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Twentieth Century (play)

January 01, 1970

Twentieth Century is a 1932 play by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur based on the unproduced play Napoleon of Broadway by Charles B. Millholland, inspired by his experience working for the eccentric Broadway impresario David Belasco.

Twentieth Century
Poster for the 2004 revival
Written by
Date premieredDecember 29, 1932 (1932-12-29)
Place premieredBroadhurst Theatre,
New York City

Synopsis edit

The Hecht-MacArthur comedy is set in the observation car of the 20th Century Limited, travelling from Chicago to New York's Grand Central Terminal. Aboard the luxury train are egomaniacal theatre producer Oscar Jaffe, desperately in need of a hit, and his former paramour and protégé, temperamental actress Lily Garland (born Mildred Plotka), who abandoned him for a Hollywood career. Oscar is determined to sign her for his new show, and Lily is just as determined to ignore his advances, both professional and personal.

Richard Maney edit

Richard Maney, an American theatrical press publicity agent, was satirized in the play.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]

Productions edit

The first Broadway production, directed by George Abbott, opened on December 29, 1932 at the Broadhurst Theatre, where it ran for 152 performances. Moffat Johnston and Eugenie Leontovich were the stars, with William Frawley in a featured role.[14] It was adapted for a critically acclaimed film adaptation of the same name two years later.

The play has been revived on Broadway twice. The first, directed by José Ferrer, opened on December 24, 1950 at the ANTA Playhouse, where it ran for 233 performances. The production starred Ferrer as Oscar and Gloria Swanson, who designed her own gowns, as Lily. Werner Klemperer and Edward Platt were also in the cast.[15]

The second revival, an adaptation by Ken Ludwig directed by Walter Bobbie, opened on March 25, 2004, at the Roundabout Theatre Company's American Airlines Theatre, where it ran for 27 previews and 84 performances. Alec Baldwin and Anne Heche headed a cast that included Dan Butler, Tom Aldredge and Julie Halston.[16] Tony Award nominations went to Heche and Aldredge, and the production earned a Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Set Design of a Play.[17]

Adaptations edit

Film edit

Hecht and MacArthur adapted their play for the 1934 screwball comedy Twentieth Century, directed by Howard Hawks and starring John Barrymore and Carole Lombard.[18]

Radio edit

Orson Welles, Sam Levene and Elissa Landi starred in The Campbell Playhouse radio adaptation of Twentieth Century, broadcast March 24, 1939, on CBS Radio.[1]

Television edit

Twentieth Century has been presented on television at least three times:

Musical edit

On the Twentieth Century, a musical adaptation of the play by Betty Comden, Adolph Green and Cy Coleman, opened on Broadway on February 19, 1978, with John Cullum and Madeline Kahn as the stars. It was directed by Harold Prince and played for 11 previews and 449 performances.[20]

