Caf Continental which was a well known variety/cabaret style show which ran from 1947 to 1953 is well documented in the Whirligig index along with reminiscences about the show by Gerry George. However, as I recall, a drama series with half hour episodes regularly preceded it , on, I think Saturday evenings which was the Caf Continental regular slot.
It was a drama series set always on the theme of the renowned Orient Express train which in those days used to run between Paris and Istanbul (?). Each week had a seperate complete story which was usually laced with some sombre atmospherics revolving around human dramas/espionage/Iron curtain politics,etc. It was I believe
a continental production - Austro/Hungarian or something similar and was dubbed into English.
I can find very scant reference to it on the web but have managed to track down one episode only. This episode was called "Man of Many Skins " and starred Erich Von Stroheim
who played the part of Norma Desmond's butler in the film "Sunset Boulevard". In his pre war existence Von Stroheim had directed what is now regarded as a silent classic, "Queen Kelly" and it was as an adjunct to a showing of this film at some American cult film festival that this episode of "Orient Express" was being shown also.
Annoyingly, prior to joining Whirligig, I found reference somewhere to another episode which starred Nadia Gray and
Donald Houston, but I cannot now relocate it.
Can anyone remember this series which ran in 1952/53?
Any information would be welcome.
It was a drama series set always on the theme of the renowned Orient Express train which in those days used to run between Paris and Istanbul (?). Each week had a seperate complete story which was usually laced with some sombre atmospherics revolving around human dramas/espionage/Iron curtain politics,etc. It was I believe
a continental production - Austro/Hungarian or something similar and was dubbed into English.
I can find very scant reference to it on the web but have managed to track down one episode only. This episode was called "Man of Many Skins " and starred Erich Von Stroheim
who played the part of Norma Desmond's butler in the film "Sunset Boulevard". In his pre war existence Von Stroheim had directed what is now regarded as a silent classic, "Queen Kelly" and it was as an adjunct to a showing of this film at some American cult film festival that this episode of "Orient Express" was being shown also.
Annoyingly, prior to joining Whirligig, I found reference somewhere to another episode which starred Nadia Gray and
Donald Houston, but I cannot now relocate it.
Can anyone remember this series which ran in 1952/53?
Any information would be welcome.
where it is described as an anthology which kinda fits part of my memory. And a reference to The Uppercut with Nadia Gray. Ah well you gotta keep searching, searching.....
