After a stint in Hollywood during the spring completing his scenes in 4 Mexican features, Boris Karloff spent his final summer relaxing until 3 television appearances loomed in the fall. Comedy stints for Red Skelton and Jonathan Winters were followed by a brief dramatic role in the 11th episode of Gene Barry's "The Name of the Game," entitled "The White Birch." As Mikhail Orlov, Boris is first seen in a wheelchair, hands shaking, the apparent victim of a stroke. When we, and star Gene Barry, next see Karloff, he rises from a chair with surprising ease to implore Barry to take with him Orlov's memoir of life behind the Iron Curtain, "The White Birch," now disguised as a volume of Twain's "Tom Sawyer." A convinced Barry departs, leaving Boris behind in the wheelchair, repeating his prior charade. Our initial apprehension upon the sight of Boris Karloff's ailing appearance evaporates when we next see his smiling, reassuring countenance, revealing no loss of ability as we bid the actor a fond farewell after 50 years on screen. This episode was broadcast on Nov 29 1968, whereupon Boris traveled back to England, where he died in a Midhurst Sussex hospital on Feb 2 1969.
2 Reviews
Real life history...as Boris bids farewell...!
biffot11 June 2011
Warning: Spoilers
Spoiler Alert !
A 'Gene Barry' Segment Episode
The series dips straight into real life history here following the Russian invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968...
Glenn Howard (Gene Barry) is one of many influential people on a train speeding through the Czechoslovakian countryside as the course of the Russian invasion unfolds....
They visit Mikhail Orlov (Boris Karloff - in his final acting role very shortly before his death). Orlov appears to be the helpless victim of a massive stroke, confined to a wheelchair, unable to speak, and with hands shaking, however this later proves to be all an act as, later in secret, a sprightly and sharp minded Orlov then rises up, speaks freely , and hands to Glenn Howard a copy of his manuscript of 'The White Birch' - his own autobiographical tale of his life under the Soviet rule pulling no punches...disguised as a copy of 'Tom Sawyer'...!
As Orlov resumes his 'stroke victim' act, Glenn Howard resolves to get the manuscript home and have it printed....however certain other suspicious parties have an eye on him...including 'Emilio Fazio' (Jean-Pierre Aumont), Russians such as 'Tartiana' (Susan Oliver) and other vested interested people such as 'Philip Saxon' (Roddy McDowall) and 'Ghernin' (Pete Duel)
With an all star guest cast including Roddy McDowall, Pete Duel, and Susan Oliver...plus Hollywood Legend Boris Karloff in his swansong acting appearance....together with it's actual historical setting, this episode is one of the strongest and most memorable of the entire series.
Susan Saint James appears as Research assistant 'Peggy Maxwell' once again crossing over into her overall Boss Glenn Howard's activities in this powerful Gene Barry segment episode.
A 'Gene Barry' Segment Episode
The series dips straight into real life history here following the Russian invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968...
Glenn Howard (Gene Barry) is one of many influential people on a train speeding through the Czechoslovakian countryside as the course of the Russian invasion unfolds....
They visit Mikhail Orlov (Boris Karloff - in his final acting role very shortly before his death). Orlov appears to be the helpless victim of a massive stroke, confined to a wheelchair, unable to speak, and with hands shaking, however this later proves to be all an act as, later in secret, a sprightly and sharp minded Orlov then rises up, speaks freely , and hands to Glenn Howard a copy of his manuscript of 'The White Birch' - his own autobiographical tale of his life under the Soviet rule pulling no punches...disguised as a copy of 'Tom Sawyer'...!
As Orlov resumes his 'stroke victim' act, Glenn Howard resolves to get the manuscript home and have it printed....however certain other suspicious parties have an eye on him...including 'Emilio Fazio' (Jean-Pierre Aumont), Russians such as 'Tartiana' (Susan Oliver) and other vested interested people such as 'Philip Saxon' (Roddy McDowall) and 'Ghernin' (Pete Duel)
With an all star guest cast including Roddy McDowall, Pete Duel, and Susan Oliver...plus Hollywood Legend Boris Karloff in his swansong acting appearance....together with it's actual historical setting, this episode is one of the strongest and most memorable of the entire series.
Susan Saint James appears as Research assistant 'Peggy Maxwell' once again crossing over into her overall Boss Glenn Howard's activities in this powerful Gene Barry segment episode.
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