Tag: Barry Sullivan

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The Man Called X

1956-1957

Maria appeared in a single episode of the first season of this espionage drama in 1956. Before being adapted for television the series was quite well established as a radio drama that aired on CBS and NBC stations from 1944 to 1952. Maria played her part opposite Barry Sullivan in the lead role of agent Ken Thurston a.k.a. “Mr. X”, an American intelligence agent who takes on dangerous cases in exotic locations.

The Series was originally created by Jay Richard Kennedy who also adapted it for the small screen on behalf of Ziv Television Programs. 39 episodes were produced and broadcast from 1956 to 1957.

Episodes

S01 E10 – Local Hero (1956)

Maria plays “Sou Hei”, a member of a group of refugees desperately trying to escape from China. Will agent Ken Thurston, the man called “X”, be able to root out the traitor among them and help the cross the border alive?
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S01 E10 – Local Hero (1956)

The Man Called X

DirectorLeon Benson
ProducerEddie Davis, Maurice Unger
Production CompanyZiv Television Programs
AiredMarch 30th, 1956, WCAU-TV, Philadelphia, Channel 10
CastBarry 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 McClay as Sou Hei, speaking with her husband.

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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Maria McClay