"Four Star Playhouse" Vote of Confidence (TV Episode 1954) Poster

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4/10
Not Exactly The Sting
bkoganbing3 July 2010
Apparently the same is true on the small screen as well as the big, a whole lot of the material David Niven did completely relied on his screen charm to put it across. Makes the material a whole lot better than it really was.

In this case Niven is a charming con man just recently released from prison and back with associates Chuck Connors and Elizabeth Patterson in search of new marks. The one they've settled on is a recent legatee of several million dollars.

The con is a fake orphanage and they hope to swindle the young woman out of it. Her secretary is Amanda Blake and she's a shrewd article, but she is falling for Niven and he, her.

When they pull a con, it's not with the elaborate props that Paul Newman and Robert Redford used in The Sting. And that's the problem with Vote Of Confidence, the constraints of the small screen don't allow for character development or to really believe in what this trio is doing. Only a half an hour you know.

Still fans of David Niven should like it.
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5/10
Too much plot for half an hour--plus a really ridiculous ending.
planktonrules18 October 2010
Warning: Spoilers
This is from "Four Star Playhouse"--a show that consisted of four top Hollywood stars who alternated who starred in each teleplay--the other three got that particular week off from the show. Actually, there were five stars, Ida Lupino and Joan Fontaine and Merle Oberon ended up switching roles in the show as the fourth star. The other three were David Niven, Charles Boyer and Dick Powell--some really disparate actors who seemed to have little in common.

This particular episode was really frustrating to watch, as it had a great plot and some wonderful characters but it failed in the execution. The biggest reason is that there was enough plot for a full-length film not a thirty minute show. So, in order to squeeze the show into the time slot, there is a ridiculous resolution that completely undoes everything in the show! Too bad, as it could have been wonderful as the main story idea is grand.

The show starts wonderfully, as con-man David Niven is being released early from prison. The warden tells him it's because he was so touched by Niven's sweet mother--who, it turns out, is simply a member of Niven's gang (Elizabeth Patterson). Ms. Patterson was wonderful in this role, as seeing such a sweet looking lady playing such a terrible person was quite funny.

Now that Niven's out, he plans on yet another swindle. In this case, he's heard about a rich heiress who is giving away her fortune--and wants to give it to deserving charities. So, Niven is a horrible person and plans on creating a fake charity and taking the good woman. He claims to represent a home for orphans and actually pays poor folks to borrow their kids when the lady responsible for distributing the money comes to visit. At this point, I was in love with this black-hearted episode and couldn't wait until it ended. HOWEVER, as there were only a few minutes left, the resolution came way, way too suddenly. It made no sense, as a result, and completely spoiled it--as the schmaltzy finale didn't at all fit the first 75% of the show. It's a shame, as the idea was terrific and the acting very nice.

By the way, get a load of the story that Chuck Connors is telling the kids--it's a riot!
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