Lew Landers
Director
I Led 3 Lives (1953)
Season 1
Herbert Philbrick was a young professional and pacifist in 1939 Boston. He joined an anti-war group and quickly found himself caught up in the secret world of underground communist activity. He agreed to spy on the Communists for the FBI, and spent the next 9 years of his life as a Communist, FBI spy, and Communist counter-spy, since they had asked him to follow other comrades to test their loyalty. Hence the 3 lives; and his family, co-workers, and church never knew. This TV show is based on the TRUE story of how Philbrick (played ably by Richard Carlson) could never relax, but had to sneak to secret cell meetings and meet FBI agents in clandestine places to make info drops, never knowing when he might be found out, and if he would live to see the next rendezvous.
Released Oct. 1, 1953
Episode 42 min
None+
Country: United States
Languages:
English
S1E1 - Secret Call: Part 1
Philbrick leads three lives: average citizen, Communist Party member and counter spy for the FBI. Tonight he is called to an important meeting at his local Communist cell. Main topic is how to bring about the downfall of the United States.
Oct. 1, 1953, midnight
S1E2 - Bess: Part 2
Philbrick fears his FBI connection has been discovered by his Communist comrades.
Oct. 11, 1953, midnight
S1E3 - Dope Photographic
The FBI requests Philbrick's help to breakup a narcotics ring, whose aim is to gather secret defense plant information in exchange for free drugs. Philbrick's plan to film the illegal transactions from his office window hit a snag when he discovers a recently hired secretary is communist spy sent to keep an eye on his activities.
Oct. 18, 1953, midnight
S1E4 - Baited Trap
Philbrick is ordered by a communist leader to type up a list of non-card carrying communists from a coded document, but he suspects a trap.
Oct. 25, 1953, midnight
S1E5 - Railroad Strike Attempt
Philbrick is ordered to write a leaflet that will trigger a wildcat strike at the local railroad yard.
Nov. 1, 1953, midnight
S1E6 - Campus Story
Philbrick is assigned to supervise a program to recruit likely future communists at a local college, including the son of a prominent college donor.
Nov. 8, 1953, midnight
S1E7 - Army Infiltration
As Educational Director of his district, Philbrick encourages his cell members to send literature to others abroad. A U.S. Army soldier finds himself in hot water when his elderly aunts, members of Philbrick's cell, send him microfilm along with the package of pamphlets.
Nov. 15, 1953, midnight
S1E8 - The Spy
Herb is given an assignment by a high party official to surreptitiously determine the level of loyalty and dedication of a party member who is being considered for a higher-level position within the party.
Nov. 22, 1953, midnight
S1E9 - The Jet Engine
While stuffing envelopes with a fellow cell member, Philbrick learns that the communists have infiltrated a jet engine manufacturing plant that uses top secret production machinery and a shop steward is the head of the spy ring operating on the inside.
Nov. 29, 1953, midnight
S1E10 - Helping Hand
Philbrick receives a special assignment - pick up a man who has been smuggled into the country, obtain false credentials and introduce him to the Hollywood elite. The Communist administration hope that their agent can infiltrate the film and television industry.
Dec. 6, 1953, midnight
S1E11 - Parcels for Poland
The reds have a treacherous plot : they arrange a phony charitable organization that ostensibly allows people in America to donate to the relief of their destitute family members in Poland according to a menu of gift packages. They're wildly overcharged, so the communists get rich and a list those to persecute behind the iron curtain.
Dec. 13, 1953, midnight
S1E12 - Captured Congressman
Philbrick is assisting George Reynolds with his election campaign for the U.S. Congress when he learns that one of Reynolds' primary contributors is giving the candidate money provided by the Communist party. As Reynolds is campaigning on an anti-communism platform it will be profoundly damaging to his chances when the information comes to light on the eve of the election.
Dec. 20, 1953, midnight
S1E13 - Purloined Printing Press
To get out some secretly produced propaganda leaflets, the communists have Philbrick go through an elaborate cloak-and-dagger scheme to secure an offset printing press. It involves a new typewriter, the use of his car, and an eager printer in a hidden location.
Dec. 27, 1953, midnight
S1E14 - The Wife
Philbrick's marriage is threatened when the party demands that wife Eva becomes a member.
Jan. 3, 1954, midnight
S1E15 - Civil Defense
Comrade Ted directs Philbrick and other cell members to enrol with Civil Defense. The plan is to infiltrate and cripple the organization so that it will be unable to respond when the Communists launch an attack.
Jan. 10, 1954, midnight
S1E16 - Communist Cop
Philbrick has to race against time to prevent his cell from eliminating "Comrade Rick" whom they discover to be an undercover policeman.
