TV ShowReturning Series

I Led 3 Lives

ELECTRIFYING Stories of the Men who fight alone against the destroyers of Democracy!

1953
3 seasons
97 episodes

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.

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Cast

Seasons

  • Ep 1

    1.Secret Call: Part 1

    01-10-195330m

    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 top...

  • Ep 2

    2.Bess: Part 2

    11-10-195330m

    Philbrick fears his FBI connection has been discovered by his Communist comrades.

  • Ep 3

    3.Dope Photographic

    18-10-195330m

    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 ille...

  • Ep 4

    4.Baited Trap

    25-10-195330m

    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.

  • Ep 5

    5.Railroad Strike Attempt

    01-11-195330m

    Philbrick is ordered to write a leaflet that will trigger a wildcat strike at the local railroad yard.

  • Ep 6

    6.Campus Story

    08-11-195330m

    Philbrick is assigned to supervise a program to recruit likely future communists at a local college, including the son of a prominent college donor.

  • Ep 7

    7.Army Infiltration

    15-11-195330m

    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...

  • Ep 8

    8.The Spy

    22-11-195330m

    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 p...

  • Ep 9

    9.The Jet Engine

    29-11-195330m

    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...

  • Ep 10

    10.Helping Hand

    06-12-195330m

    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 adm...

  • Ep 11

    11.Parcels for Poland

    13-12-195330m

    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 i...

  • Ep 12

    12.Captured Congressman

    20-12-195330m

    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 prov...

  • Ep 13

    13.Purloined Printing Press

    27-12-195330m

    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...

  • Ep 14

    14.The Wife

    03-01-195430m

    Philbrick's marriage is threatened when the party demands that wife Eva becomes a member.

  • Ep 15

    15.Civil Defense

    10-01-195430m

    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 t...

  • Ep 16

    16.Communist Cop

    17-01-195430m

    Philbrick has to race against time to prevent his cell from eliminating "Comrade Rick" whom they discover to be an undercover policeman.

  • Ep 17

    17.Defense Plant Security

    24-01-195430m

    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?

  • Ep 18

    18.Gun Running

    31-01-195430m

    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 Communis...

  • Ep 19

    19.Passports

    07-02-195430m

    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 co...

  • Ep 20

    20.Map of the City

    14-02-195430m

    Philbrick's cell members receive four city map references indicating locations of planned sabotage. Utilities, communications, industrial installations and military targets will al...

  • Ep 21

    21.Caviar

    21-02-195430m

    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 t...

  • Ep 22

    22.The Kid

    28-02-195430m

    A reluctant comrade is forced to film secret radar-tube designs.

  • Ep 23

    23.Youth Movement

    07-03-195430m

    Philbrick is raising funds for a new youth center. However, the comrades plan to infiltrate both the center and its bank account.

  • Ep 24

    24.Infra Red Film

    14-03-195430m

    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?

  • Ep 25

    25.The Editor

    21-03-195430m

    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 g...

  • Ep 26

    26.Confused Comrades

    28-03-195430m

    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 el...

  • Ep 27

    27.Communication Disruptions

    04-04-195430m

    Comrade John has a plan to cripple US communications systems by sabotaging radio stations. Philbrick must find a way to tip off the FBI.

  • Ep 28

    28.Phantom Labor Leader

    11-04-195430m

    Philbrick discovers that the comrades are planning to take over a labor union.

  • Ep 29

    29.Progressive

    18-04-195430m

    Philbrick tries to protect an important comrade who is called before a state committee.

  • Ep 30

    30.Old Man

    25-04-195430m

    Philbrick tries to protect an important comrade who is called before a state committee.

  • Ep 31

    31.Birthday

    02-05-195430m

    Two comrades become suspicious of Philbrick.

  • Ep 32

    32.Cell Leader

    09-05-195430m

    Philbrick is offered a party promotion. The problem is that acceptance would make his communications with the FBI far more difficult.

  • Ep 33

    33.Dry Run

    16-05-195430m

    Philbrick is put to a frightening test of loyalty.

  • Ep 34

    34.Comrade Wants Out

    23-05-195430m

    Philbrick must denounce a party member whose loyalty is waning.

  • Ep 35

    35.Depression

    30-05-195430m

    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.

  • Ep 36

    36.The Boss

    06-06-195430m

    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 coul...

  • Ep 37

    37.Love Story

    13-06-195430m

    Philbrick's colleague Paul is depressed that his girlfriend Margaret has become a Communist. How can she be cured of this dreadful "sickness?"

  • Ep 38

    38.Unexpected Trip

    20-06-195430m

    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...

  • Ep 39

    39.Strategic Material

    27-06-195430m

    Philbrick discovers the comrades are collecting surplus metal. The FBI want to know why.

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