Forbidden Area

For the Playhouse 90 production, see Forbidden Area (Playhouse 90).
First edition
(publ. J. B. Lippincott Company)
Cover art by Ed Valigursky

Forbidden Area is a 1956 Cold War thriller novel by Pat Frank. Its plot involves Soviet sleeper agents intended to sabotage the U.S. war effort, who have been trained by classical conditioning to have an American "cover identity" that they can remember as well as their own.[1]

Frank was asked to write a book about a Russian invasion. He said he was inspired by German troops landing in Florida in World War Two.[2]

It was published in a magazine in serialized form as Seven Days to Never.

The New York Times said it "isn't exciting at all".[3]

TV rights were bought by Martin Manulis.[4]

1956 TV adaptation

Main article: Forbidden Area (Playhouse 90)

In October 1956, CBS broadcast an adaptation of the novel as the first episode of its Playhouse 90 series.

Other proposed versions

CBS had an option to purchase the film rights.[5]

In 1963, it was announced Irving Asher and Ely Landau would turn the novel into a film.[6] The film version was not produced.

See also

References

  1. ^ Seed, David (2004). Brainwashing: A Study in Cold War Demonology. Kent State University Press. p. 51. ISBN 978-0-87338-813-9.
  2. ^ "Pat Frank, Alert, Full of Timely Themes" Hansen, Harry. Chicago Daily Tribune 15 April 1956: g12.
  3. ^ "Books of The Times: Global Nightmare for a Subject Theory of Life and Courage" by Orville Prescott. New York Times 28 March 1956: 29.
  4. ^ "Pat Frank Novel Bought for Video: 'Forbidden Area' Acquired by Manulis for 'Playhouse 90' --'Web' Producer Named" New York Times 10 May 1956: 63.
  5. ^ "New Disney Movie to Go to Theatres" by Thomas M. Pryor, The New York Times 22 October 1956: 25.
  6. ^ "Shooting at 20th Starts on Schedule: 'Take Her, She's Mine' Rolls; Axelrod to Walk 'Starpath'" by Scheuer, Philip K. Los Angeles Times 24 April 1963:


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