Steambath (TV 1973)

TV adaptation of Bruce Jay Friedman's off-Broadway play. Tandy, Merideth and assorted others unexpectedly wake up in a steambath with no easy exit. After spending some time there, it ... See full summary »

Director:

Burt Brinckerhoff

Writer:

Bruce Jay Friedman

Stars:

Stephen Elliott, Bill Bixby, Herb Edelman

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview:
Stephen Elliott	...	Oldtimer
Bill Bixby	...	Tandy
Herb Edelman	...	Bieberman
Neil J. Schwartz	...	Young Man (as Neil Schwartz)
Patrick Spohn	...	Young Man
Peter Kastner	...	Gottlieb
Valerie Perrine	...	Meredith
Kenneth Mars	...	Broker
José Pérez	...	Attendant (as Jose Perez)
Art Metrano	...	Longshoreman
Shirley Kirkes	...	Young Girl
Biff Elliot	...	Flanders

Storyline

TV adaptation of Bruce Jay Friedman's off-Broadway play. Tandy, Merideth and assorted others unexpectedly wake up in a steambath with no easy exit. After spending some time there, it becomes clear that the steambath is a sort of Afterlife, where indifferent souls come to tell their stories to God who happens to be the attendant picking up the towels.

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Plot Keywords:

afterlife | towel | janitor | steam bath | television within film | 

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Taglines:

They Found God In A Steambath

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Genres:

Drama | Fantasy

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 May 1973 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hollywood Television Theatre

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This was the first American-produced television program to feature nudity. PBS already had broadcast British-produced programs featuring nude scenes.

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Connections

References The Dick Cavett Show (1968)

User Reviews

If you like good dialogue you will love this

I saw this a long time ago and never forgot it. I think it was some sort of take off of Jean Paul Satrtes "No Exit"....

But won't spoil it for you, watch the play, folks. The acting, the script, the characterizations, all were excellent. My personal favorite was "Jesus". Very funny, not for the religiously rigid, I must say!!!

Bruce Jay Friedman was the author, this was his second play, and very intelligently written. Wish all comedies were so. Great thinking on a touchy subject, it is not to be missed by the mystically flexible. And really fun to watch.

I am going to make it a part of my collection, been telling people about it for years.