TV Series Episode – Page 2

January 21, 1958December 9, 2021

S01 E17 – China Doll (1958)

The Californians

*Director*	Byron Haskin
*Producer*	Felix Feist
*Production Company*	Californian Film Enterprises, Desilu Productions
*Aired*	January 21st, 1958 on NBC
*Cast*	Adam Kennedy (Dion Patrick), Seán McClory (Jack McGivern), Nan Leslie, Keye Luke, John Anderson, Maria Tsien (Mei Soong), Kam Tong, Richard Cutting

Dion Patrick (Adam Kennedy) and the vigilantes are investigating human trafficking in San Francisco’s China Town. While making inroads with the community Dion wins Mei Soong, played by Maria, from a dubious Chinese business man.

In the end he manages to return her to her true love, his Chinese guide during his investigation, and, with help from both, takes down the true villain: the white English teacher in a school for Chinese children.

*Maria McClay as Mei Soong finds herself in a confusing situation while being kept safe at Dion’s home.*

Maria didn’t get to many lines in this role but had plenty of screen time. While there are still plenty of racial stereotypes in play in this show at least it was surprisingly low on Yellow Face and had a comparably high number of non-white actors in Asian roles for its time.

Scenes Featuring Maria

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March 30, 1956December 9, 2021

S01 E10 – Local Hero (1956)

The Man Called X

*Director*	Leon Benson
*Producer*	Eddie Davis, Maurice Unger
*Production Company*	Ziv Television Programs
*Aired*	March 30th, 1956, WCAU-TV, Philadelphia, Channel 10
*Cast*	Barry Sullivan (Agent Ken Thurston), Marie Tsien (Sou Hei), Rolfe Sedan, Alex Montoya, Stella Lynn, George T. Lee, James Hong, Leslie Banning, Harold Fong, W. T. Chang, Joy Lee, Sammee Tong, Edwin Luke, Lawrence Ung

Maria’s character, Sou Hei, finds herself with her husband among a group of refugees, desperately trying to escape from China. But a no-good traitor lurks among them. Agent Ken Thurston, the man called “X”, played by Barry Sullivan, is assigned to find the rat in the group and help them make it across the border alive. Among them a suspicious white lady, and thinly veiled love interest for Mr. X, whom none of the other members of the group trust as far as they could throw her.

*Maria McClay as Sou Hei, expressing her distrust of the suspicious white lady in no uncertain terms: “She must die too!”*

Compared to other shows and movies of the era, including many of the ones Maria appeared in, this episode has a surprisingly low amount of yellow face, though it is certainly not free of it. It also features a surprisingly high number of non-white actors in speaking roles.

Scenes Featuring Maria

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May 5, 1954December 9, 2021

S02 E24 – The Tidewalker (1954)

The New Adventures of China Smith

*Director*	Gene Fowler, Jr.
*Producer*	Bernard Tabakin
*Production Company*	National Telefilm Associates (NTA), New Albion Studios San Francisco
*Aired*	May 5th, 1954
*Cast*	Dan Duryea (China Smith), Regina Gleason (Steffi), Ted Hecht (Shell), Mark Sheeler (Norodam), Ray Bell (Wheelsman), Larry Chan (Police Sergeant), Maria Tsien (Miss Giong)

Maria plays the role of Miss Giong, the sharp-tongued and not easily intimated secretary of Mr. Norodam (Mark Sheeler), whom China Smith (Dan Duryea) is investigating in order to find out how contraband was planted on the tramp steamer owned by the lovely Steffi (Regina Gleason).

For some reason it appears the name “Giong” is really hard to pronounce for all the white male actors interacting with her, but, well, that’s the 50s for you right there.

Scenes Featuring Maria

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April 16, 1954December 9, 2021

S02 E14 – The Night the Dragon Walked (1954)

The New Adventures of China Smith

*Director*	Gene Fowler, Jr.
*Producer*	Bernard Tabakin
*Production Company*	National Telefilm Associates (NTA), New Albion Studios San Francisco
*Aired*	April 16th, 1954
*Cast*	Dan Duryea (China Smith), Ted Hecht (Min Su), Joan Morgan ( Marnee), Charles Lung (Mr. Ronald), William Sweeney (Justin Kobol), Maria Tsien (Jade Flower)

In this episode Maria plays the role of “Jade Flower”, a not entirely sober dancer in a seedy joint, who is said to have information on Mr. Ronald (Charles Lung) a person of interest, which China Smith (Dan Duryea) is looking for after being hired by the frightened son of a murdered Englishman, who fears he is next on the killer’s list.

Scenes Featuring Maria

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