Playhouse 90 (TV Series) The Velvet Alley (1959) User Reviews

A sad look at success.

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 20 February 2024]

"The Velvet Alley" is a teleplay written by Rod Serling. During the 1950s, Serling was the 'wonder boy' of TV writers, creating many classic and Emmy winning shows well before his most famous creation, "The Twilight Zone". And, in many ways, the story seems to be rather autobiographical---talking about all the pitfalls that happen when you first taste success...such as firing your agent and losing your marriage, though in Serling's case, his marriage fortunately survived this period.

The one is well acted, never dull and a nice look into success and loss in the life of a hot new writer. Well worth seeing.

Is that supposed to be entertainment?

[searchanddestroy-1 · 7 February 2015]

What a terrific expose of what the true face of behind the scene actual ly is, in the entertainment industry. The tale of a hard working screenplayer who stops at nothing to be at the top, surrounded by wolves, jackals, cut-throats rotten people he will have to trust to succeed. Rod Serling did a magnificent job here, so much as we may suppose that it's here a sort of autobiography. The entertainment jungle. Leslie Nielsen is outstanding as a supporting character, but the lead one played by Art Carney is much convincing too. The evolution of this very character from the beginning to the end is truly outstanding. A magnificent piece of work, directed by the future great Franklin Schaffner. A lost must see if you can catch it.

Playhouse 90 - The Velvet Alley

[mjonczak-1 · 10/10 · 5 April 2019]

I watched this episode from the Playhouse 90 series from the 50's. Viewed it on Amazon Prime. I almost stopped watching it because the image was so poor (old kinetoscope version) but it did get better as the show progressed. It was wonderful watching truly great actors in the beginning of their careers. Art Carney was fabulous as a 42 yr old writer who finally breaks into the big-time as a Hollywood scriptwriter. Jack Klugman, Carney's agent was equally great. Leslie Nielsen did a nice job as the alcoholic tv producer. Dylan Cannon must have been a teenager because she looked younger than I've ever seen her. The supporting actors did a magnificent job as well. People who know Rod Serling (the scriptwriter of this show) might be surprised that he was a great writer even before The Twilight Zone series was televised in the early 60's. The transition of Art Carney from unknown writer to one of Hollywood's top scriptwriters was extremely moving. Serling's writing and Carney's acting was why I gave this show 10 stars