The 80 Yard Run (Playhouse 90)

"The 80 Yard Run"

Playhouse 90 episode

Paul Newman in "The 80 Yard Run"

Episode no.

Season 2
Episode 19

Directed by

Franklin Schaffner

Written by

David Shaw (adaptation), Irwin Shaw (story)

Original air date

January 16, 1958

Guest appearances

Paul Newman as Christian Darling
Joanne Woodward as Louise Darling

Episode chronology

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"The Last Man"

Next →
"Before I Die"

"The 80 Yard Run" is an American television play broadcast on January 16, 1958, as part of the second season of the CBS television series Playhouse 90. Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward co-starred. Franklin Schaffner directed, and David Shaw wrote the teleplay as an adaptation of a story written by his brother Irwin Shaw.

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Transcription

Plot

A college freshman, Christian Darling, runs 80 yards for a touchdown to establish himself as a star. His girlfriend, Louise, is a rich and beautiful girl. The two marry, but Christian's football career falters after an injury. Louise's career working at a magazine is very successful. Christian is frustrated by his inability to support Louise, and the marriage fails.

Cast

The following performers received screen credit for their performances:^[1]

Paul Newman - Christian Darling
Joanne Woodward - Louise Darling
Darryl Hickman - Herbie
Robert F. Simon - Sam
Richard Anderson - Pete
Red Sanders - Coach (UCLA football coach)

Production

David Shaw wrote the teleplay, as an adaptation of a story by his brother, Irwin Shaw.^[2] The story originally appeared in the May 1955 issue of Playboy magazine. Franklin Schaffner directed. Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward starred.^[1]^[3]

Prior to the broadcast, Woodward expressed concern about the production: "We agreed to do it because Paul loved the story so much. But I think they have stretched it too much, padded it."^[4]

On January 29, 1958, 13 days after their appearance in The 80 Yard Run, Newman and Woodward were married by a judge in a bungalow at the El Rancho Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.^[5] They also appeared on screen later in the year in the film The Long, Hot Summer.^[6]

UCLA football head coach Red Sanders made his acting debut in the production. He played the part of a college football coach.^[7]

Reception

In The New York Times, John P. Shanley praised that the "sensitive and effective" performances of Newman and Woodward, and opined that the "expert direction" of Franklin Schaffner, "gave distinction to what might otherwise have been a routine presentation."^[2]

United Press television critic William Ewald rated it as the best offering from Playhouse 90's second season. He was especially effusive in his praise of Newman and Woodward: "I don't think it would be possible to heap too much praise upon Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward . . . Newman and Miss Woodward turned out a team performance that spoke of deep respect for each other's craft, a meshing together that indicated understanding of their parts and, I imagine, lots or rehearsal sweat."^[8]

A review in the Los Angeles Times called it a "remarkable story" with the "ingredients of a great show."^[9]

References

^ ^a ^b "Playhouse 90, Season 2". Classic TV Archive. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
^ ^a ^b John P. Shanley (January 17, 1958). "TV: 'Eighty-Yard Run'; Paul Newman Is Unhappy Star, Joanne Woodward His Wife in Shaw Story". The New York Times. p. 47.
^ "TV: 'Eighty-Yard Run'; Paul Newman Is Unhappy Star, Joanne Woodward His Wife in Shaw Story". The New York Times. January 17, 1958. p. 47.
^ Cecil Smith (January 16, 1958). "Recommending a Show Is Risky". Los Angeles Times. p. II-10 – via Newspapers.com.
^ Peter Shelley (2019). Joanne Woodward: Her Life and Career. McFarland & Company. pp. 36–37. ISBN 9781476675800.
^ "Film Showmen Continue Dubious On Stars' Pre-Release Telecasting; Shaken by Suzy Parker Roast". Variety. January 22, 1958. p. 7. Retrieved October 20, 2021 – via Archive.org.
^ "Red Sanders In TV Play". Tampa Bay Times. Associated Press. January 15, 1958 – via Newspapers.com.
^ William Ewald (January 18, 1958). "Program Is Called Show's Best Work". The Paducah Sun. United Press. p. 2A.
^ "David Shaw, 90". Los Angeles Times. July 30, 2007. p. B7 – via Newspapers.com.

