KAISER ALUMINUM HOUR, THE: ANTIGONE (TV)
Summary
One in this dramatic anthology series. This episode features a televised adaptation of the play “Antigone” by Jean Anouilh. The story opens in an otherworldly environment, described as “the home of the human spirit.” The city of Thebes is under the tyrannical rule of the king, Creon, who has taken over after the death of his brother-in-law Oedipus. Oedipus’s two sons, Eteocles and Polyneices, killed each other in a civil war for control of the city; since Creon supported Eteocles, he has been given a state funeral while Polyneices’ body has been left out in the open to rot, and Creon has decreed that any who attempt to bury him will be executed. However, Antigone, Oedipus’s daughter, plans to defy Creon’s edict and bury her brother. She is engaged to be married to Haemon, Creon’s son, but the Chorus explains that this will not come to pass, as Antigone will die. Her friend Ismene begs her not to bury Polyneices, but Antigone is determined, and seems unafraid of the death that awaits her. Haemon comes to visit her, and they apologize to each other for an argument they had the night before. She cryptically tells Haemon that she cannot marry him before sending him away, hurt and confused. Ismene continues to beg her to reconsider her plans, but it is too late: Antigone has just come back from burying Polyneices. Creon learns of the burial and is furious and paranoid, believing that it is an indicator of another revolution in the city. He orders that the culprit be discovered and brought to him. The Chorus interjects, commenting on the inevitability of tragedy. Polyneices’s body is uncovered and Antigone returns to try to bury him again, only to be caught by the guards and taken to Creon’s office. She admits to her actions, leaving Creon incredulous. He intends to send her home and cover up the whole affair, but she insists that she will continue to attempt to bury Polyneices. They have a lengthy debate about her actions; Creon does not want her to die since he feels that she must bear a son with Haemon to keep up the line of succession. She rebukes him, and he insists that he is not the “villain” Antigone believes him to be. He confesses that leaving Polyneices unburied was a political strategy; he felt that both Polyneices and Eteocles were nothing more than idiotic brutes, but when they killed each other he simply buried the body which was least mangled, and left the other out as an example to those who might try to incite further rebellion. They debate the morality of Antigone’s actions and willingness to die, which Creon believes is “easy,” but Antigone rejects his argument in favor of sparing her life, believing that his version of happiness comes with too much compromise and cowardice. He compares her to her father, but she counters that the only time he knew peace was just before he took his own life. Ismene enters and interrupts, pleading that Creon kill her as well. Creon sends them both away, intent on carrying out the law and putting Antigone to death, much to the outrage of Haemon, who claims he cannot go on living without Antigone. Antigone awaits her death, trying to bribe a guard to deliver a letter to Haemon after her death explaining her actions. She is to be sealed in a cave and left to die. However, the Chorus explains that Haemon somehow gets into the cave himself, and when Creon’s men uncover it they find Antigone’s dead body, having hanged herself with the thread of her own robe. Haemon, furious, attacks his father and then commits suicide himself with his own sword. Creon is left alone, still trying to rationalize his own actions and solemnly carrying on his duties as king. Includes commercials.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: September 11, 1956 9:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:58:55
- COLOR/B&W: B&W Copy of Color Telecast
- CATALOG ID: B:32889
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1956-1957
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - Kaiser aluminum products
- TV - Promos - "The Kaiser Aluminum Hour"
CREDITS
- Worthington Miner … Executive Producer
- Franklin Schaffner … Producer, Director
- Joseph Dackow … Associate Producer
- Jean Anouilh … Based on the play by
- Lewis Galantiere … Adapted by
- Ben Ludlow … Music by
- Claude Rains … Cast, Creon
- Marisa Pavan … Cast, Antigone
- Mildred Natwick … Cast, Nurse
- Alexander Scourby … Cast, Chorus
- Paul Stevens … Cast, Haemon
- Clint Young … Cast, Guard
- Felicia Montealegre … Cast, Ismene