By Steven Suskin
01 Dec 2008
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Christmas must be coming around. November has seen an outpouring of DVDs suitable for perusal in this column — no less than 33 discs.
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We have been hearing, for years, about the old "Studio One" programs from the days of live television. Every week for ten seasons (starting in 1948), Westinghouse presented a one-hour drama, some 466 episodes in all. Seeing as how CBS telecast the shows from New York — the center of all things theatrical at the time — Studio One showcased all sorts of up-and-coming acting and writing talent. The "Studio One" broadcasts were long thought to be lost, but a trove of materials was found in 1997 when a former Westinghouse factory in Ohio was being demolished. Now, Koch Entertainment and the Archive of American Television have joined together to bring us "Studio One" Anthology [Koch], featuring 17 episodes from the series.
Some fascinating material is included, needless to say. Heading the list is the most famous of the "Studio One" offerings — at least, the only one that won three Emmys. No. 271 in the series, Reginald Rose's "Twelve Angry Men," aired on Sept. 26, 1954. An excellent motion picture adaptation was made in 1957 by Mr. Rose, Henry Fonda, and Sidney Lumet, of course; but here, finally and fascinatingly, is the real thing. The 1954 version is not better than the film; to begin with, the movie was expanded (and profitably so) beyond the teleplay's 50-plus minutes. But those who love the remarkable film should be spellbound by the kinescope. Robert Cummings plays the lead, and won an Emmy doing so. The performance is different from the start; Cummings doesn't have the moral certainty or aura of invincibility that Fonda has in the role. But much of the tension of the film is present, under the direction of Franklin Schaffner (who also won an Emmy). Standing out among the ensemble are Franchot Tone, Edward Arnold and Walter Abel. (Martin Balsam's role of the foreman is played by a young actor named Norman Feld, who went on to become Norman Fell.) Two of the actors were to repeat their roles in the film: George Voskovec (as the European import among the jurors) and Joseph Sweeney (giving an altogether remarkable performance as the old man). Hidden away without billing, as the court officer who brings exhibits into the jury room, is none other than Vincent Gardenia.
That's only one of 17 offered in this anthology. The others include "1984" with Eddie Albert; Rod Serling's "The Arena," starring Chester Morris (and young Frances Sternhagen); "Confessions of a Nervous Man," George Axelrod's satirical account of the writing of "The Seven Year Itch," starring Art Carney; Gore Vidal's "Dark Possession," starring Geraldine Fitzgerald; "Dino," starring Sal Mineo; "June Moon," starring Jack Lemmon (circa 1949) and Eva Marie Saint; Vidal's "Summer Pavilion," starring Miriam Hopkins and a young Elizabeth Montgomery; and Charlton Heston in "Wuthering Heights." Of special interest, to me anyway: Marie Powers in Gian-Carlo Menotti's "The Medium," featuring four of the six members of the 1947 original Broadway cast. This was telecast during the show's 1948 revival at City Center, and presumably uses the stage set and Menotti's original direction. Bonus features spread across the six-DVDs include a piece on "Studio One," excerpts from an interview with director Paul Nickell, and a Paley Center seminar on the series. There is also a 52-page reference guide which is packed with information and includes an informative essay by film historian Larry James Gianakos.
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"Kwai," "Arabia" and "Gandhi" are two-disc affairs, bringing the set to 14 DVDs with the films sharing 65 Oscars (including one to Broadway's own Onna White, who never received a Tony — going up against Robbins and Fosse time and time again — but nabbed one for the film version of "Oliver"). As best I can tell, Sony has used the existing releases for these films, so those with extensive collections might be duplicating some titles. Everything has been repackaged, though, in one well-designed and rather neat binder with heavy cardboard foldouts. Pardon me, now, while I go back to watch "It Happened One Night" again. Or should it be "River Kwai," or "Waterfront," or "All the King's Men"? Continued...
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