References edit

  1. ^ a b
    • "Twentieth Century · Orson Welles on the Air, 1938-1946". orsonwelles.indiana.edu. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
    • . RadioGOLDINdex. Retrieved 2015-04-04.
    • "The Campbell Playhouse". Internet Archive. Retrieved 2015-04-04.
    • The Campbell Playhouse. March 24, 1939. CBS radio. "Twentieth Century". Sponsored by: Campbell's Soup. The comedy by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur, set in a cross-country train. A Hollywood producer and a star clash on rails. Guest is Richard Maney, a real-life press agent who was satirized in the story. Charles MacArthur (author), Bernard Herrmann (composer, conductor), Edgar Kent, Elissa Landi, Ernest Chappell (announcer), Everett Sloane, Gus Schilling, Howard Teichmann (editor), Orson Welles (host), Ray Collins (narrator), Richard Maney (guest), Sam Levene, Ben Hecht (author), Alan Reed (billed as Teddy Bergman). 58:53.
  2. ^ Maney, Richard (1957). Fanfare: The Confessions of a Press Agent. Harper. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  3. ^ "Richard Maney". LIFE. Time Inc. 14 May 1945. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  4. ^ "Richard Maney – Broadway Cast & Staff | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  5. ^ "Richard Maney". NYPL Digital Collections. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  6. ^ https://playbill.com/article/frank-goodman-press-agent-during-broadways-golden-age-dies-at-89-com-130702
  7. ^ https://playbill.com/article/the-book-shelf-tales-of-a-broadway-flack-and-photos-and-poems-by-the-harnicks-in-the-outdoor-museum-com-197655
  8. ^ "A Night at the '21' Club". emuseum.nyhistory.org. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  9. ^ "Vincent Sardi Jr.: 1915 – 2007". Chicago Tribune. 2007-01-05. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  10. ^ Gibbs, Wolcott (1941-10-03). "THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS WRONG". The New Yorker. ISSN 0028-792X. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  11. ^ "Richard Maney, Theatrical Press Agent, Dies at 77". The New York Times. 1968-07-02. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  12. ^ "1946 - AL HIRSCHFELD CARTOON DRAWING - RICHARD MANEY BEATS THE DRUM PRESS AGENT | #497119707". Worthpoint. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  13. ^ "The Theatre: Portrait of a Press Agent". Time. 1940-01-08. ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved 2024-03-07.
  14. ^ "Twentieth Century (1932 production)". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
  15. ^ "Twentieth Century (1950 production)". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
  16. ^ Hernandex, Ernio. "Baldwin and Heche Pull Into the Broadway Station With New 'Twentieth Century', Opening March 25" playbill.com, March 25, 2004
  17. ^ "Twentieth Century (2004 production)". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
  18. ^ "Twentieth Century". AFI Catalog of Feature Films. Retrieved 2015-04-04.
  19. ^ TCM Notes
  20. ^ "On the Twentieth Century". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.

External links edit

  • Twentieth Century plot summary and character descriptions from StageAgent.com
  • ​Twentieth Century​ at the Internet Broadway Database  

