PRODUCERS' SHOWCASE: OUR TOWN (TV)
Summary
One in this anthology series of dramas and musical specials. This musical adaptation of Thornton Wilder's immensely popular play about life and death in the small town of Grover's Corners, New Hampshire, features songs written by James Van Heusen and Sammy Cahn especially for this production. Act I, "Daily Life," opens on May 7, 1901, with the Stage Manager introducing the families of the town doctor, Dr. Gibbs, and the editor of the local newspaper, Mr. Webb. Their children, high school students George Gibbs and Emily Webb, talk about their schoolwork and first begin their courtship. Act II, "Love and Marriage," set three years later on the morning of George and Emily's wedding, traces the evolution of their relationship from friendship to romance and explores the couples' last minute fears about marriage and growing old. Act III opens nine years later in Grover's Corners cemetery where the dead sit, indifferent to the living and to Emily's funeral. Before joining the dead forever, Emily requests to return among the living one more time to observe and relive one very ordinary day, her twelfth birthday. The original songs include "Our Town," "Grover's Corners," "The Impatient Years," "Love and Marriage," "A Perfect Married Life," "Wasn't It a Wonderful Wedding?" "Look to Your Heart." Commercials deleted. (This is a black-and-white copy of a color telecast.)
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: September 19, 1955 Monday 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:16:55
- COLOR/B&W: B&W Copy of Color Telecast
- CATALOG ID: T79:0196
- GENRE: Music; Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; Music, popular (songs, etc.)
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV series, 1954-1957
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Fred Coe … Producer
- Bill Nichols … Associate Producer
- Delbert Mann … Director
- David Shaw … Writer
- Thornton Wilder … Based on the play by
- James Van Heusen … Music by
- Roger Adams … Music by
- Sammy Cahn … Lyricist
- Valerie Bettis … Choreographer
- Frank Barton … Announcer
- Frank Sinatra … Cast, the Stage Manager
- Eva Marie Saint … Cast, Emily Webb
- Paul Newman … Cast, George Gibbs
- Ernest Truex … Cast, Dr. Gibbs
- Sylvia Field … Cast, Mrs. Gibbs
- Paul Hartman … Cast, Mr. Webb
- Peg Hillias … Cast, Mrs. Webb
- Anthony Sydes … Cast, Joe Crowell
- Shelley Fabares … Cast, Rebecca Gibbs
- David Saber … Cast, Wally Webb
- Carol Veazie … Cast, Mrs. Soames
- Charlott Knight … Cast, Mrs. Slocum
- Harvey B. Dunn … Cast, Mr. McCarthy