The Judge and His Hangman (Studio One)

"The Judge and His Hangman" is an episode of the CBS television anthology series Studio One consisting of an hour-long adaptation of Friedrich Dürrenmatt's 1950 novel of the same name. The episode was first broadcast November 14, 1955. Adapted by Dick Berg and directed by William H. Brown Jr., the episode starred Kurt Kasznar, Charles Korvin, and Luis Van Rooten.

Cast

Credits derived from November 12, 1955 issue of TV Guide's Chicago Edition.

Barlach – Kurt Kasznar
Gastmann - Charles Korvin
Laszlo - Herbert Berghof
Tschantz – Jamie Smith
Von Schwendi – George Voskovec
Lutz – Luis Van Rooten

Premise

In Bern, Switzerland, the deceptively low-key commissioner of police announces that the mystery surrounding the death of a fellow officer has been solved. Exactly how this solution was reached is revealed through a series of flashbacks.

Reception

Both Ben Gross of the New York Daily News and Post-Gazette TV writer Win Fanning praised Berg's adaptation, but Fanning found it especially valuable as a showcase for Kasznar's "immeasurable talent." Likewise, Hartford Courant critic George Tashman valued, first and foremost, "Kasznar's diabolical portrayal," while deeming the production overall, "an unpleasant little drama highly contrived plot dozens of fluffed lines, enjoyable the acting of Kasznar, Luis van Rooten as the minister of police, and Charles Korvin as Gastmann."