User reviews

In this episode of "Four Star Playhouse", Charles Boyer stars. However, he doesn't JUST play one role but many--something very unusual and very confusing up until the end--when it all begins to make sense. It is well done and worth seeing.

When the show begins, Boyer is sitting in a box seat in a theater and a play is about to begin. However, a man notices him and voices his surprise to see him here--why you don't get to hear yet because the play is just starting. Next you see a play about a dictator--and the guy is a jerk. And, the guy is played by Boyer--which is confusing, as he's also sitting in the box seat. The confusion mounts when you then see ALL the guys in the play are Boyer. What gives? See the finale and understand....

Charles Boyer gets to play four different roles in this frustrating edition of Four Star Playhouse, definitely not his finest hour. I suppose he couldn't refuse the chance to pull an Alec Guinness or Peter Sellers gimmick opportunity. He's "The Man in the Box", sitting in his box overlooking the stage watching a hoary drama being performed. On stage Boyer is the dictator of a country in turmoil who's informed by his servant that an assassination attempt targeting him is supposed to occur at midnight. He distrust his beautiful wife (Patricia Morison) who he believes is in love with General Topaz, the insurgent he believes will come to kiil him.

The turgid play unfolds drearily, with an extremely predictable plot twist. Eventually it comes to an end and we finally discover what is the secret about this man in the box.

The writing team of Gwen and John Bagni concocted this stinker, and were clearly proud of their prime gimmick, but I was not impressed.