"The Revlon Mirror Theater" (1953)Character: Margaret HughesEpisode: "Because I Love Him"Premiered: September 19th, 1953 (CBS)
Episode synopsis:
Margaret Hughes (Joan Crawford) visits her family doctor, Alan Gordon (James Seay), following her and her husband's health checkups. Dr. Gordon tells Margaret her husband, David (William Ching) of ten years, is dying of a blood disorder, giving a prognosis of one year. Dr. Gordon suggests she not tell her husband as to make his last year happy and not worrisome. Margaret follows their doctor's suggestion and attempts to make life for David as enjoyable as possible.
During this time, David attempts to adopt a child via an adoption agency worker (Ellen Corby), however, Margaret prevents the adoption due to David's prognosis. Later, Margaret discovers David is having an affair with family friend Ann (Virginia Grey), and he soon decides to leave Margaret.
Margaret goes to Dr. Gordon to report the news, who informs her that it's she who is dying of the blood disorder, and not her husband. Margaret thanks Dr. Gordon for his way telling her about her condition, and he confesses to having loved her for some time.
Cast & Crew:
Director:
Written By: Les Crutchfield (Story), Jay Dratler (Teleplay)
Producer: Revue Productions
Joan Crawford - "Margaret Hughes"
William Ching - "David Hughes"
James Seay - "Alan Gordon"
Virginia Grey - "Ann"
Ellen Corby - "Mrs. Logan"
Production:
Joan's gowns were designed by wardrobe designer Sheila O'Brien.
This was Joan's debut on television. CBS reran the episode in November 1953 due to viewer requests.
This was Joan's third collaboration with Ellen Corby ("Harriett Craig", 1950 and "Goodbye My Fancy, 1951) and second with Virginia Grey
("The Women", 1939).
While working on her next film "Johnny Guitar" for Republic Pictures, Joan commented the following about this appearance, and why she waited to appear on television for so long. "It can harm a player if things aren't exactly right. They must have the proper story, facilities and material. I believe in film for television, because I think a player, especially an actress, should look the way she looks on the screen - her best at all times."
Following this first television appearance, Joan stated she had retained writer Andrew "Buddy" Solt (who adapted the screenplay of Joan's 1942 film "They All Kissed The Bride") to script 26 episodes of a television series Joan was to star in, portraying a newspaper columnist, with the series having an expected debut in early 1955. This series never materialized, however, it is the opinion of this Webmaster that Joan filmed the pilot for this series and it was later sold to CBS as the "General Electric Theater" episode "The Road To Edinburgh," which aired on October 31, 1954.