Watch Climax!

Name: Climax!
Genre: Drama
Released: 1954-10-07
Cast: William Lundigan As Host

Unrated
1954
4 Seasons
6.5 (274)

Climax! was a highly popular American television anthology series that aired on CBS from 1954 to 1958. The show was hosted by the charismatic William Lundigan, who would introduce each episode and provide commentary throughout. Each episode of Climax! was a self-contained story, often based on popular novels or short stories. Many famous actors and actresses of the time, including William Holden, Lauren Bacall, and Rod Steiger, appeared on the show. The series was known for its high production values and innovative cinematography, with many episodes filmed on location rather than in the studio.

One of the unique features of Climax! was that each episode was presented in a live format, meaning that there was no room for error. This added an element of excitement and unpredictability to the show, as anything could happen during the broadcast.

The show covered a wide range of genres, from crime dramas to romantic comedies to supernatural thrillers. Some of the most memorable episodes include "The Long Goodbye," based on the Raymond Chandler novel, "Casino Royale," which was the first screen adaptation of the James Bond story, and "No Right to Kill," a tense and unforgettable crime drama.

One of the most famous episodes of Climax! was "An Error in Chemistry," which starred Judy Holliday and Jack Palance. The episode told the story of a middle-aged widow who falls in love with a younger man, only to discover that he has a dark secret. The episode was praised for its intelligent writing and nuanced performances, and remains a classic of the television anthology genre.

Throughout its run, Climax! was known for taking risks, pushing boundaries, and experimenting with different forms of storytelling. One episode, "The Sound of Silence," was completely dialogue-free, relying entirely on music and visual imagery to tell its story. Another episode, "The Fog," used a unique split-screen technique, showing two different storylines unfolding simultaneously.

While some episodes of Climax! may feel dated or formulaic by today's standards, the show remains an important milestone in the history of television. It was one of the first programs to prove that television could be a legitimate form of entertainment, and helped pave the way for the golden age of television in the 1960s. For viewers who enjoy classic television and excellent storytelling, Climax! is a must-watch.

In conclusion, Climax! was a groundbreaking television series that aired on CBS from 1954 to 1958. Hosted by William Lundigan, the show presented self-contained stories in a live format, covering a wide range of genres and experimenting with innovative techniques. Despite its age, Climax! remains a classic of the anthology genre and a testament to the power of television storytelling.

Climax! is a series that ran for 4 seasons (166 episodes) between October 7, 1954 and on CBS

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Seasons

4 3 2 1

37. Cabin B-13

June 26, 1958

A woman's husband disappears on their honeymoon cuuise along with the fortune he received as a wedding gift from her. When the damsel reports his disappearance to the captain she's informed that there's no record of either her or her husband as passengers.

36. House of Doubt

June 19, 1958

A woman begins to fear for her own life when she takes a job caring for the child of a man whose wife just died under mysterious circumstances.

35. Spider Web

June 5, 1958

On a buying trip near the Mexican border, a wealthy cattleman is mistaken for a peasant by a pretty young damsel who gives him five dollars to pick up a package for her. Amused by the incident, he agrees to perform the errand.

34. The Push-Button Giant

May 29, 1958

A song plugger making his daily rounds meets an attractive young singer in a recording executive's waiting room and, by passing himself off as her manager, begins climbing to the top of the music world.

33. Time of the Hanging

May 22, 1958

When a cattleman's younger brother is sentenced to hang for the murder of a homesteader, he takes the sheriff and his wife hostage to exchange for his brother.

32. The Disappearance of Daphne

May 15, 1958

A young heiress marries a dancer after a whirlwind courtship, but soon comes to suspect he's responsible for the mysterious disappearance of his former dancing partner.

31. The Big Success

May 8, 1958

A successful businessman realizes too late that his mistakes have caused seemingly irrepairable harm to the rest of his family.

30. The Deadly Tattoo

May 1, 1958

A detective is assigned to investigate a series of murders in which the killer left a heart-shaped tattoo on each of his victims.

29. Shooting for the Moon

April 24, 1958

An aeronautical engineer and his staff are given a seemingly impossible deadline to determine whether or not a newly developed nose cone will work.

28. The Volcano Seat

April 10, 1958

An RAF flight lieutenant tries to gain the confidence of his American crew members while on an in-air refueling mission.

27. On the Take

April 3, 1958

A police lieutenant is assigned to ferret out corruption in the District of Columbia police department.

26. The Great World and Timothy Colt

March 27, 1958

An ambitious young attorney finds his legal ethics tested as he rises in his firm.

25. So Deadly My Love

March 13, 1958

While on a date with her boyfriend a woman runs into her erratic estranged husband. Later that night two ruffians beat up the boyfriend and kidnap the woman.

