Somerset Maugham TV Theatre

The series made its debut on October 18, 1950 on CBS. The series was a half-hour (later 60 minute) drama whose episodes were based on the works and novels of the show's namesake William Somerset Maugham. while the dramas themselves were presented live. Season 2 Changes Move to NBC After the series finished its run on CBS after one season on March 28, 1951, the series was moved to NBC on April 2, 1951. The series would remain for the rest of its run. The series also moved from Wednesday nights to Monday nights and expanded to 60 minutes, alternating weekly with Robert Montgomery Presents. Season two finished its second season on September 3 after airing 16 episodes. Season 3 The series started its third season on September 17, 1951, continuing to air on Monday nights and for sixty minutes. This season would be the show's final season airing its last episode on December 10, 1951, after airing 7 episodes. ==Production==

The series was directed by directors Martin Ritt and David Alexander and produced by John Gibbs, Ann Marlow, and Daniel Petrie. During its third season, the show alternated on Monday nights with the NBC anthology series Robert Montgomery Presents. Tintair sponsored the program. The company ended its sponsorship effective December 10, 1951, because it felt that the show's alternate-week status diminished the impact of Tintair's advertising. ==Broadcast history==

• Wednesdays 9–9:30 PM, October 18, 1950 – March 28, 1951, on CBS. • Mondays 9:30–10:30 PM, April 2, 1951 – June 25, 1951, on NBC. • Mondays 9:30–10 PM, July 9, 1951 – August 27, 1951, on NBC. • Mondays 9:30–10:30 PM, September 3, 1951 – December 10, 1951, on NBC. ==Cast==

Actors appearing in the series included: • Luther Adler • Judith Anderson • Constance Bennett • Joan Bennett • Otto Kruger • Veronica Lake • Cloris Leachman • Ross Martin • Murray Matheson • Peggy McCay • Mildred Natwick • Anthony Quinn • Joseph Schildkraut • Martha Scott • Beatrice Straight • Jessica Tandy ==Episodes==

Season 1 • The Creative Impulse – October 18, 1950 • McKintosh – October 25, 1950 • Winter Cruise – November 1, 1950 • Episode – November 15, 1950 • "The Unconquered" – November 19, 1950, Rex Williams, Olive Deering • "Lord Mountdrago" – November 22, 1950, Arnold Moss • The String of Beads – November 29, 1950 • Force of Circumstance – December 6, 1950 • The Round Dozen – December 13, 1950 • Footprints in the Jungle – December 20, 1950 • Virtue – December 27, 1950 • The Treasure – January 3, 1951 • The Man from Glasgow – January 10, 1951 • The Vessel of Wrath – January 17, 1951 • Honolulu – January 24, 1951 • Partners – January 31, 1951 • The Romantic Young Lady – February 7, 1951 • The Dream – February 14, 1951 ==Critical response==

Reviewers for the trade publication Billboard had differing reactions to two episodes of the show. The January 17, 1951, episode was described as "a superb job of emasculation" of the short story "Vessel of Wrath". The reviewer wrote that he had not seen "more lacklustre, dull, stodgy, boring, inane, stupid, empty, silly and nauseating dramatizations". The only flaw cited by the reviewer was "a top-heavy overdose of lengthy commercials" that were repetitive enough to irritate viewers. ==Radio version==

The Somerset Maugham Theater, a radio version of the program was broadcast on CBS from January 20, 1951, through July 14, 1951, sponsored by Tintair. It ran on NBC from October 27, 1951, through January 19, 1952, with By-Mart as the sponsor. Stars of episodes included Clark, Hume Cronyn, Alfred Drake, Nancy Kelly, Scott, and Tandy. The producers were John Gibbs and Ann Marlowe; the director was Mitchell Grayson. A review of the January 27, 1951, episode in Billboard said that despite "a soap opera slant", The Somerset Maugham Theater was "far above the usual daytime drama, because its basic story ideas are much stronger". The review commended Tandy's acting and Grayson's directing and complimented the commercials. ==References==