Tragedy in a Temporary Town (The Alcoa Hour)

"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 Emmy Award for Best Single Performance by an Actor for 1957 but did not win.[2]

"Tragedy in a Temporary Town"
The Alcoa Hour episode
Episode no.Season 1
Episode 10
Directed bySidney Lumet
Teleplay byReginald Rose
Produced byHerbert Brodkin
Original air date19 February 1956
Running time4750 minutes
Guest appearance(s)

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. 9 March 1956. p. 9. Retrieved 7 May 2011.
  2. "Tragedy in a Temporary Town (Alcoa-Hour Goodyear P". Television Academy. Retrieved 2019-08-26.
  3. "Profanity Ad-libbed by Emotional Actor". The Leader-Post. Associated Press. 20 February 1956. Retrieved 7 May 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 (10 March 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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