24. The Thief With the Big Blue Eyes

March 6, 1958

In Rome, an American actor and his wife come upon an Italian street urchin who appoints himself their guardian angel and after awhile begins trying to cajole them into adopting him permanently.

23. Albert Anastasia, His Life and Death

February 27, 1958

Dramatization about the life of Albert Anastasia who was dubbed "the Lord High Executioner of the Underworld."

22. The Secret Love of Johnny Spain

February 20, 1958

Four days before his movie is to be released, singing idol Johnny Spain is killed in an airplane crash. His press agent decides he must dig up some publicity to make the up-coming movie pay-off. He pressures Julie, a young starlet, to pose as Spain's secret love.

21. Four Hours in White

February 6, 1958

When twin brothers are injured in a motorcycle accident a surgeon must perform a dangerous operation to save their lives.

20. Burst of Fire

January 30, 1958

The theft of an antique cross involves three brothers: a priest, the thief, and the police detective assigned to the case.

19. Sound of the Moon

January 23, 1958

Facing a personal crisis on a coast-to-coast flight, an airline hostess appeals for help to a doctor on the plane, but he claims he's too busy to see her.

18. Thieves of Tokyo

January 16, 1958

An undercover man in Tokyo finds himself falling for a pretty Japanese dancer while on the trail of a black market ring. Needless to say, this doesn't sit well with his American galpal.

17. Scream in Silence

January 2, 1958

Medical student tries to help depressed neighbor.

16. Shadow of a Memory

December 26, 1957

A woman returns to the cottage owned by her late husband and tries to settle in, but a body is discovered in the living room and she is accused of murder.

15. To Walk the Night

December 19, 1957

On Christmas Eve, a police detective pursues a prowler who has murdered several women.

14. Hurricane Diane

December 12, 1957

Among the people seeking shelter from a flood at a rundown Southern hotel are a man accused of murder, the deputy sheriff to whom he's handcuffed, a compassionate young social worker, a preacher, and the hotel owner's disturbed wife who claims she's a countess.

13. The Devil's Brood

December 5, 1957

Two fugitives, hoping for a life of ease and respectability, leave for Australia to buy a sheep ranch, not knowing they're being followed by a blackmailer.

12. Murder Has a Deadline

November 28, 1957

A ruthless gossip columnist who's been receiving threatening letters asks for police protection and then, in a panic attack, barricades himself in his apartment.

11. A Matter of Life and Death

November 21, 1957

A man believes he is responsible for a murder and his galpal tries to help him prove his innocence.

10. Two Tests on Tuesday

November 14, 1957

A college professor tries to help an ex-GI with a history of mental illness whose anxiety over low grades caused him to cheat on his final exam.

9. Keep Me in Mind

November 7, 1957

Las Vegas lunge singer claims to have seen man wanted for murder.

8. Tunnel of Fear

October 24, 1957

Drama about the lives and struggles of men who build underground tunnels.

7. The Largest City in Captivity

October 17, 1957

An American newspaperman in West Berlin and an East German freedom fighter in the anti-Soviet underground are in love with the same woman, in whose apartment the freedom fighter takes refuge after being wounded.

6. Mask for the Devil

October 10, 1957

Tom Gardener invites the invalid widow of a man he accidentally killed to live with himself and his wife, unaware that her facade of sweetness and gentleness conceals a scheme to destroy his marriage.

5. Jacob and the Angels

October 3, 1957

A criminal lawyer makes a desperate gamble to defend a boy charged with murder. Risking his career, his love, even his health, he faces an even greater terror when he finds his own guilty conscience is on trial.

4. Along Came a Spider

September 26, 1957

As she's leaving to meet her daughter at the airport, a psychoanalyst receives a phone call from one of her patients, who tells her he's just killed a man. When the two women return home the patient, who is waiting for them, pulls a gun, forces the daughter into a room, and locks the door.

3. Necessary Evil

September 19, 1957

When a man with the reputation of a fast gun turns up in a small New Mexico community, the townspeople, including the man's son, want no part of him. Then two brothers who have vowed revenge on the gunfighter ride into town.

2. The Secret of the Red Room

September 12, 1957

A seriously ill man, visiting a young woman he once befriended, discovers that his health has begun to improve after being placed in a red room in the young woman's home.

1. Trial by Fire

September 5, 1957

After small town almost destroyed by fire, young boy threatens arson.

Description

Climax! is a series that ran for 4 seasons (166 episodes) between October 7, 1954 and on CBS

Where to Watch Climax!

Climax! is available for streaming on the CBS website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch Climax! on demand at Amazon Prime.