January 01, 1970
twentieth, century, play, twentieth, century, 1932, play, hecht, charles, macarthur, based, unproduced, play, napoleon, broadway, charles, millholland, inspired, experience, working, eccentric, broadway, impresario, david, belasco, twentieth, centuryposter, 20. Twentieth Century is a 1932 play by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur based on the unproduced play Napoleon of Broadway by Charles B Millholland inspired by his experience working for the eccentric Broadway impresario David Belasco Twentieth CenturyPoster for the 2004 revivalWritten byBen Hecht Charles MacArthurDate premieredDecember 29 1932 1932 12 29 Place premieredBroadhurst Theatre New York City Contents 1 Synopsis 2 Richard Maney 3 Productions 4 Adaptations 4 1 Film 4 2 Radio 4 3 Television 4 4 Musical 5 References 6 External linksSynopsis editThe Hecht MacArthur comedy is set in the observation car of the 20th Century Limited travelling from Chicago to New York s Grand Central Terminal Aboard the luxury train are egomaniacal theatre producer Oscar Jaffe desperately in need of a hit and his former paramour and protege temperamental actress Lily Garland born Mildred Plotka who abandoned him for a Hollywood career Oscar is determined to sign her for his new show and Lily is just as determined to ignore his advances both professional and personal Richard Maney editRichard Maney an American theatrical press publicity agent was satirized in the play 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Productions editThe first Broadway production directed by George Abbott opened on December 29 1932 at the Broadhurst Theatre where it ran for 152 performances Moffat Johnston and Eugenie Leontovich were the stars with William Frawley in a featured role 14 It was adapted for a critically acclaimed film adaptation of the same name two years later The play has been revived on Broadway twice The first directed by Jose Ferrer opened on December 24 1950 at the ANTA Playhouse where it ran for 233 performances The production starred Ferrer as Oscar and Gloria Swanson who designed her own gowns as Lily Werner Klemperer and Edward Platt were also in the cast 15 The second revival an adaptation by Ken Ludwig directed by Walter Bobbie opened on March 25 2004 at the Roundabout Theatre Company s American Airlines Theatre where it ran for 27 previews and 84 performances Alec Baldwin and Anne Heche headed a cast that included Dan Butler Tom Aldredge and Julie Halston 16 Tony Award nominations went to Heche and Aldredge and the production earned a Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Set Design of a Play 17 Adaptations editFilm edit Hecht and MacArthur adapted their play for the 1934 screwball comedy Twentieth Century directed by Howard Hawks and starring John Barrymore and Carole Lombard 18 Radio edit Orson Welles Sam Levene and Elissa Landi starred in The Campbell Playhouse radio adaptation of Twentieth Century broadcast March 24 1939 on CBS Radio 1 Television edit Twentieth Century has been presented on television at least three times On October 7 1949 the Ford Theatre production with Fredric March and Lilli Palmer under the direction of Marc Daniels On October 12 1953 the Broadway Television Theatre version directed by Robert St Aubrey and starring Fred Clark and Constance Bennett On April 7 1956 the Ford Star Jubilee presentation produced by Arthur Schwartz and starring Orson Welles and Betty Grable 19 Musical edit On the Twentieth Century a musical adaptation of the play by Betty Comden Adolph Green and Cy Coleman opened on Broadway on February 19 1978 with John Cullum and Madeline Kahn as the stars It was directed by Harold Prince and played for 11 previews and 449 performances 20 References edit a b Twentieth Century Orson Welles on the Air 1938 1946 orsonwelles indiana edu Retrieved 8 September 2023 https web archive org web 20180506035555 https orsonwelles indiana edu wowza4 welles definist mp4 122 high mp4 122 high m3u8 The Campbell Playhouse RadioGOLDINdex Retrieved 2015 04 04 The Campbell Playhouse Internet Archive Retrieved 2015 04 04 The Campbell Playhouse March 24 1939 CBS radio Twentieth Century Sponsored by Campbell s Soup The comedy by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur set in a cross country train A Hollywood producer and a star clash on rails Guest is Richard Maney a real life press agent who was satirized in the story Charles MacArthur author Bernard Herrmann composer conductor Edgar Kent Elissa Landi Ernest Chappell announcer Everett Sloane Gus Schilling Howard Teichmann editor Orson Welles host Ray Collins narrator Richard Maney guest Sam Levene Ben Hecht author Alan Reed billed as Teddy Bergman 58 53 Maney Richard 1957 Fanfare The Confessions of a Press Agent Harper Retrieved 9 September 2023 Richard Maney LIFE Time Inc 14 May 1945 Retrieved 9 September 2023 Richard Maney Broadway Cast amp Staff IBDB www ibdb com Retrieved 2024 03 07 Richard Maney NYPL Digital Collections Retrieved 2024 03 07 https playbill com article frank goodman press agent during broadways golden age dies at 89 com 130702 https playbill com article the book shelf tales of a broadway flack and photos and poems by the harnicks in the outdoor museum com 197655 A Night at the 21 Club emuseum nyhistory org Retrieved 2024 03 07 Vincent Sardi Jr 1915 2007 Chicago Tribune 2007 01 05 Retrieved 2024 03 07 Gibbs Wolcott 1941 10 03 THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS WRONG The New Yorker ISSN 0028 792X Retrieved 2024 03 07 Richard Maney Theatrical Press Agent Dies at 77 The New York Times 1968 07 02 ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved 2024 03 07 1946 AL HIRSCHFELD CARTOON DRAWING RICHARD MANEY BEATS THE DRUM PRESS AGENT 497119707 Worthpoint Retrieved 2024 03 07 The Theatre Portrait of a Press Agent Time 1940 01 08 ISSN 0040 781X Retrieved 2024 03 07 Twentieth Century 1932 production IBDB com Internet Broadway Database Twentieth Century 1950 production IBDB com Internet Broadway Database Hernandex Ernio Baldwin and Heche Pull Into the Broadway Station With New Twentieth Century Opening March 25 playbill com March 25 2004 Twentieth Century 2004 production IBDB com Internet Broadway Database Twentieth Century AFI Catalog of Feature Films Retrieved 2015 04 04 TCM Notes On the Twentieth Century IBDB com Internet Broadway Database External links editTwentieth Century plot summary and character descriptions from StageAgent com Twentieth Century at the Internet Broadway Database nbsp Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Twentieth Century play amp oldid 1212362027, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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