Alas, Babylon (Playhouse 90)

"Alas, Babylon"
Playhouse 90 episode
Don Murray and Barbara Rush in CBS publicity still for "Alas, Babylon"
Episode no.Season 4
Episode 13
Directed byRobert Stevens
Written byDavid Shaw
Original air dateApril 3, 1960 (1960-04-03)
Running time90 minutes
Guest appearances
Episode chronology
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"Alas, Babylon" was an American television play broadcast on April 3, 1960, as part of the CBS television series, Playhouse 90. It was the 13th 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.

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]

The cast included Don Murray as Randy Bragg, Barbara Rush as Liz, Kim Hunter as Helen Bragg, Dana Andrews as Mark Bragg, Everett Sloane as Dr. Gunn, Rita Moreno as Rita Herndon, and Burt Reynolds as Ace.[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. ^ a b "Don Murray Stars In Nuclear War Drama". The Daily Reporter. April 2, 1960 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ UCLA Festival of Preservation 03.05.15 - 03.30.15 (PDF). Festival of Preservation. 2015. Retrieved 2020-12-06.
  3. ^ John P. Shanley (April 4, 1960). "'Alas, Babylon' Moral Cloaked in Horror". The New York Times. p. 59.
  4. ^ John Crosby (April 6, 1960). "New TV Fad --- It's a Bye-Bye World'". Oakland Tribune – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Charlie Wadsworth (April 4, 1960). "Alas, Babylon As Seen By Author Frank". The Orlando Sentinel. p. 8B – via Newspapers.com.