''What a Life'' is a 1938
Broadway play by
Clifford Goldsmith
Clifford Goldsmith (March 29, 1899 – July 11, 1971) was an American writer, best known for his play ''What a Life'', from which ''The Aldrich Family'' radio and television series and the ''Henry Aldrich'' film series were derived. In 1943, ''T ...
.
''What a Life'' is set in Central High School, with action primarily occurring in the principal's office. The main character, Henry Aldrich, "thinks he is dumb because his father won a
Phi Beta Kappa key at college."
During the play, Aldrich faces charges that he caused a disturbance in class and that he stole brass instruments from the band. He also has to deal with a student who bullies him.
[
The play was copyrighted on July 7, 1936, under the title ''Enter to Learn''. After some revisions, "without, however, materially changing the plot or principal characters", the title was changed to ''What a Life''. It languished for more than one year, but things changed when producer George Abbott took charge.]
Original Broadway production
George Abbott produced and directed the original Broadway production, which opened April 13, 1938 at the Biltmore Theatre and ran for 538 performances.[''What a Life'' at the Internet Broadway Database](_blank)
/ref> The original cast included Eddie Bracken and Butterfly McQueen.David O. Selznick
David O. Selznick (May 10, 1902June 22, 1965) was an American film producer, screenwriter and film studio executive who produced ''Gone with the Wind'' (1939) and ''Rebecca'' (1940), both of which earned him an Academy Award for Best Picture.
E ...
, saw McQueen in this production and recommended her to Selznick. She screen tested and was cast in the role of Prissy, Scarlett's maid, in '' Gone With the Wind'' (1939).
Revival
A 1982 attempted revival of ''What a Life'' at the Manhattan Punch Line failed. The production was panned in '' The New York Times'', with reviewer Mel Gussow writing: "The play is piffle. Far funnier efforts can be seen nightly in television reruns of situation comedies. Next to ''What a Life,'' ''Leave It to Beaver'' is Moliere."
Adaptations
The play was initially adapted to radio as comedy segments on Rudy Vallee's program. Next came a separate radio program, '' The Aldrich Family''. Film adaptation came in the form of 11 motion pictures. Finally, a television series, also called ''The Aldrich Family'', was broadcast for three seasons.
References
External links
Script of ''What a Life'' from Google Books
*{{IBDB title, 7948
1938 plays
Broadway plays
American plays adapted into films