To Tell the Truth - "I helped build the Bridge on the River Kwai!" (Apr 30, 1962)

PANEL: Tom Poston, Dina Merrill, Allen Ludden, Kitty Carlisle
CONTESTANT #1: Ernest Gordon (Helped build the Bridge on the River Kwai)
CONTESTANT #2: Cullen Moore (Astrology columnist)
CONTESTANT #3: John Fickland (Head butler of the White House)
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[@CDU916]

A very rewarding episode, thank you for making available. Did anyone else find it touching that Kwai author Ernest Gordon became a pastor? How significant that he titled his bio 'Through the Valley of the Kwai", as it's reminiscent of the scripture "Through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil." I guessed wrong but once he spoke, it was so obviously him. His gentleness shone through.

[@Walterwhiterocks]

Dina Merrill was drop dead gorgeous, and very unpretentious despite her enormous wealth. A true "10" in my book and not just for her beauty, but also for her style and grace.

[@huskyjerk]

Yes, I'm in love. Dina !

[@jonvater8424]

She was simply STUNNING... a real and true lady and so elegant (and eloquent!)

[@pdadams]

Having known Ernest a little and having read the book many times, I was disappointed that the panel had no insterest in what Ernest went through. His survival and what he accomplished was nothing short of amazing. The book was later made into a movie about Ernest in 2002. Starred Kiefer Sutherland and some great UK actors. Worth the viewing. Unfortunately they changed the name to TO END ALL WARS.

[@evanconnolly8717]

My great great uncle from Newfoundland, Canada, was in the British Navy, Newfoundland was still a british colony. Both him and his brother both trained together on the HMS Fofar and was sunk in the English Channel in 1940 but survived. He volunteered for Singapore service, then war broke out with japan, the first ship he was on, a mine layer, was sunk and he was picked up by a british destroyer, and was deployed into its service. I'm iffy on when, I think the next day, the destroyer was sunk and him and his group of twelve other british sailors managed to get to Sumatra and fought with the Dutch until surrender. From there I dont know where he ended up, but he surveyed the road that was built in my town after ww2, and it's still the same road that is used today.

[@aileen694]

Cool information. Thanks!

[@ChrisHansonCanada]

I found this obituary from 1984: John Woodson Ficklin, 65, who retired in 1983 as the White House maitre d'hotel after 43 years service at the executive mansion, died of cancer Dec. 16 at Georgetown University Hospital. He lived in Washington. He joined the White House staff as an extra butler about 1940, and became maitre d' six years later. During those years, he came to know the tastes and whims of the country's most successful statesman -- only some of which he would reveal to the press. In a 1971 interview with The Washington Post, Mr. Ficklin revealed that the Trumans were "very nice, very plain people." It was during the Truman administration that he experienced his proudest day at the White House. Mrs. Truman called down to the butler's pantry and asked him to meet her in the library. She said, "I hear you have a new son. Your first child? Well, you'd better take the day off to be with your wife."

[@MrAvanish94]

Man, the panel had zero empathy here! Poor Mr. Gordon went through so much, he couldn't care less about who played what in the movie. But kudos to him for being a good sport, nonetheless.

[@Truthizaperson]

I couldn't agree more! Zero empathy for sure.

[@leesher1845]

I can’t believe that nobody even reacted when that one man said that he was down to 60 pounds. Kitty just kept on going.

[@shelleynobleart]

I only hope he meant to say he was down 60 pounds.

[@user-ne8lh2vr2t]

That was a lie given by one of the imposters # 2 he wasn't even there.

[@peternagy-im4be]

I'm whistling the tune while watching the first segment.

[@kenyongray2615]

It was good seeing Allen Ludden on the panel. Around a year or so after this show aired, he would be married to Betty White. He was the great host of Password" for many years.

[@Lisa-di1wi]

The movie, Bridge on the River Kwai, came out the year that I was born; which was 1957. It won the Academy Award for Best Picture that year.

