Alas, Babylon (Playhouse 90)
| "Alas, Babylon" | |
|---|---|
| Playhouse 90 episode | |
.jpg) Don Murray and Barbara Rush in CBS publicity still for "Alas, Babylon" | |
| Episode no. | Season 4 Episode 13 |
| Directed by | Robert Stevens |
| Written by | David Shaw |
| Original air date | April 3, 1960 |
| Running time | 90 minutes |
| Guest appearances | |
| |
"Alas, Babylon" is an American television play broadcast on April 3, 1960, as part of the CBS television series, Playhouse 90. It is the thirteenth episode of the fourth season of Playhouse 90.
Plot
A nuclear war is triggered when a young Navy pilot accidentally blows up a port in a foreign country during a time of heightened tensions, and the Soviet Union fires its missiles. The missiles destroy the American Midwest and most of the eastern United States.
The story follows residents of a small Florida town and how they react after learning of a massive nuclear attack that has killed 92% of the world's population.
Cast
- Don Murray as Randy Bragg
- Kim Hunter as Helen Bragg
- Dana Andrews as Mark Bragg
- Barbara Rush as Liz
- Everett Sloane as Dr. Gunn
- Rita Moreno as Rita Herndon
- Burt Reynolds as Ace[1]
Production
Peter Kortner was the producer. Robert Stevens was the director. David Shaw wrote the teleplay, based on the novel, Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank.[1]
A copy of Alas, Babylon is preserved at the UCLA Film and Television Archive. It was transferred from the original 2-inch master tape at the CBS Media Exchange and was shown on March 28, 2015 as part of the 17th Annual Festival of Preservation.[2]
Reception
In The New York Times, John P. Shanley praised the "dramatic efficiency" and "technically excellent presentation," but questioned the judgment of presenting the "unwarranted horror" of a Soviet nuclear attack, all depicted "in chilling detail."[3]
John Crosby of the New York Herald Tribune called it "an excellent production" with " splendid cast."[4]
TV critic Charlie Wadsworth called it "a very shattering and forceful presentation".[5]
References
- 1 2 "Don Murray Stars In Nuclear War Drama". The Daily Reporter. April 2, 1960 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ UCLA Festival of Preservation 03.05.15 - 03.30.15 (PDF). Festival of Preservation. 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
- ↑ John P. Shanley (April 4, 1960). "'Alas, Babylon' Moral Cloaked in Horror". The New York Times. p. 59.
- ↑ John Crosby (April 6, 1960). "New TV Fad --- It's a Bye-Bye World". Oakland Tribune – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ Charlie Wadsworth (April 4, 1960). "Alas, Babylon As Seen By Author Frank". The Orlando Sentinel. p. 8B – via Newspapers.com.