Max wrote <<<< I don't remember what Red Skelton did in the play, whether or not he was approached to replace Ed Wynn or had been called in to talk to the old man, but Skelton was discovered and mentored by Ed Wynn in real life. >>>>
Red had a small but pivotal role, towards the end of the play he visits Ed on the set for the final rehearsal run through and timing, When Red playing himself notices that Wynn is drunk he tries to sober him up giving him coffee dispatched by a vending machine back stage. Red also assures the directors that he'll be fine come show time and do well, which he does closing out this splendid showcase of the relationship between a father and son both in show business.
Max also wrote << Everyone in the TV version of REQUIEM was better than the corresponding actor in the film yet the film is perfect in its way too. This is a little bit of TV history seemingly lost forever. If they ever do a retrospective of Rod Serling or Playhouse 90 or issue something on whatever format that succeeds DVD they should package the TV and film versions of REQUIEM and add this to the mix. >>>
Agreed on all counts, it was almost surreal to see Rod as an actor in this play as opposed to his more customary narrator or host duties. Good thing he was a gifted writer with an distinctive voice because he wouldn't have made it as an actor, he was very robotic and seemed to have forced it.
Red had a small but pivotal role, towards the end of the play he visits Ed on the set for the final rehearsal run through and timing, When Red playing himself notices that Wynn is drunk he tries to sober him up giving him coffee dispatched by a vending machine back stage. Red also assures the directors that he'll be fine come show time and do well, which he does closing out this splendid showcase of the relationship between a father and son both in show business.
Max also wrote << Everyone in the TV version of REQUIEM was better than the corresponding actor in the film yet the film is perfect in its way too. This is a little bit of TV history seemingly lost forever. If they ever do a retrospective of Rod Serling or Playhouse 90 or issue something on whatever format that succeeds DVD they should package the TV and film versions of REQUIEM and add this to the mix. >>>
Agreed on all counts, it was almost surreal to see Rod as an actor in this play as opposed to his more customary narrator or host duties. Good thing he was a gifted writer with an distinctive voice because he wouldn't have made it as an actor, he was very robotic and seemed to have forced it.