[@Lisa-di1wi]

Allen Ludden also served in World War II as well. He was stationed in the Pacific.

[@sgsmozart]

It's surprising that none of the White House butlers knew the name for a French wine steward.." sommelier".

[@francisjohnson665]

Can you imagine any show giving cartons of cigarettes now ???? I loved the cigarette ads back in the day.

[@kristabrewer9363]

Allen Ludden WOOOOOW. I hadn't seen him in loooong time! (well a couple of years anyway)

[@ChrisHansonCanada]

Man #3 in Game #1 Lady #1 in Game #2 Man #2 in Game #3

[@JayTemple]

The 70's version also had a contestant who helped build that bridge, and they entered to the whistled "March on the River Kwai". I can't help wishing that Cullen Moore had been on that version!

[@519djw6]

Cullen Moore was the woman astrologer, not the man who helped build the Bridge of the River Kwai.

[@Pudentame]

The "March on the River Kwai" is actually the Colonel Bogey March and it has LYRICS that cannot be sung on American Television.

[@Pudentame]

When the moon is in the seventh house, and Jupiter aligns with Mars ...

[@miriamfeigenbaum3611]

The White House head butler was on WML? on Nov. 6, 1960.

[@janeiwasduncan8463]

@Mark Richardson Yes He is!!

[@totellthetruthcbs4220]

Join our Facebook group for TTTT-- great discussions, photos, etc, and great people! facebook.com/groups/718020231652577/ To stay up to date with postings, please consider supporting the TTTT channel by subscribing. The TTTT channel will feature all available episodes of the nighttime CBS series that ran from 1956 to 1967, with a new show posted every weekday in original broadcast order. You'll also find a collection of the Bud Collyer-hosted era of "Beat the Clock"! Click here to subscribe: kzbin.info/door/ZkBUfTQ_tmKAlUV_sQqrTQ

[@lestermount3287]

I read his book in high school

[@leesher1845]

Kitty Carlisle didn’t even blink or react when that one man told her that he was down to 60 pounds. Am I the only one who found her laugh annoying. She was among the southern nouveau riche and ashamed of her heritage, and which she kept quiet from what I understand. Everything to her was “marvelous.”

[@peternagy-im4be]

She's highly obnoxious and appears to be a terrible snob

[@aileen694]

Lee Sher, didn't you mean: "Mahhvellous?" Yeah, her habit of hollow laughing at every little remark by anyone was Annoying!

[@DR_Neal_Rigger]

17:24 As close as you can get to saying "I am different" in this era.. (Kitty knows)

[@MrBohuslav]

Correct name is John Ficklen.

[@desertbreeze69]

Kitty always mentions contestants appearance. Makes her seem so vain.

[@donnawoodford6641]

Additionally, if she thinks an answer or comment seems preposterous to her, she laughs mockingly; not a becoming behavior, in my opinion.

[@bobhess5986]

Who is John Cane Mills?

[@aileen694]

Who was Mrs. John Cain Mills? Anyone know? Google?

[@dahger7]

Number 3 said he didn't know what a 'hot box' is. Even if it wasn't called a hotbox he should have known what she meant and either corrected her on the actual name or something else. I think this was deception and illegal.

[@huskyjerk]

Dina, oh Dina.

[@Rodin99]

shut out this time...I had a hunch about the kwai and the butler...but no.

[@DR_Neal_Rigger]

"But No" 🤣.. me to..

[@leesher1845]

And a carton of Salem’s for each of you. 😖

[@leesher1845]

That laugh of Kitty’s was really irritating during the segment with the man who helped build the bridge on the River Kwai. She asked One of the contestants how much weight he lost and he said 60 pounds and she didn’t even bat an eyelash. She was too busy laughing; really annoying; such a prima Dona.

[@ChrisHansonCanada]

Kitty's phony baloney laughter, vanishing as quickly as it came. UGH!