During the late 1940s and through the 1950s, they were some doing some incredible things with television dramas. Some of the very best talent available started working in TV, not Hollywood and they created some amazingly good live television plays. Why live? Well, they really hadn't perfected the use of taped broadcast and instead did plays that were written for weekly shows like "Playhouse 90" and "Studio One". However, since there was a time zone difference between the East and West Coast, rather crude Kinescope copies were rebroadcast out west--and because of this we still have copies of many of these wonderful programs.
This particular episode is not a famous one but still deserves to be seen--particularly for some very good acting and an interesting script--a script that was later ripped off, believe it or not, by "The Andy Griffith Show". Because I'd seen this later variation on "The Death and Life of Larry Benson", it was pretty easy to guess where the plot was headed. Still, regardless of this, it is an exceptional show.
It begins with a family preparing for the homecoming of their son from the Korean War. It seems he's been gone three years and was assumed dead. Yet, now the Army has notified them that he'd been in the hospital and was about to be sent home. But this home is NOT the same home the young man left--his parents had split up and were estranged. Yet, for this homecoming, Dad has returned after a one year absence and everyone is excited. Their excitement, however, is muted when the young man gets off the train and they find it is NOT their son--even though he insists he is!! There's much more to it than this, but I'd rather not say more--it would spoil the show.
Aside from a very interesting plot, I liked seeing Chester Morris in this teleplay. He was an excellent actor who is mostly forgotten today--and in this show he gave one of his finer dramatic performances. He also appeared in other "Studio One" shows--and I liked him quite a bit in their show "The Arena".
Overall, a very thought-provoking and well-crafted show--one not to be missed.
This particular episode is not a famous one but still deserves to be seen--particularly for some very good acting and an interesting script--a script that was later ripped off, believe it or not, by "The Andy Griffith Show". Because I'd seen this later variation on "The Death and Life of Larry Benson", it was pretty easy to guess where the plot was headed. Still, regardless of this, it is an exceptional show.
It begins with a family preparing for the homecoming of their son from the Korean War. It seems he's been gone three years and was assumed dead. Yet, now the Army has notified them that he'd been in the hospital and was about to be sent home. But this home is NOT the same home the young man left--his parents had split up and were estranged. Yet, for this homecoming, Dad has returned after a one year absence and everyone is excited. Their excitement, however, is muted when the young man gets off the train and they find it is NOT their son--even though he insists he is!! There's much more to it than this, but I'd rather not say more--it would spoil the show.
Aside from a very interesting plot, I liked seeing Chester Morris in this teleplay. He was an excellent actor who is mostly forgotten today--and in this show he gave one of his finer dramatic performances. He also appeared in other "Studio One" shows--and I liked him quite a bit in their show "The Arena".
Overall, a very thought-provoking and well-crafted show--one not to be missed.