Helen Morgan (Playhouse 90)

Helen Morgan was an American television play broadcast on May 16, 1957, as part of the CBS television series, Playhouse 90. It was the 33rd episode of the first season of Playhouse 90.

"Helen Morgan"
Playhouse 90 episode
Episode no.Season 2
Episode 23
Directed byGeorge Roy Hill
Written byLeonard Spigelgass, Paul Monash
Featured musicLuther Henderson Jr. (arranged and conducted)
Original air dateMay 16, 1957 (1957-05-16)
Running time90 minutes
Guest appearance(s)

Polly Bergen won the Emmy Award for her performance. The production also received Emmy nominations for Program of the Year and best directing by George Roy Hill. Sylvia Sidney and Hoagy Carmichael co-starred.

Plot

The teleplay follows the life of singer Helen Morgan from age 17 and through her work as a Chicago torch singer, on Broadway in George White's Scandals, and in Show Boat where she gained fame singing "Bill" and "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man". The production also covers Morgan's alcohol abuse, her three marriages, and her death at age 41 from cirrhosis of the liver.

Cast

The following performers received screen credit for their performances:[1]

Dana Wynter hosted the broadcast.

Production

Martin Manulis, the producer of Playhouse 90, purchased the television rights to the story from Morgan's mother, Lulu Morgan. In January 1957, Polly Bergen signed to play the lead role. She had previously been known for making commercials for Pepsi-Cola and as a panelist on "To Tell the Truth."[2]

When Playhouse 90 acquired the television rights, Warner Brothers Pictures was already working on a motion picture version. Warner asked CBS to delay the television broadcast,[3] but CBS declined and announced it would air its version on May 16.[4] The movie, titled The Helen Morgan Story, was released in October.

George Roy Hill directed the production. The teleplay was written by Leonard Spigelgass and Paul Monash, and Lulu Morgan was also given story credit. Albert Heschong was the art director.

The production was nominated for the Emmy Award for Program of the Year, but lost to another Playhouse 90 episode, The Comedian. Polly Bergen won the Emmy Award for best actress. George Roy Hill was also nominated for best direction (one hour or more).

Reception

In The New York Times, Jack Gould wrote that the production "had warmth, nostalgia and poignancy", though the telling of her backstage life "tended at times to be rather over-melodramatic." Gould also wrote that Hoagy Carmichael "dominated all his scenes in his usual effortless manner." As for Polly Bergen, Gould wrote that "her interpretation did not quite come off", though she "gave it a sincere and interesting try."[5]

In The Boston Globe, Mary Cremmen called it "a triumph of home screen entertainment."[6]

References
  1. Kinescope of "The Helen Morgan Story", aired May 16, 1957.
  2. Val Adams (January 23, 1957). "Miss Bergen Signs for TV Play Lead". The New York Times. p. 44.
  3. "Studio Asks C.B.S. to Put Off Show: Warners Requests Delay of Program on Helen Morgan Until Completion of Film". The New York Times. February 6, 1957. p. 51.
  4. Val Adams (February 27, 1957). "C.B.S. Ignoring Bid To Delay TV Play: Network Will Not Postpone Helen Morgan Story Until Release of Warners Film". The New York Times. p. 40.
  5. Jack Gould (May 17, 1957). "TV Review: Helen Morgan Story on 'Playhouse 90'". The New York Times. p. 38.
  6. Mary Cremmen (May 17, 1957). "The Helen Morgan Story". The Boston Globe – via Newspapers.com.
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