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American radio program From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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]
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 |
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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