The Alcoa Hour (TV Series) Tragedy in a Temporary Town (1956) User Reviews

Gripping drama

[Woodyanders · 8/10 · 29 July 2015]

Fifteen-year-old girl Dotty Fisher (a touching portrayal by Betty Lou Keim) gets assaulted at a construction camp. In the wake of this incident, the construction workers form a vigilante group led by the hot-heated Frank Doran (expertly played with considerable forceful presence by Jack Warden) to find the person responsible for this crime. After the group erroneously assumes that innocent Puerto Rican Raphael Infante (a fine turn by Rafael Campos) is guilty, only one lone man named Alec Beggs (a strong and sympathetic performance by Lloyd Bridges) dares to stand up to the angry mob.

Director Sidney Lumet keeps the absorbing story moving along at a brisk pace, builds plenty of nerve-ratting tension, and vividly evokes the stifling atmosphere of an extremely small self-enclosed community. Reginald Rose's trenchant script astutely explores the dangers inherent in the lynch mob mentality as well as addresses the issue of racial prejudice in an intelligent and provocative manner. The excellent acting by the tip-top cast keeps this show humming: Bridges and Warden both excel in their meaty roles, with sturdy support from Milton Seltzer as slimy troublemaker Pike, Edward Binns as the dutiful Anderson, Robert Emhardt as Dotty's easygoing dad Matt, and Jane White as Alec's worried wife Dolores. Recommended viewing.

An interesting variation on "12 Angry Men"

[planktonrules · 9/10 · 6 November 2019]

Reginald Rose is the author of the screenplay for both the television version of the story (1954) and the later movie version (1957). In between both of these he also wrote "Tragedy in a Temporary Town"....a story much like his "12 Angry Men" combined with the great western "The Ox-bow Incident".

When the story begins, a young girl tells her family she's been assaulted at a local construction site. Instead of contacting the police, the construction workers form a vigilante group and soon a crazed mob mentality sets in with them. Only one is willing to buck them when he calls for reason.

The story has so many similarities to "12 Angry Men"---a group rushing to judgement, bigotry against Hispanic Americans, a great ensemble cast of character actors (several of which were also in "12 Angry Men"), a great look at the ugly side of human nature. And, like "The Ox-Bow Incident", there is a lynch mob and they seem more interested in punishing SOMEONE regardless of whether or not they are actually guilty. But the one similarity is shares with both movies is that it's a quality production...well written and acted throughout.

So how can you see this excellent teleplay? Either find the Criterion DVD for "12 Angry Men" (it's an extra on the disc) or check the Criterion Channel...where currently it's available.