Invitation to a Gunfighter (Playhouse 90)

Last updated
"Invitation to a Gunfighter"
Playhouse 90 episode
Directed by Arthur Penn
Written by Leslie Stevens
Story byHal Goodman
Harry Klein
Produced by Martin Manulis
Original air dateMarch 7, 1957 (1957-03-07)
Running time1:30
Episode chronology
 Previous
"The Blackwell Story"
Next 
"The Last Tycoon"

"Invitation to a Gunfighter" was an American television play broadcast as part of the CBS television series, Playhouse 90 . [1]

Contents

It was adapted into the 1964 feature film Invitation to a Gunfighter .

Plot

Townsfolk pool money to hire a gunfighter to get rid of another gunfighter who is terrorising their town.

Cast

Production

It was the first time Penn worked with Anne Bancroft. [2]

O'Brien recalled Penn as "terrific". [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anne Bancroft</span> American actress (1931–2005)

Anne Bancroft was an American actress. Respected for her acting prowess and versatility, Bancroft received an Academy Award, three BAFTA Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, two Tony Awards, two Primetime Emmy Awards, and a Cannes Film Festival Award. She is one of only 24 thespians to achieve the Triple Crown of Acting.

<i>The Miracle Worker</i> Cycle of 20th-century dramatic works derived from Helen Kellers autobiography The Story of My Life

The Miracle Worker refers to a broadcast, a play and various other adaptations of Helen Keller's 1903 autobiography The Story of My Life. The first of these works was a 1957 Playhouse 90 broadcast written by William Gibson and starring Teresa Wright as Anne Sullivan and Patricia McCormack as Keller. Gibson adapted his teleplay for a 1959 Broadway production with Patty Duke as Keller and Anne Bancroft as Sullivan. The 1962 film also starred Bancroft and Duke. Subsequent television films were released in 1979 and in 2000.

<i>Playhouse 90</i> American television series

Playhouse 90 is an American television anthology drama series that aired on CBS from 1956 to 1960 for a total of 133 episodes. The show was produced at CBS Television City in Los Angeles, California. Since live anthology drama series of the mid-1950s usually were hour-long shows, the title highlighted the network's intention to present something unusual: a weekly series of hour-and-a-half-long dramas rather than 60-minute plays.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arthur Penn</span> American producer and director (1922–2010)

Arthur Hiller Penn was an American filmmaker, theatre director, and producer. He was a Tony Award winner, and was nominated for three Academy Awards for Best Director, as well as a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe, two Primetime Emmys. As a member of the New Hollywood movement, Penn directed several critically-acclaimed films dealing with countercultural issues of the late 1960's and 1970's, notably the drama The Chase (1966), the biographical crime film Bonnie and Clyde (1967), the comedy Alice's Restaurant (1969), and the revisionist Western Little Big Man (1970).

<i>Lux Video Theatre</i> American television anthology series (1950–1957)

Lux Video Theatre is an American television anthology series that was produced from 1950 until 1957. The series presented both comedy and drama in original teleplays, as well as abridged adaptations of films and plays.

<i>The Miracle Worker</i> (1962 film) 1962 film by Arthur Penn

The Miracle Worker is a 1962 American biographical film about Anne Sullivan, blind tutor to Helen Keller, directed by Arthur Penn. The screenplay by William Gibson is based on his 1959 play of the same title, which originated as a 1957 broadcast of the television anthology series Playhouse 90. Gibson's secondary source material was The Story of My Life, the 1903 autobiography of Helen Keller.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">JP Miller</span> American writer (1919–2001)

JamesPinckney Miller was an American writer whose pen name was "JP Miller". He was a leading playwright during the Golden Age of Television, receiving three Emmy nominations. A novelist and screenwriter, he was best known for Days of Wine and Roses, directed by John Frankenheimer for Playhouse 90 (1958) and later the 1962 film of the same name directed by Blake Edwards.

Days of Wine and Roses (<i>Playhouse 90</i>) 2nd episode of the 3rd season of Playhouse 90

"Days of Wine and Roses" was a 1958 American teleplay by JP Miller which dramatized the problems of alcoholism. John Frankenheimer directed the cast headed by Cliff Robertson, Piper Laurie and Charles Bickford.

