| "The Fabulous Irishman" | |
|---|---|
| Playhouse 90 episode | |
 Katharine Bard and Art Carney from "The Fabulous Irishman" | |
| Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 39 |
| Directed by | John Frankenheimer |
| Written by | Elick Moll |
| Original air date | June 27, 1957 |
| Guest appearance | |
"The Fabulous Irishman" was an American television play broadcast live on June 27, 1957, as part of the CBS television series, Playhouse 90 . It was the 39th episode of the first season.
The play tells the story of Irish politician Robert Briscoe. It begins in 1918 when Briscoe, as a young Jewish Irishman, became active in the Irish Republican Army (IRA). During the Irish War of Independence, he smuggled arms past the Black and Tans and was the subject of a "shoot on sight" order. He later became the first Jewish Lord Mayor of Dublin. [1]
The cast included performances by:
Eddie Cantor hosted the broadcast.
Martin Manulis was the producer and John Frankenheimer the director. Elick Moll wrote the teleplay. The play was presented live on June 27, 1957. [2]
In The New York Times, J. P. Shanley called it "a splendid tribute to a colorful patriot" and "a most creditable conclusion" to Playhouse 90's first season. Shanley wrote that Carney was "ideal" for the title role and that Carney has proven himself "a versatile and brilliant actor." [2]
In The Boston Globe, Elizabeth W. Driscoll called it "one of the most heartwarming offerings of the season and "a story that had all the authenticity and much of the impact of 'The Informer' without its great tragedy." She praised the absence of "sanctimonious little speeches" and wrote that Carney gave a performance that "helps convince you television is a wonderful thing." [3]
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.
Robert Emmet Briscoe was an Irish Fianna Fáil politician who served as a Teachta Dála (TD) in the Oireachtas from 1927 to 1965.
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