Mister Roberts

UNDERTAKING SUCH A PROJECT such as this was a definite bit of risky business. Although the big screen adaptation of what began life as a novel and then on Broadway, it is the movie of Director John Ford that forever occupies the lion's share of our memories.

BOASTING OF THE outstanding cast of Henry Fonda, James Cagney, William Powell and young upstart Jack Lemmon, the film has the aura of a true All Star epic. Blending in near perfection, the major players are equally met in their efforts by the supporting actors including, but not limited to: Ward Bond, Lee Marvin, Betsy Palmer, Claude Akins, Nick Adams and Ken Curtis.

MUSTERING UP THE equivalence of the cast for this TV stage production, the roster included names that were at the top of their game and in demand at that time. Names such as: Robert Hayes, Charles Durning, Kevin Bacon, Marilu Henner and Howard Hessman.

THE PLAY WAS very faithful and closely paralleled the screenplay. As we remember, it was well received and did a good job of filling out the 100 minutes of airtime allotted to it by NBC.

OTHER THAN THE familiar story, this MISTER ROBERTS the unique distinction of being done live and going out that way; a format little used on Network TV since the dawning of the videotape era in 1958.

AND TO US, we'd truly enjoy seeing more of such experimental projects, how about you, Schultz?