The Loretta Young Show - S2 E20 - "The Flood"

Episode # 5420 THE FLOOD
Original airdate: 1-09-55

The theme of this episode; "A broken alcoholic finds a brighter future when he attempts to help others."

During a raging flood a young mother, Susan Franklin (played by Loretta Young) waits at home for the doctor to arrive to help her pain-wracked son. Meanwhile, a derelict by the name of Larry Kovak (played by William Campbell) seeks refuge, and a drink, in her home.

When Susan learns that the man was a medical corpsman in Korea and has medical training, she begs him to operate on the boy. In the end, she persuades Kovak to join Alcoholics Anonymous to not only help him with his drinking problem, but to help him seek a better life.

William Campbell appeared in several episodes of this series, as well as in supporting roles in major film productions, including as a co-pilot in William Wellman's The High and the Mighty (1954). He won his first starring role in Cell 2455 Death Row (1955), a low-budget prison film where he played a death row inmate, based loosely on the true story of Caryl Chessman.

Campbell also had guest starring roles in the Star Trek franchise, and reprised his roles on the series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode entitled "Blood Oath" He died quietly on April 28, 2011, at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California at age 87.

Also in this cast; Peggy Converse. Her stage, TV, and film careers spanned nearly seven decades. She is reputed to have played in more than 100 roles on stage, including "The Infernal Machine" on Broadway and "The Taming of the Shrew" at Los Angeles' Greek Theater. She frequently played alongside her husband, Don Porter (of "Gidget" and "Ann Sothern" fame). They toured the USA and Canada together in shows such as "Any Wednesday," "The Best Man," and "Love and Kisses." Peggy Converse died at the age of 95 in her home in Los Angeles.

Lewis Martin (playing Dr. Redwick) made his first Broadway appearance during 1925 in the play Lucky Sam McCarver. He appeared in over 16 plays on Broadway between 1925 and 1950.

His film and television career started in 1950 with a supporting role in the Kraft Television Theatre. His first film was The Blazing Sun. He played supporting roles in films like The War of the Worlds (as Pastor Collins), The Court Jester (as Sir Finsdale) and Diary of a Madman (as Father Raymonde). Martin often played respectable figures like police officers, military men, judges or priests.

Martin died on February 21, 1969 at age 73 in Los Angeles, California.

Directed by Harry Keller

Screenplay by John Meredyth Lucas & Lowell Hawley.

Cast:
Susan Franklin Loretta Young
Louella Ryan Peggy Converse
Larry Kovak William Campbell
Dr. Redwick Lewis Martin