Did You Know?
Burt Lancaster actively campaigned to play the alcoholic husband in this film, even though he was younger than the character, Doc, who was in his mid-fifties. 'Sidney Blackmer', who had played the part on Broadway in the original production, was 18 years older than Lancaster, and Shirley Booth was 15 years his senior. The role of Doc was coveted by Humphrey Bogart, who was the right age, but Bogart lost out to Lancaster due to studio politics, despite the fact that he had just turned in his Oscar-winning performance in The African Queen.
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Sidney Blackmer won the 1950 Tony Award (New York City) for Actor in a Drama for "Come Back, Little Sheba" for his portrayal of Doc.
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The original Broadway production of production of "Come Back, Little Sheba" by William Inge opened at the Booth Theater in New York on February 15, 1950 and ran for 190 performances. Shirley Booth won the 1950 Tony Award (New York City) for Actress in a Drama for portraying Lola on stage and then recreated the role in the film version.
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"Theater Guild on the Air" broadcast a 60 minute radio adaptation of the movie on February 4, 1951 with Shirley Booth reprising her film role.
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