A Slow Fade to Black

Last updated
"A Slow Fade to Black"
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre episode
Sally Kellerman and Rod Steiger in A Slow Fade to Black.jpg
Sally Kellerman and Rod Steiger in A Slow Fade to Black
Episode no.Season 1
Episode 23
Directed byRoy Winston
Written by Rod Serling
Produced by Dick Berg
Featured music Benny Carter
Original air dateMarch 27, 1964 (1964-03-27)
Running time50:55
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
 Previous
"Her School for Bachelors"
Next 
"A Case of Armed Robbery"
List of episodes

"A Slow Fade to Black" was an American television film broadcast by NBC on March 27, 1964, as part of the television series, Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre . Rod Serling wrote the screenplay, and Benny Carter provided the music. Rod Steiger starred and was nominated for an Emmy for outstanding performance by an actor in a leading role.

Contents

Plot

Mike Kirsch (played by Rod Steiger) is the once-powerful head of Globe-Kirsch studios whose last six films have all lost money. His assistant Peter Furgatch (played by Robert Culp) conveys a message that the studio's directors want him to resign. Kirsch tries to secure his control of the studio with the shares owned by his wife (played by Anna Lee) and his rebellious daughter (played by Sally Kellerman). His daughter refuses to support him.

At a meeting of the board of directors, Kirsch pitches a spectacular new movie but is asked for his resignation. At a dinner honoring Kirsch as "Producer of the Year", Furgatch informs him that he has been appointed as the new head of the studio. Kirsch announces his resignation at the dinner. He later cries as he watches his early movies.

Cast

The cast included performances by: [1]

Production

The production was broadcast by NBC on March 27, 1964, as part of the television series, Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre . Rod Serling wrote the screenplay. It was his third screenplay for the series. Dick Berg was the producer and Ron Winston the director. Benny Carter provided the music. [1] [2]

Rod Steiger starred and was nominated for an Emmy for outstanding performance by an actor in a leading role.

Related Research Articles

<i>Night Gallery</i> American anthology TV series (1970-1973)

Night Gallery is an American anthology television series that aired on NBC from December 16, 1970, to May 27, 1973, featuring stories of horror and the macabre. Rod Serling, who had gained fame from an earlier series, The Twilight Zone, served both as the on-air host of Night Gallery and as a major contributor of scripts, although he did not have the same control of content and tone as he had on The Twilight Zone. Serling viewed Night Gallery as a logical extension of The Twilight Zone, but while both series shared an interest in thought-provoking dark fantasy, more of Zone's offerings were science fiction while Night Gallery focused on horrors of the supernatural.

Rod Serling American screenwriter, playwright, television producer, and narrator

Rodman Edward Serling was an American screenwriter, playwright, television producer, and narrator/on-screen host, best known for his live television dramas of the 1950s and his anthology television series, The Twilight Zone. Serling was active in politics, both on and off the screen, and helped form television industry standards. He was known as the "angry young man" of Hollywood, clashing with television executives and sponsors over a wide range of issues, including censorship, racism, and war.

Kim Hunter American actress

Kim Hunter was an American film, theatre, and television actress. She won both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award, each as Best Supporting Actress, for her performance as Stella Kowalski in the 1951 film A Streetcar Named Desire. Decades later, she was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for her work on the soap opera The Edge of Night. She also portrayed the character of chimpanzee Zira in the first three installments of the original film adaptation Planet of the Apes.

<i>Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre</i>

Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre is an American anthology series, sponsored by Chrysler Corporation, which ran on NBC from 1963 through 1967. The show was hosted by Bob Hope, but it had a variety of formats, including musical, dramatic, and comedy.

Robert Culp American actor, scriptwriter

Robert Martin Culp was an American actor, screenwriter, voice actor, and director, widely known for his work in television. Culp earned an international reputation for his role as Kelly Robinson on I Spy (1965–1968), the espionage television series in which co-star Bill Cosby and he played secret agents. Before this, he starred in the CBS/Four Star Western series Trackdown as Texas Ranger Hoby Gilman in 71 episodes from 1957 to 1959. The 1980s brought him back to television as FBI Agent Bill Maxwell on The Greatest American Hero. Later he had a recurring role as Warren Whelan on Everybody Loves Raymond. Culp gave hundreds of performances in a career spanning more than 50 years.

