Dante is a short-lived NBC adventure/drama television series starring Howard Duff as Willie Dante, a former gambler who operates Dante's Inferno, a San Francisco, California, nightclub. Alan Mowbray co-starred as Stewart Styles, the Maitre d'; Tom D'Andrea as Biff, Dante's "man Friday", and Mort Mills as police Lieutenant Bob Malone. Dante claims to have put his past behind him but has retained old associates Stewart and Biff. While his club is legitimate, neither the police nor the mob believe that he is truly finished with the criminal underworld. Dante's old associates in crime keep appearing at the club in efforts to lure him back to the underworld. Dick Powell had previously played Dante in eight episodes of his Four Star Playhouse, initially written by Blake Edwards, who had previously created the radio drama Richard Diamond, Private Detective for Powell. There, Willie operates an illegal gambling operation in the back room of the "Inferno", which police soon shut down. The only regular from the Four Star Playhouse version to be cast in the series as well was Mowbray, who had first played a millionaire named Jackson who had gambled away his fortune and then worked as one of Dante's waiters. These episodes were subsequently rebroadcast under the collective title The Best in Mystery.
Dante (Season 1)
One for the Birds (Episode 1)
Air date: 1960-10-03
Runtime: 30 min
Opening Night (Episode 2)
Air date: 1960-10-10
Runtime: 30 min
The Feline Traveler (Episode 3)
Air date: 1960-10-17
Runtime: 30 min
Dante's Dilemma (Episode 4)
Writer: Harold Jack Bloom
Air date: 1960-10-31
Runtime: 30 min
The Misfortunate Cookie (Episode 5)
Air date: 1960-11-07
Runtime: 30 min
San Quentin Quill (Episode 6)
Air date: 1960-11-14
Runtime: 30 min
The Unclean Green (Episode 7)
Air date: 1960-11-21
Runtime: 30 min
The Bavarian Barbarians (Episode 8)
Air date: 1960-11-28
Runtime: 30 min
My Pal, The Bullseye (Episode 9)
Air date: 1960-12-05
Runtime: 30 min
The Jolly Roger Cocktail (Episode 10)
Air date: 1960-12-19
Runtime: 30 min
A Punch from Judy (Episode 11)
Air date: 1960-12-26
Runtime: 30 min
Don't Come On-A My House (Episode 12)
Air date: 1961-01-02
Runtime: 30 min
Wine, Women, and Willie (Episode 13)
Air date: 1961-01-09
Runtime: 30 min
Dial D for Dante (Episode 14)
Air date: 1961-01-16
Runtime: 30 min
The Devil to Pay (Episode 15)
Air date: 1961-01-23
Runtime: 30 min
Dante Rides Again (Episode 16)
Air date: 1961-01-30
Runtime: 30 min
Dante's Fickle Fate (Episode 17)
Air date: 1961-02-06
Runtime: 30 min
Aces and Eights (Episode 18)
Writer: Harold Jack Bloom
Air date: 1961-02-13
Runtime: 30 min
Light Lady, Dark Room (Episode 19)
Air date: 1961-02-20
Runtime: 30 min
Not as a Canary (Episode 20)
Air date: 1961-02-27
Runtime: 30 min
Pick a Peck of Diamonds (Episode 21)
Writer: Berne Giler
Air date: 1961-03-06
Runtime: 30 min
Dante in the Dark (Episode 22)
Air date: 1961-03-13
Runtime: 30 min
Hunter with a Badge (Episode 23)
Air date: 1961-03-20
Runtime: 30 min
Friendly Assassin (Episode 24)
Air date: 1961-03-27
Runtime: 30 min
The Sesame Key (Episode 25)
Air date: 1961-04-03
Runtime: 30 min
Around a Dark Corner (Episode 26)
Air date: 1961-04-10
Runtime: 30 min
Seasons
Episodes 26