Steve Allen begins this ambitious television series with efficient skill, informing the viewer that his lofty goal is inspired by an opening scene in "Dante's Inferno" volume, bringing together great figures of the past to be together in the present for informative debate. He's scripted what the four actors will say, as well as his own questions and remarks as the interviewer, and yet the hour flies past with an uncanny combination of colloquial dialogue delivery expressing densely written barrages of historical facts.
I think that what makes it work is that the actors use their skill to create believable historical characters who, however pompous they may sound at times (Thomas Paine in particular is cast as an antagonist and bomb-thrower among the foursome, perhaps to fulfill his "rebel" stereotype) they are each convincing despite the simplification of them all being so spontaneous speaking the English language.
Thomas Aquinas emerges properly as the philosopher of the group, and his retorts to a barrage of criticism from Paine is a model of dealing out zingers without ever being offensive. Teddy Roosevelt is less of a caricature than one would expect, and includes in his comments little-known facts and anecdotes. Allen's wife Jayne Meadows as Queen Cleopatra is properly affected (I suppose channelling a bit of Liz Taylor) but also politically astute to represent a true world leader of her time. The most difficult of these roles, Paine as all bluster and high-handedness, is fine acting by Joe Sirola, such a familiar figure from so many varied tv series of the era.
This was a lofty concept, well-realized by Allen and his team, and certainly ripe for a new version by anyone with the guts (and talent) to mount it, from a Shonda Rhimes to an Aaron Sorkin.
I think that what makes it work is that the actors use their skill to create believable historical characters who, however pompous they may sound at times (Thomas Paine in particular is cast as an antagonist and bomb-thrower among the foursome, perhaps to fulfill his "rebel" stereotype) they are each convincing despite the simplification of them all being so spontaneous speaking the English language.
Thomas Aquinas emerges properly as the philosopher of the group, and his retorts to a barrage of criticism from Paine is a model of dealing out zingers without ever being offensive. Teddy Roosevelt is less of a caricature than one would expect, and includes in his comments little-known facts and anecdotes. Allen's wife Jayne Meadows as Queen Cleopatra is properly affected (I suppose channelling a bit of Liz Taylor) but also politically astute to represent a true world leader of her time. The most difficult of these roles, Paine as all bluster and high-handedness, is fine acting by Joe Sirola, such a familiar figure from so many varied tv series of the era.
This was a lofty concept, well-realized by Allen and his team, and certainly ripe for a new version by anyone with the guts (and talent) to mount it, from a Shonda Rhimes to an Aaron Sorkin.