Armstrong Circle Theatre (TV Series) The Bells of Cockaigne (1953) User Reviews

Janitorial Eloquence

[wes-connors · 7/10 · 3 August 2008]

New York janitor Gene Lockhart (as Pat Cosgrave) spends his advanced years dreaming about his home in Ireland, and playing the "Lucky Dollars" newspaper game. If he matches the paper's daily serial number with a bill, Mr. Lockhart will win the $500.00 jackpot. Then, he could afford a return to Ireland once before he dies. Lockhart has developed a grandfatherly interest in young stockroom worker James Dean (as Joey Frazier), and his poor family. Mr. Dean's baby son has asthma, which keeps him up at night, and, unfortunately, earns him "dock time" at work. Heavily in debt, Dean can't afford to fill a $9.00 prescription for his son.

When the time comes for the men to collect their pay, Lockhart rushes to match his dollars' serial numbers to those in the paper. Meanwhile, hoping for a lucky break, Dean risks his wages in a poker game, with and the other workmen…

"The Bells of Cockaigne" is a short, simple, and sweet little drama. Lockhart (actress June's father) is an absolute delight, and Dean plays his role exceptionally well. They are helped by writer George Lowther's excellent, well-paced story; the little "heart tug" at the end reaches just the right level of sentimentality. Versatile Vaughn Taylor (as Jonesy) excels in support. Karl Lukas (as Kreuger), John Dennis (as Rivnock), and future "Mod Squad" boss Tige Andrews (as Sam) can be seen among the stockroom workers. And, if you're looking for a fit young Dean in shirtless scenes, this kinescope's a good get.

******* The Bells of Cockaigne (11/17/53) James Sheldon ~ Gene Lockhart, James Dean, Vaughn Taylor

A little rough and a little schmaltzy, but still very nice...

[planktonrules · 6/10 · 9 September 2010]

I've recently discovered that many of the live teleplays of the 1950s are actually now available on DVD, so I've spent a lot of time watching them. I've seen most of the more famous ones (most of which were soon remade by Hollywood) and now I've located some of the obscure ones--ones I had never heard of or knew existed.

While "The the Bells of Cockaigne" is not the equal to such great teleplays as "Marty" or "Requiem for a Heavyweight", it was quite enjoyable. However, unlike the great television plays of the era, this one was a bit rough. The acting was not quite as fluid and stars Gene Lockhart and James Dean did flub a few lines here and there. But, considering this was broadcast live, I certainly can make some allowances. In addition, the story was high on the sentimentality scale (some might find it schmaltzy), it was still very sweet and enjoyable.

The story is about a nice old janitor (Lockhart) and a down-on-his-luck father (Dean) whose child is sick and in need of expensive medical care. I would say more, but it might just spoil the film for you.

Just saw this on Movieflix.com

[mickeeteeze · 8/10 · 20 February 2008]

This is a basic TV "Armstrong Playhouse" production from 1953. Needless to say, I watched it to see young Dean. He plays a down on his luck warehouse worker with a sick child at home. He's trying to win at poker during his lunch break, but isn't too lucky there either. Gene Lockhart plays a kindly old worker that only gambles on the "Newspapers Dollar Lotto". He dreams of one day winning and going back to Ireland. He's a kindly old sort; always taking time to advise the Dean character who is basically mad at the world, and his lot in life. There is an interesting scene in which Dean's wife shows up during the poker game, probably to get his pay. When Dean gets up to leave, another player starts a little brawl to keep him there, as Dean has won the others money....and he wants a chance to win it back. You do see flashes of what we'd later see here. Just a fascinating little thing....less than a half hour watch. The ending is kind of predictable. It's really just worth seeing for the young Dean. He was probably still in training at the Actors Studio in NYC, as I'm sure this was taped in NY. It probably fed him for a month or two while in NY trying to make a break.

Before his good times had begun.

[morrison-dylan-fan · 4/10 · 6 September 2010]

Due to being very interested in seeing documentaries about James Dean,I was unable to not take my eye off a DVD in a pound shop called The James Dean Story.To my pleasant surprise,I discovered that the disc had a bonus TV play as an extra!!.Whilst this was an early supporting role for Dean,I think it is pretty easy to see a good amount of potential with his performance..

The plot:

An old factory worker discovers that one of his dollar bill serial numbers matches one listed in a newspaper (the paper print serial numbers,in a Lottery-style game)Having discovered that he has won some cash,the man starts to think about getting the money and spending it on his dream trip to Ireland.Before he goes to collect his winnings,he finds out that one of the younger workers (who is trying to make as much money as possible to take his very ill kid to one of the best hospitals in the country)has lost all his weeks wages,due to trying to increase his wage,by playing a few rounds of cards with some of the other workers...

View on the film:

Gene Lockhart gives a fun,warming performance as the old-timer,who has finally gotten lucky.In the card playing scenes,Dean does a great job at showing how desperately the character wants to succeed in the game,in order to help his kid.

Final view on the film:

A interesting early appearance of a movie legend.

Lockhart's show

[lor_ · 10 November 2023]

James Dean enters the frame bare-chested, a salt of the earth worker at a warehouse in this highly sentimental episode of Armstrong Circle Theatre -an anthology drama TV series sponsored by a Pennsylvania cork company.

It plays like a holiday offering in the "Gift of the Magi" mold, with character actor Gene Lockhart making the most of his role as a nostalgic old worker who dreams of visiting his home in Ireland again one day, symbolized by him bringing up the legend a utopia called Cockaigne when he hears church bells ringing.

Dean is a hard-luck guy, who loses all his money gambling with co-workers just as his wife arrives to pick up his pay packet to pay for drugs prescribed to their young ailing child. Very predictably, Lockhart wins a newspaper lottery contest and contrives that Dean get the $500 prize thinking he was the winner.

Lockhart is terrific in this role, and Dean is relatively natural in his performance, not exhibiting those Method tics that became so famous (and unfortunately imitated) in his brief feature film career.