Many people know the story of "Our Town", a play written by Thorton Wilder. This is a video cassette of the May 1977 NBC Tv special of "Our Town" with Hal Holbrook, Ned Beatty, Barbara Bel Geddes, Robby Benson, Sada Thompson, Sada Thompson, Glynsis O'Connor, and other Tv and stage personalities from the mid 1970s.
This version was created after two failed attempts at putting "Our Town" on the Tv/Movie screens. In 1940, Hollywood produced the movie "Our Town" which I called the "Wizard of Oz" version for reasons that can be explained if you read that review. In 1954, Frank Sinatra, Eva Marie Saint, and Paul Newman did a "musical" version of Acts I and II. Throton Wilder was so disgusted with both, he started working with tv producers to create a definitive version of his play in the early 1970s. Wilder passed away in late 1975, but in the months prior to his death, he and producers tried to work out the dream. Although Wilder died, his dream was answered in 1977.
The casting was almost perfect. Ned Beatty is a great character actor, and he really fits the part. Hal Holbrooke creates the perfect Stage Manager, and using a empty tv studio actually gives the impression of seeing reality. We are told it is a play, but the studio gives the impression that it is a recap of a time traveler/historian that the Stage Manager was.
The following is a spoiler comparison of 1977 and 1989's Our Town
(Spoiler) My favorite Act is Act III because of Emily discovering how short and significant life could have been. I thought Glynsis O'Connor did this best. When Emily accepts death, she is very tranquil about it. The 1989 version with Penelope Ann Miller was good too, but her Emily feels trapped forever, while O'Connor's Emily was content with what she had and realized it was over. Another thing about the two Emilys was in Act I of both 1940 and 1977, both Scott's and O'Connor's Emily is playful with George and shy, while Penelope Ann Miller's Emily is hitting on George from the very beginning.
Again a great play, if you can see many versions of this play -- see them. But try to see the 1977 version first and then keep your mind open if you like.
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