v t e Playhouse 90
People	John Frankenheimer Martin Manulis Franklin J. Schaffner Rod Serling
Season 1	"Forbidden Area" "Requiem for a Heavyweight" "Sizeman and Son" "Rendezvous in Black" "The Country Husband" "The Big Slide" "Heritage of Anger" "Eloise" "Confession" "Made in Heaven" "Sincerely, Willis Wade" "The Family Nobody Wanted" "Massacre at Sand Creek" "Snowshoes: A Comedy of People and Horses" "The Ninth Day" "So Soon To Die" "The Star Wagon" "So Soon To Die" "The Greer Case" "The Miracle Worker" "The Comedian" "The Coat of White" "The Blackwell Story" "Invitation to a Gunfighter" "The Last Tycoon" "The Hostess with the Mostes'" "Charley's Aunt" "Clipper Ship" "If You Know Elizabeth" "Three Men on a Horse" "Four Women in Black" "Child of Trouble" "Homeward Borne" "Helen Morgan" "Winter Dreams" "Circle of the Day" "Without Incident" "Clash by Night" "Ain't No Time for Glory" "The Fabulous Irishman"
Season 2	"The Death of Manolete" "The Dark Side of the Earth" "Topaze" "A Sound of Different Drummers" "The Playroom" "Around the World in 90 Minutes" "The Mystery of Thirteen" "The Edge of Innocence" "The Clouded Image" "The Jet Propelled Couch" "The Troublemakers" "Panic Button" "Galvanized Yankee" "The Thundering Wave" "For I Have Loved Strangers" "The Lone Woman" "Reunion" "The Last Man" "The 80 Yard Run" "Before I Die" "The Gentleman From Seventh Avenue" "The Violent Heart" "No Time at All" "Point of No Return" "Portrait of a Murderer" "The Last Clear Chance" "The Male Animal" "The Right Hand Man" "Turn Left at Mount Everest" "The Dungeon" "Verdict of Three" "Rumors of Evening" "Not the Glory" "Nightmare at Ground Zero" "Bomber's Moon" "Natchez" "The Innocent Sleep" "A Town Has Turned to Dust" "The Great Gatsby" "A Bitter Heritage"
Season 3	"The Plot To Kill Stalin" "Days of Wine and Roses" "The Time of Your Life" "The Long March" "Shadows Tremble" "Word From a Sealed-Off Box" "Heart of Darkness" "Old Man" "The Return of Ansel Gibbs" "Free Weekend" "Seven Against the Wall" "The Nutcracker" "Face of a Hero" "The Wings of the Dove" "The Blue Men" "The Velvet Alley" "A Quiet Game of Cards" "Child of Our Time" "The Second Man" "The Raider" "The Dingaling Girl" "Made in Japan" "For Whom the Bell Tolls" "A Trip To Paradise" "In Lonely Expectation" "The Day Before Atlanta" "Judgment at Nuremberg" "A Corner of the Garden" "Dark December" "Diary of a Nurse" "A Marriage of Strangers" "Out of Dust" "The Rank and File" "The Killers of Mussolini" "Project Immortality" "Dark as the Night" "The Second Happiest Day"
Season 4	"Target for Three" "The Sounds of Eden" "Misalliance" "The Hidden Image" "The Grey Nurse Said Nothing" "The Tunnel" "The Silver Whistle" "A Dream of Treason" "To the Sound of Trumpets" "The Cruel Day" "Tomorrow" "The Hiding Place" "Alas, Babylon" "Journey to the Day" "The Shape of the River" "In the Presence of Mine Enemies"
Revivals	CBS Playhouse CBS Playhouse 90

This page was last edited on 5 April 2024, at 14:54

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