UNITED STATES STEEL HOUR, THE: THE TWO WORLDS OF CHARLIE GORDON (TV)
Summary
One in this anthology series presented by U.S. Steel. A scientific research institute led by a man named Dr. Strauss prepares to start human trials on a new kind of operation which could grant the subject increased intelligence. They have selected Charlie Gordon, a kind, mentally retarded man, as their first human subject after having success with trials on animals, most notably a laboratory mouse named Algernon. Charlie's intellect is demonstrated when he competes with Algernon to see who can solve a maze in the fastest time; Algernon beats him handily. Dr. Strauss calls in Ms. Jane Rawlins to the institute, she is Charlie's teacher in a class for mentally handicapped adults. She and Charlie are fond of each other. Dr. Strauss explains the situation to her and assures her that there is little potential danger in the procedure. Her presence is required since after the operation Charlie will need someone he is familiar with to help guide his post-operation education and chart his progress. Charlie himself does not comprehend the nature of the operation itself, but is eager to become more intelligent. Charlie goes to work at a factory where he does janitorial work. He speaks with his friend Joe, one of the workers there, but cannot tell him about the upcoming operation. Behind his back, Joe calls Charlie a "moron" and makes fun of him. That night Ms. Rawlins administers a series of intelligence and psychological tests to Charlie, all in preparation for the operation. She discovers that Charlie was orphaned at a young age, but cannot recall many of the details of his childhood. He is optimistic about the outcome of the operation, although Ms. Rawlins warns him that there is no guarantee of its success. Soon he undergoes the operation and over the next few weeks Ms. Rawlins provides him with a regimen of educative studies. There is no noticeable improvement in his intelligence until he manages to beat Algernon in the maze test. This fills Charlie and the institute staff with new hope. Soon Charlie progresses rapidly in his education, mastering geometry and making great strides in his reading comprehension. Ms. Rawlins is surprised that Charlie seems to be outpacing her lesson plan. He takes an interest in the book "Robinson Crusoe," particularly its theme of isolation. Ms. Rawlins gives him more books to read, and he learns that her father was also a teacher and used to read her Dickens as a child. She also relates how her parents died and she moved out of her hometown; he remarks that their backgrounds are not dissimilar. At the factory, Joe feels threatened when Charlie demonstrates his newfound intellect. He insults Charlie to his face and Charlie runs off. Later, Ms. Rawlins visits Charlie in his apartment when he doesn't show up for his lessons. He is beginning to feel burdened by his growing intelligence as he realizes that many of his "friends" merely treated him as a joke. Ms. Rawlins says that to her, Charlie is more than merely an experiment and she's beginning to see him in a whole new way. Charlie decides he wants to work in the laboratory with Dr. Strauss. He hopes he can help Dr. Strauss make the operation available to everyone, as he feels that ignorance is a terrible state to live in. He and Ms. Rawlins say that they need each other, and they kiss. Charlie's intellect reaches the point where he appears to be more intelligent than Dr. Strauss. However, the laboratory readings indicate that Algernon is beginning to lose his increased intelligence, and Charlie fears that the same thing could happen to him. Charlie buries himself in a report on what he dubs the "Algernon Effect," to determine a formula for how long his enhanced intelligence will last. He brings Algernon home with him, feeling a sort of kinship with him. Ms. Rawlins attempts to provide him with comfort, although Charlie becomes stressed since he believes he is already showing signs of decreased intelligence. Dr. Strauss calls in Charlie and announces that they must kill Algernon and perform a dissection on him in order to study his brain. With a heavy heart, Charlie assists Dr. Strauss in the dissection, also announcing that he won't be returning to the laboratory. As time passes, Charlie reverts to his previous level of intelligence, although he seems somewhat more cheerful. Ms. Rawlins visits him and he says that the factory will re-hire him. She asks him to marry her and at first he seems to ignore the question. He remarks that he can no longer understand his own paper on the "Algernon Effect." He feels he cannot accept her proposal and returns her copy of "Robinson Crusoe." At the factory, Joe seems to treat Charlie more kindly than before. Charlie visits the institute to lay some flowers on a tiny grave dug for Algernon. Ms. Rawlins meets him outside and asks him to return to her class. She believes he can learn to read and process complex ideas once again, although he says it is too difficult for him. She gives him the copy of "Robinson Crusoe" again and leaves. The story ends as Charlie sits alone, thumbing through "Robinson Crusoe." Includes commercials. (This program contains technical problems. This represents the best copy of this program currently available to the Museum.)
Details
- NETWORK: CBS
- DATE: February 22, 1961 10:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:59:25
- COLOR/B&W: B&W
- CATALOG ID: B:54999
- GENRE: Drama, fantasy/science fiction
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, fantasy/science fiction; Science - Experiments; Developmental disabilities; Intelligence tests
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1953-1955; CBS - 1955-1963
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- George Kondolf … Executive Producer
- Bill Nichols … Associate Producer
- Fielder Cook … Director
- Daniel Keyes … Based on the story "Flowers for Algernon" by
- James Yaffe … Adapted by
- Ralph Norman Wilkinson … Music by
- Cliff Robertson … Cast, Charlie Gordon
- Mona Freeman … Cast, Jane Rawlins
- Maxwell Shaw … Cast, Dr. Strauss
- Joanna Roos … Cast, Dr. Edith Kinnian
- Gerald O'Loughlin … Cast, Joe
- Ira Barmak … Cast, Medical Student