Lux Video Theatre Season 1, Episode 15: The Purple Doorknob

1

Saturday's Children

Pretty Bobby Halevy loves Rims Rosson, a dreamer and inventor without much going for him. Rims has a scheme of going to Manila to turn hemp into silk and become rich. But when one of her family talks Bobby into tricking Rims into marriage, the real world comes crashing down on the couple.

60 min

2

Rosalind

An aging actress resists the fact that she is no longer able to play ingénue roles.

60 min

3

Shadow on the Heart

Coast Guard Seaman Red Harrington on duty at Cape Cod, meets a pretty girl named Stormy Denton. Only after he has developed a fondness for her does he discover that she is blind. But it doesn't make any difference to the young sailor. He wants to marry her. All he knows about her past is that she was wounded and lost her sight while serving as an Army nurse during the War. She is to undergo a special operation on her eyes and is anxiously awaited not only by Red bu an ex-fiance whom she has not heard from since her injury.

60 min

4

The Valient

A convicted murderer steadfastly refuses to reveal his real identity leaves the warden and prison chaplain with no luck in penetrating the man's silence. A girl who thinks he might be her brother visits the convict.

60 min

5

Mine to Have

When her husband is killed in trying to elude police, she is imprisoned as his accomplice. She discovers that she is going to have a baby and after the child is born, that she must give it up. Her only hope for her baby's security and her own peace of mind is a policeman who has befriended her.

60 min

6

That Wonderful Night

An English girl is thoroughly unimpressed by winning a date with an American Movie idol she never heard of. The date is the idea of a press-agent trying to stir up interest in the actor's newest movie. The girl's disinterest in the stunt and the actor's general boredom with publicity stunts forbode a grim evening, until events take a surprising turn.

60 min

7

Gallant Lady

A woman discovers that her husband, who disappeared seven years ago, was suffering amnesia and is now happily living with a new wife and their child. She must decide whether to disrupt his new-found family life or remake her own.

60 min

8

Goodnight, Please

A besieged bank executive decides that the high pressure business isn't worth the aggravation. Fed up with questions he simply went to bed.

60 min

9

The Token

Story of a fiery girl with a great love for the sea, during the days of American's great clipper fleets.

60 min

10

To Thine Own Self

A stock broker plans to rob his clients. After emptying the safe, he reserves a train compartment under an assumed name, shaves off his moustache and removes all marks of his identity from his clothing in the hope of leading a new life of a wealthy investor in another city. Just an hour before his scheduled departure a strange girl approaches him and tries to persuade him to remain honest.

60 min

11

The Lovely Menace

Marie Overbrook, is a young French widow of an American soldier, who is suddenly cast in the midst of high society. Living with her father-in-law, Marie is invited to a party where she will meet al of her husband's old friends. Before the party, the girl confesses that she is afraid of making a fool of herself in front of all the guests. Moreover, she is even more frightened by the prospect of being treated like a poor French peasant. But at the affair everything goes differently than she had anticipated. The young widow makes a great hit with the men and they heap attention on her. All the women, however resent her for fear she is stealing their husbands. Marie finds that she has unwittingly become the competitor of every woman there.

60 min

12

Down Bayou Du Bac

The story is set in the Louisiana Bayou, where young sweethearts parents' try to break up their romance.

60 min

13

A Child is Born

The child born in none other than Jesus Christ and the event that was to rock the world is seen through the eyes of an innkeeper and his wife.

60 min

14

A Well-Remembered Voice

A husband and wife are drifting apart because one doesn't think the other is sad enough about their son's death.

60 min

15

The Purple Doorknob

A spirited old woman hopes for a little excitement in her quiet life in a small New England town, and gets it when a famous actress knocks at her door one night with a strange request.

60 min

16

Purple and Fine Linen

The plot concerns an elderly woman beggar who picks a man's pocket on a London street, persuades her victim not to turn her over to the police and leads him into a series of adventures, during which he discovers that she is no ordinary pickpocket - nor elderly, either.

