An embittered wheelchair bound war veteran (John Irving) is barely making ends meet in squalor, and begs his only surviving relative, Uncle John Carradine, for more help than he's willing to give, he finds aide through old girlfriend Angela Lansbury. A creepy bandit (Aaron Spelling, long before his mega producer days) tries to rob Irving, but the fast thinking Lansbury is able to overpower the nasty little weasel. Her attempts to rob Carradine go badly, and she ends up being blackmailed by him into stealing a very valuable stamp that he desperately wants. Like so many other TV shows and movies of the 1950's she appeared in, Angela Lansbury finds herself on the wrong side of the law, and it is very amusing to see the future "Murder She Wrote" mystery solver being so diabolical. Carradine, mainly known for campy supporting roles, gets a part that would normally be played by either Boris Karloff or Basil Rathbone, and is phenomenal. His character is even more wicked than hers, because at least she has a conscience and cares about someone other than herself. A fascinating TV Anthology episode that is well worth hunting down.
2 Reviews
Angela Lansbury and John Carradine
kevinolzak20 October 2021
HEINZ STUDIO 57 was among the last shows to be produced by the ailing DuMont network, a half hour anthology series hosted by Joel Aldrich, moving into first run syndication once the first season ended. "The Rarest Stamp" was a second season episode from Mar. 23, 1956, a minimum of sets and small cast directed by veteran Herschel Daugherty, essentially an outline depending on the strength of its two stars, Angela Lansbury and John Carradine. David (John Irving) is a disabled veteran of British Intelligence still in love with Katy (Angela Lansbury), who finds him living in the back of a bookstore that can barely keep him solvent due to his miserly Uncle John (Carradine), an obsessed philatelist determined to prevent his nephew from obtaining his rightful inheritance. Katy intrudes on the unscrupulous old man one night with a gun, only he turns the tables on her and holds her at bay with a proposition, to steal the most priceless stamp in the world from a fellow collector so that his collection is complete and ready to be cremated with him after he dies. Katy is able to convince him that the price involves David's inheritance, to sign all the necessary documents before they venture out to commit the crime, John behind the wheel to keep watch, Katy with the knowledge of safecracking. Made up to look much older, John Carradine was no stranger to playing self serving tricksters, and is well matched with Angela Lansbury, recent costars in the Danny Kaye comedy "The Court Jester." Watch for up and coming Aaron Spelling as a thief who gets his arm broken for his troubles, soon to move behind the camera as a longtime producer, and screen veteran Leslie Denison, whose career consisted mostly of unbilled bits as upper class British types. John Carradine would find himself cast in many future Aaron Spelling ventures, in TV movies "Crowhaven Farm" and "Death at Love House," as well as shows like JOHNNY RINGO, THE ROOKIES, STARSKY & HUTCH, VEGA$, and FANTASY ISLAND.
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