Jan. 17, 1954, midnight
S1E17 - Defense Plant Security
The Evans Manufacturing Company has won a big defense contract with the US military. Philbrick discovers that fellow cell member Comrade Clyde has a job there. What is he up to?
Jan. 24, 1954, midnight
S1E18 - Gun Running
Comrade Elaine instructs Philbrick to tour the city collecting assorted objects from secret contacts. The bits and pieces will be assembled into untraceable guns which the Communists will use on murder missions.
Jan. 31, 1954, midnight
S1E19 - Passports
Communist special courier Comrade Neil tells Philbrick to liaise with a master passport forger. The party want an American citizen who has a wealth of secrets to slip out of the country and defect to the East.
Feb. 7, 1954, midnight
S1E20 - Map of the City
Philbrick's cell members receive four city map references indicating locations of planned sabotage. Utilities, communications, industrial installations and military targets will all be hit unless Philbrick can tip off the FBI.
Feb. 14, 1954, midnight
S1E21 - Caviar
When the reds instruct Philbrick to find a public place for a meeting, he chooses a golf driving range because he assumed the spy was a golfer because of a pamphlet. It turns out the spy had no use for the sport, and the booklet was in fact a prototype destruction manual for commie agents.
Feb. 21, 1954, midnight
S1E22 - The Kid
A reluctant comrade is forced to film secret radar-tube designs.
Feb. 28, 1954, midnight
S1E23 - Youth Movement
Philbrick is raising funds for a new youth center. However, the comrades plan to infiltrate both the center and its bank account.
March 7, 1954, midnight
S1E24 - Infra Red Film
Philbrick's cell colleague Comrade Ormand claims to have a contact at the FBI who is about to supply a photo list of counter spies. Will Philbrick's name be on the list?
March 14, 1954, midnight
S1E25 - The Editor
Rock Falls newspaper editor Larry Edwards is exposing Communist infiltration at an important power plant. The infiltrator disappears, so the party send Philbrick to Rock Falls to get back the secret plans
March 21, 1954, midnight
S1E26 - Confused Comrades
The FBI ask Philbrick to attend a secret meeting of the Communist policy committee. He manages to disunite the comrades on whether to continue with the phony peace initiative or else escalate their acts of violence.
March 28, 1954, midnight
S1E27 - Communication Disruptions
Comrade John has a plan to cripple US communications systems by sabotaging radio stations. Philbrick must find a way to tip off the FBI.
April 4, 1954, midnight
S1E28 - Phantom Labor Leader
Philbrick discovers that the comrades are planning to take over a labor union.
April 11, 1954, midnight
S1E29 - Progressive
Philbrick tries to protect an important comrade who is called before a state committee.
April 18, 1954, midnight
S1E30 - Old Man
Philbrick tries to protect an important comrade who is called before a state committee.
April 25, 1954, midnight
S1E31 - Birthday
Two comrades become suspicious of Philbrick.
May 2, 1954, midnight
S1E32 - Cell Leader
Philbrick is offered a party promotion. The problem is that acceptance would make his communications with the FBI far more difficult.
May 9, 1954, midnight
S1E33 - Dry Run
Philbrick is put to a frightening test of loyalty.
May 16, 1954, midnight
S1E34 - Comrade Wants Out
Philbrick must denounce a party member whose loyalty is waning.
May 23, 1954, midnight
S1E35 - Depression
The reds plan to launch a major rumor that the US is about to enter economic depression. Only a change to Communism can rescue the situation.
May 30, 1954, midnight
S1E36 - The Boss
Philbrick's office boss notices he's looking tired and distracted of late. Little does the boss know that his employee leads three lives and is about to undergo a mission that could endanger his life.
June 6, 1954, midnight
S1E37 - Love Story
Philbrick's colleague Paul is depressed that his girlfriend Margaret has become a Communist. How can she be cured of this dreadful "sickness?"
June 13, 1954, midnight
S1E38 - Unexpected Trip
The comrades order Philbrick to report to the airport, then fly him to another US city. He arrives at a secret conference where the reds are scheming to infiltrate the US education system, hoping to brainwash kids with Communist ideology.
June 20, 1954, midnight
S1E39 - Strategic Material
Philbrick discovers the comrades are collecting surplus metal. The FBI want to know why.
June 27, 1954, midnight
Episode Runtime: 42 min.
Season Runtime: 30 min.
Released: Oct. 1, 1953
Last Air Date: Aug. 7, 1955, midnight
Status: Returning Series
Certification: NR
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