pine .......... Temple
Synopsis:
Sam and lawyer Lewis Wiley agree on the defense for two accused murderers
then Wiley makes a secret deal. [RF]
1.26 [--] Sam Benedict: READ NO EVIL
prod. no. 6836
16Mar63 NBC Sat
Written by Robert Bloomfield
Directed by Abner Biberman
Guest Cast:
Robert Lansing .........
Olive Deering .......... Wilma
Susan Silo ............. Barbara
Frank Sinatra Jr. ...... Faring
Shirley O'Hara ......... Helen
Joan Tompkins .......... Trudy
Synopsis:
A teacher's job is threatened when he opposes local censorship policies. [RF]
Note:
Robert Lansing in fine form as a high school teacher who battles
censorship and accordingly suffers a town's intolerance.
1.27 [--] Sam Benedict: OF RUSTED CANNONS AND FALLEN SPARROWS
MGM prod. no. 6832
23Mar63 NBC Sat
Written by ?
Directed by Richard Donner
Starring: Edmond O'Brien (as Sam Benedict)
with: Richard Rust (as Hank Tabor)
Guest Cast:
James Gregory .......... John Paul Elcott
Nina Foch .............. Nora Hildon
Russell Thorson ........ Thomas Morgan
Lisabeth Hush .......... Jacquie Bonneau
James Anderson ......... Sheriff Conway
Michael Strong ......... Davis Friedman
Don Barry .............. Judge Barrett
Lyle Sudrow ............ Cranshaw
Ann Carroll ............ Mrs. Olson
Harvey Korman .......... Reporter
Bobby Troup ............ Bearded Man
Greg Morris ............ Victim
Bill Walker ............ Man
Charles McDaniels ...... Aide
Synopsis:
John Paul Elcott seeks Sam's legal advice when he decides that his
right to speak freely - about his racial prejudice - is being
curtailed. At the same time, suspected Communist Nora Hildon asks
Hank to defend her. [RF]
1.28 [--] Sam Benedict: SEASON FOR VENGEANCE
(final episode)
prod. no. 6839
30Mar63 NBC Sat
Written by Franklin Barton
Directed by Abner Biberman
Starring: Edmond O'Brien (as Sam Benedict)
Guest Cast:
Elizabeth Ashley .....
Lou Jacobi ...........
Paul Lukas ........... Messerman
Gusti Huber .......... Rose
Paul Hampton ......... Hanchen
Synopsis:
A woman is accused of murder and doesn't even care to find a lawyer
to defend her. [RF]
[--] 13Apr63 rerun of #5 "Tears of a Nobody Doll" (first aired 13Oct62)
[--] 27Apr63 NBC Sat 7:30pm ET Cincinnati - rerun of #8 "Hear the Mellow Wedding
Bells")
(first aired 03Nov62)
[--] 22Jun63 NBC rerun of #16 "The Target Over The Hill" (first aired 29Dec62)
################ Sam Bendict #################
################# feedback ###################
############################################## e-mail
"Just happened upon the website and wondered if any of the episodes were
transferred to video. I remember we used to have them all in cans at my
grandfather's (Jake Ehrlich) house but i don't know who made off with them.
One that i am interested in featured a cameo by grandfather and his late
best friend, Lou Lurie. Thanks for any info you might have."
David Cherney <DCDAVEMan@aol.com> Dec2001
################ Sam Bendict #################
################## the end ###################
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EDMOND O'BRIEN TRIBUTE