Winter Journey

Summary

1962 BBC production of the American ‘backstage’ drama Winter Journey by Clifford Odets.

Theatre play

Winter Journey by Clifford Odets (1906-1963) [more information]

Play synopsis

Frank Elgin was once a Broadway star but now a reputed drunk. Bernie Dodd, director of a new play about to start rehearsal, believes he is still capable of captivating performance and is determined that the man he admired so much will make a comeback. A dramatic conflict develops between the director, his wife and the frightened actor.

Production history

First produced on Broadway in 1950 as The Country Girl, the title under which it was later filmed. Retitled Winter Journey, it opened at the St James’s Theatre in London in 1952.

Date of transmission

Friday 19 October 1962

Time

9.25-11.05pm

Channel

BBC Television

Production company

BBC

Credits

Producer

John Jacobs

Playwright

Clifford Odets (1906-1963)

Designer

Barry Learoyd

Cast

Eddie Albert	Frank Elgin
Jared Allen	Paul Unger
Peter Carlisle	Ralph
Sonia Fox	Nancy Stoddard
Alan Gifford	Phil Cook
Chuck Julian	Assistant Stage Manager
Patricia Neal	Georgie Elgin
Guy Kingsley Poynter	Larry
Sam Wanamaker	Bernie Dodd

Additional details

Extant status

No archival copy is known to exist.

Play tags

America, as theme or setting; American drama; theatre or acting, as theme

Print sources

Title

Radio Times, 11 October 1962 (Magazine)

Linking notes

illustrated article, p. 49; listing, p. 51