The Comedian (1957 TV drama)
Encyclopedia
The Comedian is a 1957 live television drama written by Rod Serling
from a novella by Ernest Lehman
, directed by John Frankenheimer
, and starring Mickey Rooney
.
Rooney portrayed a ragingly egomaniacal television comedian venting his hysterical wrath on his brother (Mel Tormé
) with Edmond O'Brien
as a writer driven to the brink of insanity by the mayhem. The 90-minute drama was broadcast live as part of the anthology series Playhouse 90
on February 14, 1957. The show was captured on crystallinely clear kinescope
and is available for viewing at The Paley Center for Media in New York City
and Los Angeles
. The show is also available as part of a 3-DVD set called "The Golden Age of Television," produced by the Criterion Collection.
... Sammy Hogarth
Kim Hunter
... Julie Hogarth
Edmond O'Brien
... Al Preston
Mel Tormé
... Lester Hogarth
Whit Bissell
... Elwell
King Donovan ... The Director
Constance Ford
... Connie
Eddie Ryder ... Jake
H.M. Wynant
... Sonny
Rod Serling
Rodman Edward "Rod" Serling was an American screenwriter, novelist, television producer, and narrator best known for his live television dramas of the 1950s and his science fiction anthology TV series, The Twilight Zone. Serling was active in politics, both on and off the screen and helped form...
from a novella by Ernest Lehman
Ernest Lehman
Ernest Lehman was an American screenwriter. He received 6 Academy Award nominations during his screenwriting career...
, directed by John Frankenheimer
John Frankenheimer
John Michael Frankenheimer was an American film and television director known for social dramas and action/suspense films...
, and starring Mickey Rooney
Mickey Rooney
Mickey Rooney is an American film actor and entertainer whose film, television, and stage appearances span nearly his entire lifetime. He has won multiple awards, including an Honorary Academy Award, a Golden Globe and an Emmy Award...
.
Rooney portrayed a ragingly egomaniacal television comedian venting his hysterical wrath on his brother (Mel Tormé
Mel Tormé
Melvin Howard Tormé , nicknamed The Velvet Fog, was an American musician, known for his jazz singing. He was also a jazz composer and arranger, a drummer, an actor in radio, film, and television, and the author of five books...
) with Edmond O'Brien
Edmond O'Brien
Edmond O'Brien was an American actor who is perhaps best remembered for his role in D.O.A. and his Oscar winning role in The Barefoot Contessa...
as a writer driven to the brink of insanity by the mayhem. The 90-minute drama was broadcast live as part of the anthology series Playhouse 90
Playhouse 90
Playhouse 90 is an American television anthology series that was telecast on CBS from 1956 to 1960 for a total of 133 episodes. It originated from CBS Television City in Los Angeles, California...
on February 14, 1957. The show was captured on crystallinely clear kinescope
Kinescope
Kinescope , shortened to kine , also known as telerecording in Britain, is a recording of a television program made by filming the picture from a video monitor...
and is available for viewing at The Paley Center for Media in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. The show is also available as part of a 3-DVD set called "The Golden Age of Television," produced by the Criterion Collection.
Cast
Mickey RooneyMickey Rooney
Mickey Rooney is an American film actor and entertainer whose film, television, and stage appearances span nearly his entire lifetime. He has won multiple awards, including an Honorary Academy Award, a Golden Globe and an Emmy Award...
... Sammy Hogarth
Kim Hunter
Kim Hunter
Kim Hunter was an American film, theatre, and television actress. She won both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award, each as Best Supporting Actress, for her performance as Stella Kowalski in the 1951 film A Streetcar Named Desire...
... Julie Hogarth
Edmond O'Brien
Edmond O'Brien
Edmond O'Brien was an American actor who is perhaps best remembered for his role in D.O.A. and his Oscar winning role in The Barefoot Contessa...
... Al Preston
Mel Tormé
Mel Tormé
Melvin Howard Tormé , nicknamed The Velvet Fog, was an American musician, known for his jazz singing. He was also a jazz composer and arranger, a drummer, an actor in radio, film, and television, and the author of five books...
... Lester Hogarth
Whit Bissell
Whit Bissell
Whitner Nutting Bissell , better known as Whit Bissell, was an American actor.-Early life:Born in New York City, Bissell was the son of prominent surgeon Dr. J. Dougal Bissell. He trained with the Carolina Playmakers, a theatrical organization associated with the University of North Carolina at...
... Elwell
King Donovan ... The Director
Constance Ford
Constance Ford
Constance Ford was an American actress and model. She is best known for her long-running role as Ada Hobson on the daytime soap opera Another World.-Career:...
... Connie
Eddie Ryder ... Jake
H.M. Wynant
H.M. Wynant
H.M. Wynant is an American film and television actor.Among his many television credits are appearances on shows such as Playhouse 90, Hawaiian Eye, The Wild Wild West, Perry Mason, Daniel Boone, Gunsmoke, Get Smart, Hawaii Five-O, Mission: Impossible, and Dallas.One of his more memorable appearances...
... Sonny