Mon 26 Jun 2023
A TV Pilot Review: THE GREEN PARROT (1958).
Posted by Steve under Reviews , TV Adventure[6] Comments
THE GREEN PARROT. 1958. TV pilot, 30 min. Never aired. Howard Duff (Paul Mace), Ramon Novarro, Peter Whitney, Donald Randolph, Mari Blanchard. Created by Ida Lupino & Howard Duff. Teleplay: William Spier. Directed by Allen H. Miner. Currently streaming on YouTube (see below).
There is small but significant number of movie, TV, and radio series based on the concept of an American (usually but not always) running a tavern, cafe. or the like in a foreign country, often an exotic one, but although he’d rather it otherwise, trouble always seems to seek him out and get him involved in peril and danger for as long as the current episode lasts.
Such is the case with Paul Mace, who co-owns The Green Parrot (dba El Pavo Verde), a cantina in a small Mexican village. The episode begins with Mace staggering into the bar with a bullet in his shoulder, then contnues in true Sam Spade fashion as he relates to the doctor and others what kind of scrpe he has just gotten himself into – and presumably (and hopefully) out of.
It all began with a beautiful blonde, complete with fur coat, coming into the cantina asking Mace for help. Her husband has just died in a fire. Foul play is suspected, and as his wife, she is sure that she is the number one suspect. And so she is, and Mace does his best to help.
The cast and setting are both fine, but the story simply has no oomph. Being of the appropriate age for such material at the time it was produced, however, I’d certainly have watched any continuing episodes, if such had eventuated. But as adult fare, it’s as weak as yesterday’s tea. I wish I could say better.
June 26th, 2023 at 1:49 pm
Duff, of course, played Sam Spade on radio.
June 26th, 2023 at 2:07 pm
And an uncanny reference it was!
June 26th, 2023 at 3:48 pm
I am thinking now that the reference was intentional. William Spier, who wrote the teleplay, was also the producer/director of the SAM SPADE radio show.
June 26th, 2023 at 5:32 pm
Speaking as a local, I’ve seen worse movie-Mexican atmosphere, so it’s too bad this didn’t sell. In fact, this could be my current residencia of Tlaxcala! Bonus points for Duff’s pet cat, and for his book-in-progress, Fielding’s Tom Jones (contrasted with the thug’s reading material, Girls Girls Girls Girls).
June 26th, 2023 at 7:39 pm
Duff did much better replacing Dick Powell as Dante in the spin off to that limited series from FOUR STAR THEATER about a tavern/casino owner.
Somehow this setup never works as well on television as it sounds like it should.
June 26th, 2023 at 10:53 pm
David,
The reason Duff did better as Dante is the Four Star produced it, this thing is an Ida Lupino/Duff production, and despite Ida’s current celebrity as an art house producer-director of low-budget gems, she ended in bankruptcy. Not the same as Mr. Powell.