The 20th Century Fox Hour

The 20th Century Fox Hour was a mid 1950s American drama anthology that presented a new self contained story each week, often borrowing talent and production sensibilities from the studio's film side. Broadcast on CBS from 1955 to 1957, episodes ranged from crime and suspense to domestic melodrama, with many shows featuring established movie stars. One early episode, Overnight Haul, which starred Richard Conte and Lizabeth Scott, was even packaged and released as a feature in Australia. Decades later a number of episodes were restored and remastered, giving viewers a chance to see these television productions with improved picture and sound.

The series premiered on CBS in 1955 and ran through 1957, produced under the 20th Century Fox banner for television. In 2002 several restored episodes screened on the Fox Movie Channel under the title Hour of Stars, exposing the series to a new audience beyond its original run.

Though it never generated the kind of fanfare reserved for landmark series, The 20th Century Fox Hour helped normalize the practice of film actors appearing regularly on television. A few episodes were reedited for international theatrical release, and the restoration effort in the early 2000s highlighted how studio television served as a bridge between Hollywood and the emerging TV audience.

Modern reception is modest, reflected in a small contemporary rating of 5.4 out of 10 based on a handful of votes. Critics at the time and later commentators tended to treat it as solid, workmanlike drama rather than groundbreaking art. Episodes lean on mid century themes like crime, moral choices, and strained relationships, and they showcase performance driven stories more than serialized arcs.

There are no widely reported major award wins or nominations associated with the series. It remains more of a historically interesting example of studio television production than an awards contender, appreciated mainly by collectors, classic TV enthusiasts, and students of 1950s screencraft.