Tragedy in a Temporary Town (The Alcoa Hour)

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"Tragedy in a Temporary Town"
The Alcoa Hour episode
Episode no.Season 1
Episode 10
Directed by Sidney Lumet
Teleplay by Reginald Rose
Original air date19 February 1956 (1956-02-19)
Running time47–50 minutes
Guest appearance
Lloyd Bridges

"Tragedy in a Temporary Town" is a dramatic teleplay written by Reginald Rose. It was originally produced for The Alcoa Hour in the US directed by Sidney Lumet [1] and sparked media attention for its portrayal of race and for Lloyd Bridges' ad-libbed profanity during its live broadcast. Bridges was nominated for the 1957 Emmy Award for Best Single Performance by an Actor, but did not win. [2]

Contents

In 1959, the same script was produced as the third episode of the Australian anthology drama show Shell Presents starring Michael Pate.

Plot

In a small town, a group of migrant workers are employed at an aircraft factory and live in a trailer park. When 15 year-old Dotty Fisher claims she has been attacked, a group of men, led by Frank Doran, attempt to find out who is possible. They seize a boy, Raphael Infante, and threaten to lynch him. Only a tolerant man called Alec Beggs dares to stand up to the mob in an attempt to stop them.

Cast

For the 1956 Alcoa Hour Production:

Reception

The US production garnered press in February 1956 for actor Lloyd Bridges' emotional performance during which Bridges inadvertently slipped some profanity in while ad-libbing. [3] [4] Although the slip of the lip and the racial content generated some complaints, most of the public feedback was positive. The episode won a Robert E. Sherwood Television Award, with Bridges' slip being defended even by some members of the clergy. [3] [5] [6] The episode, during which an innocent Puerto Rican man is targeted by a mob for a sexual crime, was cited by the Anti-Defamation League as "the best dramatic program of the year dealing with interethnic group relations."

References

  1. ↑ "Actor's Slip Of Tongue Keeps TV Viewers Arguing". The Hartford Courant . United Press International. 9 March 1956. p. 9. ISSN   1047-4153. OCLC   8807834. Archived from the original on 25 July 2012. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  2. ↑ "Tragedy in a Temporary Town (Alcoa-Hour Goodyear P". Television Academy. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
  3. 1 2 "Profanity Ad-libbed by Emotional Actor". The Leader-Post. Associated Press. February 20, 1956. Retrieved May 7, 2011.
  4. ↑ Harron, Don (November 17, 2012). "My Double Life: Sexty Years of Farquharson Around with Don Harn". Dundurn – via Google Books.
  5. ↑ Newcomb, Horace (2004). Encyclopedia of Television. CRC Press. p. 50. ISBN   978-1-57958-411-5.
  6. ↑ Hyatt, Wesley (March 10, 2004). A Critical History of Television's The Red Skelton Show, 1951-1971. McFarland. p. 48. ISBN   978-0-7864-1732-2.
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