It is a wonder this CBS production from 1966 still exists. A lot of the video tape productions from this era got taped over with other programs. This production is a continuation for CBS from 1950's type of drama productions like Playhouse 90 which were done often in that era. This was considered lost, just like quit a few CBS productions of this era. This first television version, recorded on videotape and starring Shirley Booth, was broadcast on December 8, 1966, as part of CBS Playhouse. Barbara Loden played Laura, Hal Holbrook played Tom and Pat Hingle played the Gentleman Caller. Booth was nominated for an Emmy for her performance as Amanda.
The cast is excellent in this one. As it was taped rather than done live like it would have been in the 1950's, the production is a bit more polished but not as exciting as a live one would have been. The version run 50 years exactly after it's original air date on Dec 8, 2016 still has it's commercial breaks in place. It is in good condition though not perfect as was pointed out before it aired.
This Tennesee Williams play had been done on movie film as early as 1950 and had been done on Broadway often. While the network, and even the producers had lost track of it, somehow it was found at the University of Southern California on 2 inch master tapes, but only the masters were not organized and were in takes which did not specify which ones were originally broadcast. Then someone found a bootleg audio of the program and matched it to the tapes. Quite a process for sure.
The results show that great performers do make a good drama go, and Hal Holbrook is very very good on this production. This would be done for television again in the 1970's with Sam Waterson in the cast. I have not seen the other production.
Holbrook does the narrator role here as well introducing the story and then coming in after breaks to fill in the gaps between scenes as the story goes along.
The cast is excellent in this one. As it was taped rather than done live like it would have been in the 1950's, the production is a bit more polished but not as exciting as a live one would have been. The version run 50 years exactly after it's original air date on Dec 8, 2016 still has it's commercial breaks in place. It is in good condition though not perfect as was pointed out before it aired.
This Tennesee Williams play had been done on movie film as early as 1950 and had been done on Broadway often. While the network, and even the producers had lost track of it, somehow it was found at the University of Southern California on 2 inch master tapes, but only the masters were not organized and were in takes which did not specify which ones were originally broadcast. Then someone found a bootleg audio of the program and matched it to the tapes. Quite a process for sure.
The results show that great performers do make a good drama go, and Hal Holbrook is very very good on this production. This would be done for television again in the 1970's with Sam Waterson in the cast. I have not seen the other production.
Holbrook does the narrator role here as well introducing the story and then coming in after breaks to fill in the gaps between scenes as the story goes along.