TV Links  Bates Film & Television Checklist BATES ARCHIVE News In Memoriam SPOTLIGHTS Knighthood American Film Theatre Fifties TV Al Hirschfeld FEATURES Biography Timeline Photo Gallery Actors Centre Piffle Ephemera ARCHIVE Theatre Film Television Audio Interviews Writing  t e l e v i s i o n And So Died Riabouchinska "The Ray Bradbury Theatre (episode #18) 5/28/1988 This episode is based on the short story "And So Died Riabouchinska" by Ray Bradbury. This story was first published in The Saint Detective Magazine (June-July, 1953). Fabian (Alan Bates) is a vaudeville ventriloquist. One night, the body of a murdered man named Ockham is found near the theater where Fabian is performing. Detective Krovitch begins an investigation. He learns that shortly before the murder Ockham tried to see Fabian. Krovitch questions Fabian and his wife and notices that Fabian is more interested in his female marionette Riabouchinska than his wife. Later Krovitch sees Fabian act and begins to question Fabian's mental state. During the performance Fabian and Riabouchinska act like two lovers. Krovitch checks the police files for photos of a missing girls. He finds one that has resemblances Riabouchinska. The detective confronts Fabian who admits he had a relationship with the girl and that Ockham found out about it. Ockham also knew that the marionette was created in her image. Fabian admits to killing him after he demanded money to keep quiet about Fabian's relationship to his puppet. Fabian's confession, however, comes not from his mouth, but that of his doll Riabouchinska. This is the text from the "And So Died Riabouchinska" video box: And So Died Riabouchinska "A murder has been committed in a famous theater. A detective questions ventriloquist John Fabian [Alan Bates], his wife, his agent, and Riabouchinska, Fabian's dummy. Riabouchinska's comments on the case lead the detective to another line of questioning. He discovers a story concerning a vanishing assistant, long-concealed love, blackmail and murder. Running time: 26 min. Produced by Atlantis Films, 1987.   The Ray Bradbury Series This outstanding dramatic series offers the most extensive collection of Ray Bradbury's short stories ever brought to the screen. Ray Bradbury is one of the world's most highly acclaimed short story writers. His inventive and imaginative stories range from the macabre to the sensitive -- one minute he can terrify you and the next minute bring a tear to your eye."   No doubt -- it's a collector's item; but its omission from all Bates filmographies is a hint: in the editor's opinion, it's the bit of fromage at the back of every actor's fridge, though it's fun to watch. Borrow this one from the library. You can find it on US cable from time to time, and laserdiscs turn up on eBay occasionally.

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