<i>The Miracle Worker</i> (play) 1957 three-act play by William Gibson

The Miracle Worker is a three-act play by William Gibson adapted from his 1957 Playhouse 90 teleplay of the same name. It was based on Helen Keller's 1903 autobiography The Story of My Life.

<i>Invitation to a Gunfighter</i> 1964 film by Richard Wilson

Invitation to a Gunfighter is a 1964 DeLuxe Color Western film directed by Richard Wilson, starring Yul Brynner and George Segal. It was based on a 1957 teleplay by Larry Klein that appeared on Playhouse 90. A lone Creole gunfighter, Jules, burdened by his own past of dealing with racism and prejudices, ends up in a town dealing with its own racist and hypocritical ignominies. Jules attempts to learn the truth about the town's real motives for hiring him, while at the same time reconciling with his own past as he attempts to force the town's white folks to accept their own hypocritical shortcomings in living with their Mexican cohabitants.

<i>Danger</i> (TV series) American dramatic anthology TV series

Danger is a CBS television dramatic anthology series that began on September 26, 1950, and ended on May 31, 1955. Its original title was Amm-i-dent Playhouse. The show "was one of the first television dramatic series to make effective use of background music"

"Tomorrow" was an American television play broadcast on March 7, 1960, as part of the CBS television series, Playhouse 90. It was the 11th episode of the fourth season of Playhouse 90.

"Sincerely, Willis Wayde" was an American television play broadcast on December 13, 1956, as part of the CBS television series, Playhouse 90. It was the 11th episode of the first season of Playhouse 90.

Forbidden Area (<i>Playhouse 90</i>) 1st episode of the 1st season of Playhouse 90

"Forbidden Area" was an American television play broadcast live on October 4, 1956, as part of the CBS television series, Playhouse 90. It was the premiere episode of the series. The play concerns efforts to thwart a massive, Christmastime nuclear attack from a fleet of Russian submarines located off the coast of the United States. Rod Serling wrote the screenplay, and John Frankenheimer directed. Charlton Heston, Tab Hunter, Diana Lynn, and Charles Bickford starred.

The Country Husband (<i>Playhouse 90</i>) 5th episode of the 1st season of Playhouse 90

"The Country Husband" was an American television movie broadcast on November 1, 1956, as part of the CBS television series, Playhouse 90.

The Return of Ansel Gibbs (<i>Playhouse 90</i>) 9th episode of the 3rd season of Playhouse 90

"The Return of Ansel Gibbs" was an American television play broadcast on November 27, 1958, as part of the CBS television series, Playhouse 90.

Free Weekend (<i>Playhouse 90</i>) 10th episode of the 3rd season of Playhouse 90

"Free Weekend" was an American television play broadcast on December 4, 1958, as part of the CBS television series, Playhouse 90.

The Blue Men (<i>Playhouse 90</i>) 15th episode of the 3rd season of Playhouse 90

"The Blue Men" was an American television play broadcast on January 15, 1959 as part of the CBS television series, Playhouse 90. John Frankenheimer was the director and Alvin Boretz the writer. The cast included Edmond O'Brien and Jack Warden.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Out of Dust</span> 33rd episode of the 3rd season of Playhouse 90

"Out of Dust" is an American television play broadcast on May 21, 1959 as part of the CBS television series, Playhouse 90. The cast includes Charles Bickford and Gloria Talbott. The teleplay was written by John Gay based on a stage play written by Lynn Riggs.

Portrait of a Murderer (<i>Playhouse 90</i>) 25th episode of the 2nd season of Playhouse 90

"Portrait of a Murderer" was an American television play broadcast on February 27, 1958, as part of the second season of the CBS television series Playhouse 90. Leslie Stevens wrote the teleplay, as an adaptation of a story by Abby Mann. Arthur Penn directed, Martin Manulis produced, and Dominick Dunne was an assistant to the producer. Tab Hunter and Geraldine Page starred. Hunter received an Emmy nomination for his performance.

References

  1. Invitation to a Gunfighter at Paley Centre
  2. "Arthur Penn on directing "Invitation to a Gun Fighter" for "Playhouse 90"". You Tube.
  3. "Interview with Hugh O'Brien". Television Academy Interviews.