Panic Button (Playhouse 90)
12th episode of the 2nd season of Playhouse 90
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"Panic Button" was an American television play broadcast on November 28, 1957, as part of the second season of the CBS television series Playhouse 90. Rod Serling wrote the teleplay. Franklin Schaffner directed, Martin Manulis was the producer, and Dominick Dunne was the executive assistant. Robert Stack, Vera Miles, and Lee J. Cobb starred.[1]
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Episode 12
| "Panic Button" | |
|---|---|
| Playhouse 90 episode | |
| |
| Episode no. | Season 2 Episode 12 |
| Directed by | Franklin Schaffner |
| Written by | Rod Serling |
| Original air date | November 28, 1957 |
| Guest appearances | |
| |
Plot
The investigation into a plane crash concludes that it was caused by pilot error. At the inquiry, the co-pilot (Robert Stack) seeks to place the blame on the captain who died in the crash. In the end, the co-pilot is found to have been responsible for the crash, and his pilot's license is revoked.
Cast
The following performers received screen credit for their performances:
- Robert Stack - Jerry Cook
- Vera Miles - Carolyn Cook
- Lee J. Cobb - Al Bengsten
- Leif Erickson - Paul Henderson
- Marian Seldes - Kate Sullivan
Production
Commercial airlines were upset about the plot as it involved a plane crash and demanded the plane be turned into a charter flight. Eventually it was decided to change the name of the airline to the fictitious "Charter Lines" leaving it vague as to whether it was a commercial or charter line.[2]
Reception
Variety wrote "By stringing his series of characters and incidents to an airplane crash and the resulting CAB in¬vestigation, and by making these people react to the pressures of the investigation, Serling made enough interesting, noises to make a viewer stay with the story. But he never made his people—or even his story—believable; or identifiable with an overall point of view."[3]
Television reviewer Harriet Van Horne praised Serling's story and cited it as proof that television drama had grown up, no longer having the need for a happy ending. She also praised the performances of Stack, Cobb, Seldes and Miles as valiant and true.[4]
San Francisco Examiner reviewer Dwight Nelson praised the performances of Cobb and Stack but opined that Serling's story was "neither dull nor exciting. Just average for this year's "Playhouse 90" plays which have been distinguished for length than for content."[5]