60 min

17

Manhattan Pastorale

A spinsterish young schoolteacher finds an abundance of excitement in a visit to the Big City. Her adventures beging when she finds $30,000 in a taxi and turns it over to the police. A visit by mobsters and her involvement in gang warfare follow promptly.

60 min

18

The Shiny People

Story of a sideshow barker with a yen for high society after he meets a society gal out slumming.

60 min

19

The Choir Rehearsal

It takes place in the small New England town of Tuckerton during the early years of the nineteenth century. Esmeralda is expelled from the church coral group because she sings a tuneful melody in the choir. Embarrassed and deeply hurt Esmeralda withdraws from society and stops going to church. She is making plans to leave town when an unexpected ally turns up.

60 min

20

Abe Lincoln in Illinois

Humble Abraham Lincoln gains the respect of his Illinois neighbors, growing in stature and respect until he is elected President in 1860 and departs for Washington.

60 min

21

To the Lovely Margaret

Margaret, who lives in the home of her uncle, Professor Adams, is rarely invited to parties or dances. To her surprise she receives an invitation to the important Junior Prom from one of the most handsome young men in town. But, her joy is short-lived for he calls up a day later to break the date in order to take another girl. Just when it looks as though Margaret will continue to be a wallflower someone steps into her home to bring the story or an unexpected and happier ending.

60 min

22

The Irish Drifter

Due to his mother and father who are continually fighting and threatening to get divorced, little Robbie Crosley decides to run away. Packing a knapsack he starts for New York where he plans to join the Navy. Before he can get very far, Robbie meets Tim Larkin, a philosophical tramp who is always on the move from one place to another. Robbie stops to tell Tim his story and the kindly drifter decides to take matters into his own hands. He realizes that for the boy's sake he must solve the Crosley's marital problems before taking the youngster back home. But when he visits the parents that evening Tim finds that it will take more than his glib tongue to straighten things out.

60 min

23

Not Guilty of Much

A young tenant of a Manhattan apartment house spends her working days in a department store. Kitty is in love with a young lawyer named George who lives three flights above her apartment. They can't consider getting married because George has yet to get his first case and doesn't make enough money to support himself. One day, when he is buried in his law books, he receives a message that Kitty has been arrested. She has been accused of stealing an automobile. George rushes to her defense and finds that his first case is also one of the most unusual to ever come before the bar.

60 min

24

Long Distance

Story of a woman trying against desperate odds to save her husband from unjust execution. Uncovering new evidence that will prove his innocence she tries in a series of time-consuming, frustrating telephone calls to reach the trial judge, the only man who can intervene.

60 min

25

No Shoes

A truck driver is awaiting the birth of his first child and certain that it will be a boy, since all his plans for the child are based on that assumption. He is crushed when a nurse informs him his wife has given birth to a girl, he is about to fight with a quiet stranger who tries to reason with him when he learns the most important lesson of his life.

60 min

26

The Treasure Trove

Tony is the best friend of Bob and Hilda Devinish. He visits their home in London every weekend and spends his vacations with the young couple. One day while helpin to weed the garden. Tony digs up some old Roman coins. Excitedly he shows them to the Devinishes and then brings them to a coin expert to evaluate their worth. When they discoer that the Roman money is worth over 10,000 pounds, greed begins to replace the friendship between the men. Tony tries to steal the coins, Bob threatens to shoot him and it looks as though the newfound wealth is going to bring only grief to them both. When Hilda suddenly uncovers the real and terrible meaning of their discovery, a new light is thrown on them.

60 min

27

The Old Lady Shows Her Medals

A young soldier, about to leave for war, is "adopted" by an elderly lady with the same surname.

