Assignment Foreign Legion Explained

Assignment Foreign Legion is an American TV series that starred Merle Oberon.[1] It ran on CBS from October 1, 1957, until December 24, 1957.[2]

Premise

The series related activities of the French Foreign Legion during World War II. Oberon narrated episodes and played a newspaper correspondent in search of stories about the Foreign Legion.[3]

Production

The show's producers were M. Smedley Aston and Anthony C. Bartlett.[4] Directors included Don Chaffey, Michael McCarthy and Lance Comfort.[5] Writers included Max Ehrlich.[6] The series was filmed in Morocco, Algiers, England and Spain. Eventually it became too dangerous and filming was completed at Beaconsfield Studios in London. CBS Television Film Sales Inc. distributed the series.

Assignment Foreign Legion was broadcast on Tuesdays from 10:30 to 11 p.m. Eastern Time.[7] Its average cost was $26,000 an episode.[8] It was sponsored by P. Lorillard Company[9] for Kent cigarettes. The trade publication Variety reported, "there was some worry" prior to Lorillard's taking on the show because it "may be too controversial, possibly alienating nationalistic Arabs."[10] The program ended when Lorillard decided to move its sponsorship to Richard Diamond, Private Detective, which began on January 2, 1958.[11]

Reception

Variety said "Stories, acting, and production are of good quality.[12]

One week the show was among the top ten shows in Britain.[13]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Merle Oberon Tells Story . . 36 . 10,277 . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 14 July 1962 . 11 August 2020 . 15 . National Library of Australia.
  2. Book: McNeil. Alex. Total Television: the Comprehensive Guide to Programming from 1948 to the Present . 1996. Penguin Books USA, Inc.. New York, New York. 0-14-02-4916-8. 64. 4th.
  3. News: Adams . Val . Merle Oberon to Star on C.B.S. In TV Series of Foreign Legion . August 26, 2023 . The New York Times . August 20, 1957 . 53. subscription .
  4. Book: Hawes . William . Filmed Television Drama, 1952-1958 . December 26, 2001 . McFarland . 978-0-7864-1132-0 . 109 . October 5, 2023 . en.
  5. News: 28 July 1962 . Stories Of The Foreign Legion . 36 . 7 . . 10,289 . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 11 August 2020 . National Library of Australia.
  6. Book: Ellett . Ryan . Radio Drama and Comedy Writers, 1928-1962 . November 2, 2017 . McFarland . 978-1-4766-2980-3 . 67 . October 5, 2023 . en.
  7. Book: Brooks . Tim . Marsh . Earle F. . The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present . June 24, 2009 . Random House Publishing Group . 978-0-307-48320-1 . 85 . October 5, 2023 . en.
  8. Variety. Earnings in Britain Cancel Out $100000 Investment. 14 November 1956. 36.
  9. November 4, 1957 . 3 . Pabst Weighs CBS Tuesday . Billboard . October 5, 2023 .
  10. October 9, 1957 . 29 . Assignment Foreign Legion . Variety . February 17, 2024.
  11. News: Adams . Val . A. B. C. Reverses Film Show Trend: Drops 'Date With Angels' for Live Betty White Program --C.B.S. Signs Fred Coe Producer Gets C.B.S Pact . July 23, 2024 . The New York Times . December 16, 1957 . 51. subscription .
  12. https://archive.org/details/variety205-1957-01/page/n573/mode/1up?q=%22foreign+legion%22 Review of series
  13. Variety. Palladium Number 1. 27 February 1957. 31.

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