![]() Marlene Dietrich | |
Genre | Foreign intrigue/adventure |
---|---|
Country of origin | United States |
Language(s) | English |
Syndicates | American Broadcasting Company |
Starring | Marlene Dietrich Ken Lynch Arnold Moss |
Directed by | Marx Leebe |
Produced by | Leonard Blair |
Original release | January 6 – December 28, 1952 |
Cafe Istanbul is an old-time radio foreign intrigue and adventure program in the United States. It was broadcast on ABC January 6, 1952 - December 28, 1952. [1]
Mademoiselle Madou was the singer in Cafe Istanbul, a cabaret located somewhere in the Far East. Patrons of the cafe included "spies, criminals and the Secret Police," and Madou became involved with some of them in each episode. [2]
Jack O'Brian, a reviewer for International News Service, wrote in his radio-television column that the program, "which fills the air with a flavor mixed generously of throaty innuendo, sinister and exotic citizens of foreign extraction, is a fairly unbelievable mishmash but we have no complaints much on that score." [3] He concluded that it was an "earful of sultry fun." [3]
Marlene Dietrich played Mademoiselle Madou, a role that was "created specifically for" her. [4] Dietrich was apparently the power behind the show. In the book Dietrich Icon, Gerd Gemünden and Mary R. Desjardins wrote, "A radio executive told Colliers: 'The radio show is her package. She got the idea for it — based on the role she played in The Blue Angel — and she hires the actors and writers with her own money." [5] They also cited an article in Time that described Dietrich as sitting up until 3 a.m. "pecking out 17 pages of script revisions for the first show." [5]
Ken Lynch played Christopher Gard, "an American young man of mysterious connections, who holds a unique place in the affections of Mlle. Madou". [6] Arnold Moss played police Colonel Raul Felki, who didn't know "whether to make love to Madou or throw her in jail." [6] Marx Leebe was the director, and Leonard Blair was the producer. Bernard Green provided the music. [6]
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