60 min

28

Column Item

Sophie Claire is telling one of her fellow press agents that the worst has come to pass, she is in love with her client, Eli Norman. At that moment she receives a phone call from Norman telling her to release a story to the papers for him. It is to announce his marriage to another girl. Although she is badly hurt she decides to put on a brave face and continue in her job without showing her feelings. She soon discovers that her client's future wife is only using him to further her own career. When he calls up with another news item a few days later, it changes Sophie's feelings completely.

60 min

29

Heritage on Wimpole Street

Setting of the play is the home in England of Edward Barrett, father of the famous poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning. After she had run away to marry Robert Browning, Barrett refused to ever she her again. When Elizabeth died, Barrett was too proud to admit that he had treated her harshly. He continues to be the stern parent and treats his other two daughters with an even firmer hand. Barrett refuses to let them go out with men or in any way lead a normal life. One day, while he is in a particularly bad mood, Barrett receives an unexpected visit from Elizabeth's son who brings about a strange transformation in his grandfather.

60 min

30

Hit and Run

A man who has run over a child, decides to hide from the police. However, he develops a persecution complex and reaches the point where he is terrified by every doorknock. Whe he can't stand the life of seclusion any longer he goes about trying to remove any evident he might have left behind.

60 min

31

The Speech

A small toen doctor is called to New York to accept an award as the outstanding country doctor of the year. He leaves his home in Bowlegs, Okla., with his wife to visit the big city for the first time. The day before the dinner at which the citation is to be presented, he spends many hours practicing on an imposing speech written for him by a local professor. But at the affair the doctor discovers that he lost his glasses and is forced to give an extemporaneous speech.

60 min

32

The Sire de Maletroit's Door

Set in 15th century France, the story deals with a young man who flees from the Royal Guard after trying to avenge the death of a friends. He takes refuge in the home of the Sire de Maletroit, who mistaking him for another guard who is in love with his daughter, orders an immediate marriage. The daughter, realizing he is the wrong man and a fugitive, is unwilling to reveal his identity.

60 min

33

Local Storm

A thriller about a woman who believes she is a cripple.

60 min

34

Wild Geese

A young and beautiful school mistress receives a strange visit from an Englishman who introduces himself as Cyril. The traveler tells Jane that he has come two thousand miles to buy the ship model that has been sitting on her fireplace mantel for years. Confused by the sudden interest in the ship which she inherited from her father, Jane refuses to sell. While Cyril calls on her day after day and continues his offers for the ship, she becomes determined to find out the reasons for his interest. The results of her probing prove to have a bearing on the future of both parties.

60 min

35

Sweet Sorrow

An important Broadway actress has journeyed to the town of Oxford, Vermont to play the lead in a summer stock presentation. She is surprised that the townfolk are unfriendly and greet her with great hostility. Linda finds out the reason for the cool reception when a friendly schoolteacher tells her that the show's producer has just skipped town with the box office receipts. It looks as though the entire company will be tarred and feathered and driven out of town when Linda hits upon a daring and desperate plan which may set matters right again.

60 min

36

Consider the Lillies

A struggling young authoress caught between her own puritanical inclinations and a publisher's efforts to please the public's fancy by injecting "spice" into her manuscript.

60 min

37

Weather for Today

A young Broadway producer is having casting problems on his forthcoming play. Although the deadline for casting is approaching he has just about given up and is resting at his Staten Island home when a high wind storm gives him more serious problems to think about. When the storm reaches the dangerous stage a young woman seeks refuge in his home. His problems take on a new flavor until he makes an important discovery which enables him to solve them all.

60 min

38

Inside Story

A psychological comedy about an advertising girl and a psychiatrist.

60 min

39

The Promise

Story of a sadistic tycoon ruthlessly dominates his wife. Although crippled by an accident, he continues to run his business from his bedside, bulldozing and thundering to his employees and family alike. His meek wife is fully subservient to him until a strange change comes over her. The change in her attitude enables her to extract a promise from her husband to change his ways and he is forced to fulfill his promise in a most unusual and horrifying manner.

60 min