Ivan Tors
Director
The Man and the Challenge (1959)
Season 1
The Man and the Challenge is a 36-segment half-hour television adventure/science fiction series which ran new episodes on NBC from September 12, 1959, to June 11, 1960. It starred George Nader as Dr. Glenn Barton, a research scientist for the Institute of Human Factors, an agency that conducted experiments designed to measure human endurance for the United States government. The series was produced by Ivan Tors. Nader's costars included Jack Ging as Dan Wright, Michael Masters as Bill Locke, the Canadian-born Joyce Meadows as Lynn Allen, and Michael Keith as Matt Adams. The episodes focused on various individuals setting world records of strength, endurance, and mastery of various difficult skills. The program also featured appearances by Bethel Leslie as Eleanor Beck in "The Early Warning", Ted Knight, as Dr. Herter in the episode "Daredevils", and Raymond Bailey, in the role of Dr. Kramer on the series opener "The Sphere of No Return". Joining Knight in that segment was Paul Burke.
Released Sept. 12, 1959
Episode 30 min
None+
Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Science Fiction
Keywords: tmdb.scientist, imdb.government
Network: NBC
Country: United States
Languages:
English
S1E1 - The Sphere of No Return
In order to test human stamina at high altitudes, Barton and two other men go up in a balloon. When one panics and fails the required standards he is replaced by a woman which draws a hostile response from the remaining pilot.
Sept. 12, 1959, midnight
S1E2 - Maximum Capacity
Barton sends two men into the frozen north to test their endurance in extreme levels of cold and isolation. He wants to determine the best way to train men for high security jobs in the Arctic.
Sept. 19, 1959, midnight
S1E3 - Odds Against Survival
Sept. 26, 1959, midnight
S1E4 - Sky Diving
To study the effects of gravity on potential astronauts, Barton goes to France to learn free fall parachuting from a brother-and-sister team of skydivers: Suzanne and Georges Bolet.
Oct. 3, 1959, midnight
S1E5 - Experiments in Terror
Oct. 10, 1959, midnight
S1E6 - Invisible Force
In a hostile country, three Americans are being held captive. Barton is asked by a Washington official to form a clandestine athletic unit to free them.
Oct. 17, 1959, midnight
S1E7 - Escape to Nepal
In order to test the U2-21 drug which supposedly increases a man's ability to retain oxygen at great heights, Barton puts a group of mountaineers through a rigorous test in the Rockies before sending them to the Himalayas for a final test.
Oct. 24, 1959, midnight
S1E8 - Border to Border
Two antagonistic jet pilots are entered into a Mexican auto race to prove that a team can overcome obstacles better than any single person could.
Oct. 31, 1959, midnight
S1E9 - Trial by Fire
Barton enters an active volcano to test a new type of fire suit. He nearly loses his life in the experiment.
Nov. 7, 1959, midnight
S1E10 - White Out
Barton researches hypothermia in Antarctica by reducing the body temperature of two doctors. He hopes the experiment will lead to an understanding of how to freeze astronauts to withstand certain aspects of interplanetary flight.
Nov. 14, 1959, midnight
S1E11 - The Breaking Point
A volunteer is sealed in a cell for 30 days and is subjected to psychological torment in order to determine his breaking point.
Nov. 28, 1959, midnight
S1E12 - Jungle Survival
Glenn Barton is sent on a dual mission: test survival techniques in the Amazon Basin and determine the fate of four lost fliers.
Dec. 5, 1959, midnight
S1E13 - I've Killed Seven Men
Dec. 12, 1959, midnight
S1E14 - Man Without Fear
Barton uses a chemical names LSD-25 on a firefighter. The chemical removes fear, but raging forest fires prove that fear is a necessary part of courage.
Dec. 19, 1959, midnight
S1E15 - The Visitors
Dec. 26, 1959, midnight
S1E16 - The Storm
Glenn Barton is asked to clear the reputation of a man who died mysteriously.
Jan. 1, 1960, midnight
S1E17 - Killer River
On a cliff above the Colorado River, Barton rescues a parachuted pilot.
Jan. 9, 1960, midnight
S1E18 - Rodeo
Barton investigates the effects of a new rocket belt at a rodeo.
Jan. 23, 1960, midnight
S1E19 - The Windowless Room
A crack test pilot crashes his aircraft. After the crash he experiences a self-induced paralysis that slowly destroys his career and marriage. Barton restores the pilot's confidence by using hypnotic techniques.
Jan. 30, 1960, midnight
S1E20 - Nightmare Crossing
Barton tests candidates for command positions in space.
Feb. 6, 1960, midnight
S1E21 - The Lure of Danger
Barton looks individuals that subconsciously want to destroy themselves. He wants to learn why some men desire death.
Feb. 13, 1960, midnight
S1E22 - Recovery
Feb. 20, 1960, midnight
S1E23 - Buried Alive
Barton experiments with Yoga to show that it can be helpful in adverting tragedy.
Feb. 27, 1960, midnight
S1E24 - Recondo
A warden's daughter is held hostage by four escaped convicts.
March 3, 1960, midnight
S1E25 - Flying Lab
Barton performs and experiment to show that ignorance and fear cause lack of efficiency.
March 12, 1960, midnight
S1E26 - Hurricane Mesa
Barton conducts a test on a pilot to prove that he can be switched successfully to a desk job.
March 19, 1960, midnight
S1E27 - Astro Female
Barton puts four women against four men in order to prove that woman can equal and perhaps surpass males as astronauts.
March 26, 1960, midnight
S1E28 - The Extra Sense
In order to prove that emotional stress promotes telepathy, Barton parachutes from a high precipice.
April 2, 1960, midnight
S1E29 - Man in a Capsule
Barton conducts a survival test on the surface of the ocean.
April 9, 1960, midnight
S1E30 - The Dropper
April 23, 1960, midnight
S1E31 - High Dive
April 30, 1960, midnight
S1E32 - Daredevils
Barton puts the king of syut drivers through an incredibly dangerous test believing that the secret to survival lies in body chemical reactions.
May 7, 1960, midnight
S1E33 - Shooter McLaine
Barton almost dies when a scientist ignoring his own physical limits and Barton's warnings misreads important test instruments.
May 21, 1960, midnight
S1E34 - Early Warning
May 28, 1960, midnight
S1E35 - Breakoff
June 4, 1960, midnight
S1E36 - Highway to Danger
Barton researches highway hypnosis by subjecting himself to driving conditions that have killed five truck drivers.
June 11, 1960, midnight
Network: NBC
Episode Runtime: 30 min.
Season Runtime: 30 min.
Released: Sept. 12, 1959
Last Air Date: June 11, 1960, midnight
Status: Ended
Certification: NR
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