Tag: TV Series

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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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The New Adventures of China Smith

The New Adventures of China Smith Title Card

1954-1955

The New Adventures of China Smith Title Card

Maria appeared in various roles alongside Dan Duryea in this 1950s television adventure series about “China Smith”, a soldier of fortune wearing a white suit and a panama hat living in Singapore, who would face new dangers and excitement every week. The series was made with a two-year gap between “China Smith”, shot in 1952 in Mexico and Los Angeles, and “The New Adventures of China Smith”, shot in 1954 and 1955 in San Francisco.

Dan Duryea as “China Smith”

We have identified Maria in two episodes so far, playing as “Jade Flower” in “The Night the Dragon Walked” (s02 e14) and as “Miss Giong” in “The Tidewalker” (s02 e24). However, according to a copy of a credit list by agent Bessie Loo found in Maria’s estate she may have appears in other episodes as “Li Mei”, “Gin Len” and possibly 5 more characters. We have yet to identify these episodes but, rest assured, if we should find them we will make posts for them on this site.

Episodes

S02 E24 – The Tidewalker (1954)

Maria plays the role of “Miss Giong”, sharp-tongued and not easily intimated secretary of Mr. Norodam , whom China Smith has business with regarding the planting of contraband on a tramp steamer.
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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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S02 E24 – The Tidewalker (1954)

The New Adventures of China Smith

DirectorGene Fowler, Jr.
ProducerBernard Tabakin
Production CompanyNational Telefilm Associates (NTA), New Albion Studios San Francisco
AiredMay 5th, 1954
CastDan Duryea (China Smith), Regina Gleason (Steffi), Ted Hecht (Shell), Mark Sheeler (Norodam), Ray Bell (Wheelsman), Larry Chan (Police Sergeant), Maria Tsien (Miss Giong)
Maria McClay as Miss Giong, mostly ignoring a rather agitated China Smith (Dan Duryea)

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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S02 E14 – The Night the Dragon Walked (1954)

The New Adventures of China Smith

DirectorGene Fowler, Jr.
ProducerBernard Tabakin
Production CompanyNational Telefilm Associates (NTA), New Albion Studios San Francisco
AiredApril 16th, 1954
CastDan Duryea (China Smith), Ted Hecht (Min Su), Joan Morgan ( Marnee), Charles Lung (Mr. Ronald), William Sweeney (Justin Kobol), Maria Tsien (Jade Flower)
Maria McClay as Jade Flower, being not particularly inclined to tell China Smith (Dan Duryea) anything at all.

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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Maria McClay