The Drunkard; or, The Fallen Saved

Summary

Associated-Rediffusion production for ITV of The Drunkard; or, The Fallen Saved.

Theatre play

The Drunkard; or, The Fallen Saved by William H. Smith [more information]

Play synopsis

A 19th-century American melodrama and temperance play in five acts, described in the TV Times of 9 December 1955, p. 21, thus: ‘Tempted to excesses by one he believes to be his friend, Edward Middleton - with a weakness for brandy - is brought to the gutter, dragging with him his beloved wife and child’. Synopsis: ‘The villainous Lawyer Cribbs has long held a grudge against the Middleton family, even though he has served as their attorney. When young Edward Middleton’s father dies, Cribbs attempts to persuade Edward to dispossess a poor mother and daughter who are Middleton’s tenants. Instead, Edward falls in love with the daughter, Mary, and marries her. But Edward has a weakness: drink. Cribbs insidiously encourages Edward’s weakness, until Edward, ashamed and seemingly impoverished, flees to the degradation of New York’s Five Points district. Cribbs follows him there and attempts to turn him into a forger, but Edward’s better nature prevails. Edward’s foster brother William and a rich philanthropist, Arden Rencelaw, seek him out, rehabilitate him, and reunite him with his wife and young daughter. Cribbs is forced to reveal that he has hidden Edward’s grandfather’s will and that Edward is really still a wealthy man’ (source: http://www.answers.com/topic/the-drunkard).

Production history

First performed in 1844, this was possibly the most popular play produced in the United States before the dramatization of Uncle Tom’s Cabin in the 1850s.

Date of transmission

Tuesday 13 December 1955

Time

9.30pm

Series

Granville Melodramas

Channel

ITV

Production company

Associated-Rediffusion (1955-1964)

Credits

Director

Cyril Butcher

Producer

Maurice Browning

Playwright

William H. Smith

Adaptor of Script

Juan Cortez

Musician

Peter Moffat (played incidental music)

Musician

Ruth Pearl (played incidental music)

Sets / Settings

Henry Federer

Cast

John Bailey	Edward Middleton
Thane Bettany	Bank Messenger / Policeman
Erik Chitty (1907-1977)	Lawyer Cribbs
Kenneth Gilbert	William Downton
Victoria Grayson	Agnes Downton
Hattie Jacques	Mrs Wilson
Barry Knight	Boy
John Le Mesurier	Mr Rencelaw
Pat Rowsell	Julia Middleton
Helen Shingler	Mary Wilson

Additional details

Extant status

No archival copy is known to exist.

Play tags

19th-century setting; alcoholism; American drama; melodrama

Print sources

Title

Aspicks’ Tongues (Newspaper review)

Author/creator

Maurice Richardson (Reviewer)

Reference

The Observer, 18 December 1955, p. 9

Title

TV Times, 9 December 1955 (Magazine)

Linking notes

listing on p. 21