Sally Kellerman American actress

Sally Clare Kellerman is an American actress, singer, and author.

<i>Kraft Television Theatre</i>

Kraft Television Theatre is an American anthology drama television series that began May 7, 1947 on NBC, airing at 7:30pm on Wednesday evenings until December of that year. It first promoted MacLaren's Imperial Cheese, which was advertised nowhere else. In January 1948, it moved to 9pm on Wednesdays, continuing in that timeslot until 1958. Initially produced by the J. Walter Thompson advertising agency, the live hour-long series offered television plays with new stories and new characters each week, in addition to adaptations of such classics as A Christmas Carol and Alice in Wonderland. The program was broadcast live from Studio 8-H at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, currently the home of Saturday Night Live.

"The Comedian" is a 1957 live television drama written by Rod Serling from a novella by Ernest Lehman, directed by John Frankenheimer, and starring Mickey Rooney, Edmond O'Brien, Kim Hunter, Mel Tormé and Constance Ford.

Patterns (<i>Kraft Television Theatre</i>) 16th episode of the eighth season of Kraft Television Theatre

"Patterns" was an American television play broadcast live on January 12, 1955, as part of the NBC television series, Kraft Television Theatre. Because of its popularity, it was restaged on February 9, 1955.

The 16th Emmy Awards, later known as the 16th Primetime Emmy Awards, were presented on May 25, 1964. The ceremony was hosted by Joey Bishop and E. G. Marshall. Winners are listed in bold and series' networks are in parentheses.

The 18th Emmy Awards, later known as the 18th Primetime Emmy Awards, were handed out on May 22, 1966, at the Hollywood Palladium. The ceremony was hosted by Danny Kaye and Bill Cosby.

Sam Locke was an American writer and director who worked in theatre, television, and film.

Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research

The Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research (WCFTR) is a major archive of motion picture, television, radio, and theater research materials. Located in the headquarters building of the Wisconsin Historical Society in Madison, Wisconsin, the WCFTR holds over three hundred collections from motion picture, television, and theater writers, producers, actors, designers, directors, and production companies. These collections include business records, personal papers, scripts, photographs, promotional graphics, and some twenty thousand films and videotapes of motion picture and television productions.

Burton Miller was an American costume designer. He was perhaps best known for his work on the TV shows The Six Million Dollar Man and Alfred Hitchcock Presents. He tend to work on TV.

Medallion Theatre, aka Chrysler Medallion Theatre, is a 30-minute American anthology series that aired on CBS from July 11, 1953 to April 3, 1954. Thirty episodes aired live from New York. Henry Fonda, Claude Rains, and Janet Gaynor made their major television dramatic debuts on this series in various 1953 episodes. Others guest stars included Helen Hayes, Charlton Heston, Ronald Reagan, Jack Lemmon, Rod Steiger, and Roddy McDowell. Among its writers were Rod Serling and Robert Anderson. Directors included Ralph Nelson, Don Medford, Robert Stevens, and Seymour Robbie. The producer was William Spier.

A Town Has Turned to Dust (<i>Playhouse 90</i>) 38th episode of the second season of Playhouse 90

"A Town Has Turned to Dust" was an American television play broadcast live on June 19, 1958, as part of the second season of the CBS television series Playhouse 90. Rod Serling wrote the teleplay, and John Frankenheimer directed. Rod Steiger and William Shatner starred.

Something About Lee Wiley 2nd episode of the first season of Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre

"Something About Lee Wiley" was an American television episode broadcast by NBC on October 11, 1963, as part of the television series, Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre. The film told the story of jazz singer Lee Wiley. Piper Laurie played the role of Wiley.

War of Nerves (<i>Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre</i>) 13th episode of the first season of Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre

"War of Nerves" was an American television film broadcast by NBC on January 3, 1964, as part of the television series, Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre.

References

  1. 1 2 "Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre: A Slow Fade to Black". The Paley Center for Media. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  2. "Original Serling Drama Set For 'Bob Hope Presents' on Friday". Daily Herald. March 30, 1964. p. 24 via Newspapers.com.