The Left Hand Of God

1955

DirectorEdward Dmytryk
ProducerBuddy Adler
Production Company20th Century Fox
Release DateSeptember 2nd, 1955
CastHumphrey Bogart (James Carmody), Gene Tierney (Anne Scott), Lee J. Cobb (Mieh Yang), Agnes Moorehead (Beryl Sigman), E. G. Marshall (Dr. David Sigman), Jean Porter (Mary Yin), Carl Benton Reid (Father Cornelius), Victor Sen Yung (John Wong), Philip Ahn (Jan Teng), Benson Fong (Chun Tien), Leon Lontoc, Sammee Tong, Maria McClay (Woman in Kimono)

In 1947 Catholic priest Father O’Shea, played by Humphrey Bogart, makes his way to a remote mission in China to replace a priest who had been killed there. He meets Dr. David Sigman, Sigman’s wife Beryl, and nurse Anne Scott, the only other Western residents. They run a hospital for the surrounding villagers, at a time when competing warlords and communists are engaged in civil war. Anne becomes uncomfortable as she is romantically attracted to him. Beryl suggests to her husband that Anne be sent back to the United States, but he refuses to consider it, needing her at the hospital. Beryl suggests that O’Shea consult with Reverend Martin, a Protestant minister at another American mission, for advice. He agrees.

Maria had only a minor uncredited role in this film, described simply as “Woman in Kimono”, and appears among the family members of a man Father O’Shea must deliver some bad news to about the death of a woman he cared about. This minor role, however, allowed her to work with and appear next to one of the all-time greats, Humphrey Bogart.

Maria McClay as “Woman in Kimono”, 2nd from the left, watching Humphrey Bogart as Father O’Shea deliver some bad news to a family member.

Also among the cast are James Hong, who appears in a number of the same productions as Maria, Leon Lontoc, whom she’ll appear together with in an episode of “Burke’s Law” years later and Sammee Tong whom she also appears with in an episode of another series, “Bachelor Father”.

Scenes Featuring Maria

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S01 E20 – Who Killed Carrie Cornell? (1964)

Burke’s Law

DirectorByron Paul
ProducerAaron Spelling
Production CompanyFour Star Television, Barbety
AiredFebruary 14th, 1964, ABC
CastGene Barry (Cpt. Amos Burke), Gary Conway (Det. Tim Tilson), Regis Toomey (Sergeant Les Hart), Leon Lontoc (Chauffeur Henry), Michael Ansara (Big Bwana Smith), Jim Backus (Pork Pie Hannigan), Fernando Lamas (El Greco), Diana Lynn (Marion Van Martin), William Shatner (Arthur Reynolds), Joanie Sommers (Pee Wee Wilson), Fred Barry (Robert), Percy Helton (Hudkins), Amzie Strickland (Woman), Michael Fox (Coroner), Diana Birk (Annabelle), James Secrest (Jennings), Bill Catching (Keeler), Maria Tsien McClay (Madam Butterfly/Amiko, a Japanese girl), Lou Byrne (Woman)
Maria McClay as Japanese girl Amiko aka “Madam Butterfly” just before Amos Burke (Gene Barry) must leave in his Rolls to investigate another murder.

Carrie Cornell, singer and model, is found murdered on a beach. A photograph of her in “Girlicue” magazine links her to sleazy millionaire Martin Van Martin and he has disappeared.

As always, almost-but-not-quite-James-Bond, captain of the LAPD homicide division and millionaire Amos Burke must leave a beautiful woman and hop into his waiting Rolls Royce to investigate a terrible crime. In this case the beautiful woman is Maria McClay in the role of a Japanese girl who left a message for Amos in lipstick on a mirror, signed “Madam Butterfly” and then another, signed “Amiko”.

Maria had played alongside Gene Barry 5 years earlier, in 1959, in the episode “To The Manner Born” of the Western television series “Bat Masterson”, in which Gene played the main character of the same name. Here her scene culminates in the exchange “You’re flitting away like butterfly?” – “I have to. Butterfly have short mating season.” “If it got any shorter butterflies will become extinct!”.

Other notable appearances in this episode include Diana Lynn as drunk millionaire’s wife Marion van Martin, trying to use one of those strange Walton Belt Vibrator machines that were supposed to shake loose and disappear body fat. And a strange beatnik folk performance in a dark club with everybody wearing sunglasses. And also William Shatner (yes, that William Shatner) as crazy artist and sculptor Arthur Reynolds.

Scenes Featuring Maria

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Maria McClay