Tragedy in a Temporary Town (The Alcoa Hour)
| "Tragedy in a Temporary Town" | |
|---|---|
| The Alcoa Hour episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 10 |
| Directed by | Sidney Lumet |
| Teleplay by | Reginald Rose |
| Original air date | 19 February 1956 |
| Running time | 47–50 minutes |
| Guest appearance | |
| Lloyd Bridges | |
"Tragedy in a Temporary Town" is a dramatic teleplay written by Reginald Rose. It was originally produced for The Alcoa Hour in the US directed by Sidney Lumet[1] and sparked media attention for its portrayal of race and for Lloyd Bridges' ad-libbed profanity during its live broadcast. Bridges was nominated for the 1957 Emmy Award for Best Single Performance by an Actor, but did not win.[2]
In 1959, the same script was produced as the third episode of the Australian anthology drama show Shell Presents starring Michael Pate.
Plot
[edit]In a small town, a group of migrant workers are employed at an aircraft factory and live in a trailer park. When 15 year-old Dotty Fisher claims she has been attacked, a group of men, led by Frank Doran, attempt to find out who is possible. They seize a boy, Raphael Infante, and threaten to lynch him. Only a tolerant man called Alec Beggs dares to stand up to the mob in an attempt to stop them.
Cast
[edit]For the 1956 Alcoa Hour Production:
- Edward Binns as Anderson
- Lloyd Bridges as Alec Beggs
- Rafael Campos as Raphael Infante
- Robert Dryden as Sankey
- Robert Emhardt as Matt Fisher
- Pete Gumeny as Reynolds
- Donald Harron as Mickey Doran
- Betty Lou Keim as Dotty Fisher
- Will Kuluva as Julio Infante
- Vivian Nathan as Grace Beggs
- Milton Selzer as Pike
- Clifford Tatum Jr. as Buddy Beggs
- Jack Warden as Frank Doran
- Jane White as Dolores Infante
Reception
[edit]The US production garnered press in February 1956 for actor Lloyd Bridges' emotional performance during which Bridges inadvertently slipped some profanity in while ad-libbing.[3][4] Although the slip of the lip and the racial content generated some complaints, most of the public feedback was positive. The episode won a Robert E. Sherwood Television Award, with Bridges' slip being defended even by some members of the clergy.[3][5][6] The episode, during which an innocent Puerto Rican man is targeted by a mob for a sexual crime, was cited by the Anti-Defamation League as "the best dramatic program of the year dealing with interethnic group relations."
References
[edit]- ^ "Actor's Slip Of Tongue Keeps TV Viewers Arguing". The Hartford Courant. United Press International. 9 March 1956. p. 9. ISSN 1047-4153. OCLC 8807834. Archived from the original on 25 July 2012. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
- ^ "Tragedy in a Temporary Town (Alcoa-Hour Goodyear P". Television Academy. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
- ^ a b "Profanity Ad-libbed by Emotional Actor". The Leader-Post. Associated Press. February 20, 1956. Retrieved May 7, 2011.
- ^ Harron, Don (November 17, 2012). "My Double Life: Sexty Years of Farquharson Around with Don Harn". Dundurn – via Google Books.
- ^ Newcomb, Horace (2004). Encyclopedia of Television. CRC Press. p. 50. ISBN 978-1-57958-411-5.
- ^ Hyatt, Wesley (March 10, 2004). A Critical History of Television's The Red Skelton Show, 1951-1971. McFarland. p. 48. ISBN 978-0-7864-1732-2.