My Sweet Charlie

My Sweet Charlie is a 1970 American made-for-television drama film directed by Lamont Johnson. The teleplay by Richard Levinson and William Link is based on the novel of the same name by David Westheimer. Produced by Universal Television and broadcast by NBC on January 20, 1970, it later had a brief theatrical release. It is considered a landmark in television films. The film was made on location in Port Bolivar, Texas.

My Sweet Charlie
Videotape cover
Based onMy Sweet Charlie novel by David Westheimer
Written byRichard Levinson
William Link
Directed byLamont Johnson
StarringPatty Duke
Al Freeman Jr.
Theme music composerGil Melle
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producerBob Banner
ProducersRichard Levinson
William Link
CinematographyGene Polito
EditorEdward M. Abroms
Running time97 minutes
Production companyUniversal Television
DistributorNBC
Universal Pictures
Release
Original networkNBC
Original releaseJanuary 20, 1970 (1970-01-20)

Synopsis

Set during the Civil Rights Movement, Charlie Roberts is a militant African American attorney from New York City falsely accused of murder during a demonstration in rural Texas.

Escaping from his captors, Charlie breaks into a vacant coastal vacation home, where he encounters white Marlene Chambers, an uneducated, prejudiced, unwed pregnant teenager who has been shunned by her father and boyfriend due to her pregnancy, and who sought refuge in the vacant home a few weeks before Charlie arrives.

Realizing their survival depends upon their willingness to help each other, their relationship, at first defined by mutual contempt, prejudice, and hostility, slowly evolves into a touching friendship.

Production notes

In 1966, Westheimer adapted his novel for a play that opened at Broadway's Longacre Theatre with Bonnie Bedelia and Louis Gossett in the leading roles. It ran for 12 previews and 31 performances.[1]

The television production was filmed on location in Port Bolivar, Texas in 1968 and was plagued by almost as many racial tensions as those depicted in the film. According to Patty Duke in her autobiography, her friendship with Freeman led to rumors of an affair. Marijuana was planted in Duke's Galveston hotel room by locals, though it was quickly determined not to belong to Duke. Texas governor John Connally intervened with local authorities to stop harassment of the production company and Duke.[2]

Principal cast

Principal production credits

Reception

The film earned very high ratings, with a Nielsen rating of 31.7, an audience share of 48% and a record audience for a TV movie with 18.5 million homes watching.[3][4]

Awards and nominations
  • Emmy Award for Outstanding Single Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (Patty Duke, winner)
  • Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing Achievement in Drama (winner)
  • Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Film Editing for Entertainment Programming - For a Special or Feature Length Program Made for Television (winner)
  • Emmy Award for Outstanding Single Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Al Freeman Jr., nominee)
  • Emmy Award for Outstanding Dramatic Program (nominee)
  • Emmy Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Drama (nominee)
  • Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography for Entertainment Programming - For a Special or Feature Length Program Made for Television (nominee)
  • Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Film Sound Mixing (nominee)
  • Image Award for Best Program of the Year (winner)
  • Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Television (winner)

References
  1. My Sweet Charlie at the Internet Broadway Database
  2. ^ a b c d e Duke, Patty; Kennen Turan (1987). Call Me Anna: The Autobiography of Patty Duke. Bantam Books. pp. 8. ISBN 0-553-27205-5
  3. "Alltime Top 20 Movies on TV". Variety. December 13, 1972. p. 26.
  4. GENT, GEORGE (27 February 1970). "Movies Made for TV Are Gaining in Importance at Networks". The New York Times. p. 56.
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