This week’s mystery movie was Bad Actor, a 1962 episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents, with Robert Duvall, Carole Eastman and Charles Robinson.
Teleplay by Robert Bloch.
From a story by Max Franklin.
Produced by Joan Harrison.
Associate producer Norman Lloyd.
Directed by John Newland.
Alfred Hitchcock Presents is on numerous streaming services. It is also available on DVD from Critics’ Choice Video.
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I wanted to pay tribute to the late Robert Duvall, who died last week. Most of his films and later television work are quite well known, so I dug into his early performances in television. Bad Actor is a simple idea: Two method actors are competing for a role and during an impromptu rehearsal, the actions become rather heated and one of the players loses his head. Questions quickly arise as one actor can’t be found and the other is extremely nervous about his expensive ice bucket. Critical coverage at the time was minimal, faulting the grisly plot. It’s well worth watching simply to see Duvall at this point in his career.
For Monday, we have a mystery woman and Back of the Head Guy.
Update: This is Carole Eastman and Charles Robinson as Back of the Head Guy (IYKYK).
For Tuesday, we have a mysterious fellow.
Update: This is David Lewis.
Brain Trust roll call: Stacia (mystery movie, mystery woman and Back of the Head Guy) and Sylvia (right era).
For “Hm Wednesday,” we have a mysterious gent.
Update: This is Bartlett Robinson.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (Tuesday’s mystery guest), Sarah (Tuesday’s mysterious guest) and Sylvia (Tuesday’s mystery guest).
For “Aha Thursday,” we have a man of mysteriousness.
Update: This is Charles Robinson.
And another enigmatic fellow.
Update: This is William Schallert.
Brain Trust roll call: L.C. (mystery movie and mysterious cast), Sarah (mystery movie, Monday’s mystery woman and Wednesday’s mysterious fellow), Sylvia (mystery movie and all mysterious guests), Stacia (Wednesday’s mysterious fellow), Mike Hawks (Tuesday’s mystery chap) and Sheila (Tuesday’s mystery gent).
For Friday, our mysterious leading man shows off his dance moves, accompanied by a mystery companion on the bongo drums.
Update: This is Robert Duvall, left, with Raven Grey Eagle.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (mystery movie and mysterious cast), Sylvia (Thursday’s mysterious fellows), mystery director and mysterious writer), Chrisbo mystery movie and mysterious cast), Mike Hawks (Thursday’s mystery guests), B.J. Merholz (Thursday’s mystery guest No. 2), Benito (Thursday’s mysterious guest No. 2) and Bruce Reznick (Thursday’s mystery guest No. 2).
ladailymirror.com 
This is an Alfred Hitchcock Presents! I have been O B S E S S E D with this show since I was a kid.
Big laugh at the “back of the head guy” here. This is episode “Bad Actor” with Robert Duvall, not in the picture here but the star of the episode. That’s Carole Eastman and uh sort of Charles Robinson, depending on how authentic Hitch wanted the scene to be, I suppose.
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Wine chiller? Ice bucket? What the heck is that thing?
1960s film. Has a RomCom feeling to it.
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THE SCARLET HOUR. Maureen Hurley Monday and David Lewis today.
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Tuesday’s mystery fellow is David Lewis, AKA Edward Quartermain.
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Les Tremayne Tuesday?
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An excellent guess, but alas, I’m afraid not.
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THE APARTMENT, with Jack Lemmon BOTH guy.
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David Lewis today. Not sure of the movie. Will just follow the 60s trail.
Maybe Generation 1969?
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This has git to be tv not film, because I’ve given you all the best except for ABSRNT MINDED LROFESSOR, which it’s not. Must me Perry Madon’s CASE OF THE LIST LAST ACT because Jerome Cowan is in it. That would make Joanva Gilbert Money, with Cowan?
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An excellent guess! But alas, I’m afraid not.
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“Alfred Hitchcock Presents” Bad Actor (1963) w/Robert Duvall, David Lewis, Bartlett Robinson, William Schallert, Carole Eastman, Charles Robinson, Jo Helton, Dorothy Neumann, Raven Grey Eagle…
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Today’s mystery fellow is Bartlett Robinson. And Monday’s mystery gal is Carole Eastman. The show is the “Bad Actor” episode from the Alfred Hitchcock Hour. Looking forward to seeing Monday’s BOTH guy, Robert Duval, on Friday.
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Forgot about using your “in memorium” salutes to guide my search and looked up Mr Duvall and David Lewis. Ah-ha! And Eww! Oh my! Poor ice bucket quite lovely on the outside.
Alfred Hitchcock Presents “Bad Actor” 1962
Mon – Carole Eastman (with the ice bucket) and Mr Duvall I suppose ( I can’t see the BOTHG on my phone)
Tues – David Lewis
Wed – Bartlett Robinson
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Was idly wondering what all I’d seen David Lewis from Tuesday in because it felt like he’d been in everything, and sure enough, he was in the soap operas my mom watched and the mystery shows my dad watched.
My husband saw Bartlett Robinson just now and said “he’s in a Bruce Lee movie.” And he is!
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David Lewis for Tuesday.
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David Lewis for Tuesday?
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Did you miss my Monday answer of SCARKET HOUR, because I have listed all the movies/TV movies he did in b/w. SCARLET HOUR, THE APARTMENT, ABSENT MINDED PROFESSOR. Nothing else is left, afi and imdb say they’re all in color.
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WHY DID YOU LIE ON TUESDAY THAT THIS WAS A MOVIE WHEN IT’S NOT?! BAD ACTOR. CAROLE EASTMAN, BARTLETT ROBINSON, CHARLES ROBINSON, AND WILLIAM SCHALLERT?
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Thurs – 1) Charles Robinson (who’s also Monday’s BOTHG – poor soul) 2) William Schallert
This episode was directed by John Newland, the host of “One Step Beyond”, a series I loved growing up. And written by Robert Bloch, who wrote the novel, “Psycho” (on which Hitchcock’s movie is based.)
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Aha! Charles Robinson and William Schallert. Also Carole Eastman, David Lewis and Bartlett Robinson in the Alfred Hitchcock Presents episode: Bad Actor. Tomorrow future star, the late great RD
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Charles Knox Robinson and William Schallert in ???????????????
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Maybe Michael Tolan; definitely William Schallert; probably TV.
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William Schallert and a bunch of Perry Mason alumni!
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I think Thursday is William Schallert, which narrows it down to a few hundred.
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Robert Duvall.
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Robert Duvall.
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Friday – Raven Grey Eagle on bongos and Robert Duvall dancing
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