"The Dark Side of the Earth" was an American
television play broadcast live on September 19, 1957, as part of the
CBS television series, ''
Playhouse 90
''Playhouse 90'' was an American television anthology series, anthology drama series that aired on CBS from 1956 to 1960 for a total of 133 episodes. The show was produced at CBS Television City in Los Angeles, California. Since live anthology dr ...
''. It was the second episode of the second season.
Rod Serling
Rodman Edward Serling (December 25, 1924 – June 28, 1975) was an American screenwriter, playwright, television producer, and narrator/on-screen host, best known for his live television dramas of the 1950s and his anthology television series ' ...
's teleplay told the story of a band of Hungarian freedom fighters captured by the Soviets in 1956.
Plot
The play tells the story of Russia's suppression of the
Hungarian Revolution of 1956.
Cast
*
Van Heflin as Col. Sten, a Red Army officer charged with suppressing revolution
*
Earl Holliman as Capt. Volodney, Sten's uncompromising subordinate
*
Dean Jagger as Anton Rojas, a Hungarian communist collaborator
*
Kim Hunter
Kim Hunter (born Janet Cole; November 11, 1922 – September 11, 2002) was an American theatre, film, and television actress. She achieved prominence for portraying Stella Kowalski in the original production of Tennessee Williams' ''A Streetcar N ...
as Anna Rojas, wife of the collaborator
*
Jerry Paris as Chevak
*
Ian Wolfe as General Kerch
Production
Martin Manulis
Martin Ellyot Manulis (May 30, 1915 – September 28, 2007) was an American television, film, and theatre producer. Manulis was best known for his work in the 1950s producing the CBS Television programs ''Suspense'', '' Studio One Summer Theatre' ...
was the producer and
Arthur Penn the director.
Rod Serling
Rodman Edward Serling (December 25, 1924 – June 28, 1975) was an American screenwriter, playwright, television producer, and narrator/on-screen host, best known for his live television dramas of the 1950s and his anthology television series ' ...
wrote the teleplay. It was the first live television appearance for both Van Heflin and Dean Jagger.
Reception
The television critic in ''The Philadelphia Inquirer '' praised the "literate script", the "talented cast", Arthur Penn's restrained direction, and believable if not admirable characters.
Arthur Grace in ''The Miami News'' called it "a beautifully written dramatic play" and "a timeless play, appropriate at any time and any place when, in war or revolution, men must slaughter each other." He also praised the superb character development and superb performances of Jagger, Van Heflin, and Hunter.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dark Side of the Earth
1957 American television episodes
Playhouse 90 (season 2) episodes
1957 television plays