About
"None of us realized the potency yet of this medium -- how many homes it was going to, what kind of effect it was having on people and so forth.... I think everybody who works in the visual medium would love to have that kind of innocence again."
In his three-hour interview, Arthur Penn (1922-2010) discusses his early years and his experience in World War II. He recalls his first television job as floor manager for The Colgate Comedy Hour where he learned how to direct for television. He details his association with producer Fred Coe, who hired him to direct episodes of Philco-Goodyear Playhouse. He chronicles directing several other classic anthology series, including Producer’s Showcase, Playhouse 90, and Playwrights '56. He recalls how his television directing work led to a career in feature films which included Bonnie and Clyde, The Miracle Worker, and Alice’s Restaurant. Henry Colman conducted the interview on October 21, 1998 in New York, NY.
Highlights
Arthur Penn on being hired as a floor manager at NBC in New York, and on working on the The Colgate Comedy Hour
Arthur Penn on Playhouse 90's productions of "Dark Side of the Earth" with Van Heflin and "Portrait of a Murderer"
Arthur Penn on the Playwrights '56 episode "The Battler," which was to star James Dean
Arthur Penn on directing "Bonnie and Clyde"
Arthur Penn on directing the feature film version of "The Miracle Worker"
Arthur Penn on Fred Coe's approach to producing, and on Coe's strengths and weaknesses
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early life and influences; on favorite radio programs, and on how the Great Depression impacted his family; on attending the 1939 World's Fair
On his experiences during World War II, and on meeting Fred Coe and Lester Shorr; on putting on plays while touring around Europe during World War II
Chapter 2
On various people he met while attending college; on being hired as a floor manager at NBC in New York, and on working on The Colgate Comedy Hour; on learning about directing while he was the floor manager of The Colgate Comedy Hour, and on the production schedule for the show
On becoming associate director for The Colgate Comedy Hour, and on going to work for Fred Coe; on Fred Coe's approach to producing, and on Coe's strengths and weaknesses; on the challenges of directing Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse
Chapter 3
On directing Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse from the control room and on the atmosphere on a live television show; on Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse's production of Tad Mosel's "The Lawn Party"; on the writing process on Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse and Fred Coe's involvement on the show
On how Producer's Showcase came about; on directing for Playhouse 90; on the potency of television at the time; on the Playwrights '56 episode "The Battler," which was to star James Dean
Chapter 4
On directing Playhouse 90; on bloopers on Playhouse 90; on Playhouse 90's productions of "Dark Side of the Earth" with Van Heflin and "Portrait of a Murderer"
On his various projects with Fred Coe, and on beginning to direct feature films; on his battles with studio executives; on directing the play "Two for the Seesaw"
On being an advisor to the John F. Kennedy campaign; on directing Tad Mosel's "All the Way Home"
Chapter 5
On directing the feature film version of "The Miracle Worker"; on directing "Bonnie and Clyde"; on directing Flesh and Blood
On directing the feature films "Alice's Restaurant" and "Little Big Man" and on then-current projects; on what represents the best of television; on advice he has given his son about directing
On the legacies of Fred Coe and Martin Manulis; on how directing live television prepared him to direct plays and feature films; on the then-future of television, and how he would like to be remembered; on various people he worked with in his career
Chapter 6
On various people with whom he worked in his career: Rod Serling, Ethel Winant, William Gibson, Marlon Brando, Fred Coe
Shows
Colgate Comedy Hour, The
Arthur Penn on being hired as a floor manager at NBC in New York, and on working on The Colgate Comedy Hour
Arthur Penn on learning about directing while he was the floor manager of The Colgate Comedy Hour, and on the production schedule for the show
Arthur Penn on becoming associate director for The Colgate Comedy Hour, and on going to work for Fred Coe
Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse
Arthur Penn on the challenges of directing Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse
Arthur Penn on directing Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse from the control room and on the atmosphere on a live television show
Arthur Penn on Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse's production of Tad Mosel's "The Lawn Party"
Arthur Penn on the writing process on Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse and Fred Coe's involvement on the show
Playhouse 90
Arthur Penn on directing for Playhouse 90; the potency of television at the time
Arthur Penn on directing Playhouse 90
Arthur Penn on bloopers on Playhouse 90
Arthur Penn on Playhouse 90's productions of "Dark Side of the Earth" with Van Heflin and "Portrait of a Murderer"
Playwrights '56
Arthur Penn on the Playwrights '56 episode "The Battler," which was to star James Dean
Producers' Showcase
Arthur Penn on how Producer's Showcase came about
Topics
1939-40 World's Fair
Arthur Penn on attending the 1939 World's Fair
Advice
Arthur Penn on advice he has given his son about directing
Bloopers
Arthur Penn on bloopers on Playhouse 90
Historic Events and Social Change
Arthur Penn on attending the 1939 World's Fair
Arthur Penn on his experience with World War II, and on meeting Fred Coe and Lester Shorr
Arthur Penn on putting on plays while touring around Europe during World War II
John F. Kennedy
Arthur Penn on being an advisor to the John F. Kennedy campaign
Kennedy-Nixon Debates
Arthur Penn on being an advisor to the John F. Kennedy campaign
Richard M. Nixon
Arthur Penn on being an advisor to the John F. Kennedy campaign
Television Industry
Arthur Penn on what represents the best of television
Arthur Penn on advice he has given his son about directing
Arthur Penn on the then-future of television, and how he'd like to be remembered
War
Arthur Penn on his experience with World War II, and on meeting Fred Coe and Lester Shorr
Arthur Penn on putting on plays while touring around Europe during World War II
World War II
Arthur Penn on his experience with World War II, and on meeting Fred Coe and Lester Shorr
Arthur Penn on putting on plays while touring around Europe during World War II
Professions
Directors
Arthur Penn on how directing live television prepared him to direct plays and feature films
Genres
Classic Anthology Series
Arthur Penn on directing Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse
Arthur Penn on directing Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse
Arthur Penn on directing for Playhouse 90
Arthur Penn on the Playwrights '56 episode "The Battler," which was to star James Dean
Arthur Penn on directing Playhouse 90
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Arthur Penn on working on The Colgate Comedy Hour
People
Warren Beatty
Arthur Penn on directing "Bonnie and Clyde" with Warren Beatty, and on how his television direction impacted his style
Marlon Brando
On various people with whom he worked in his career: Marlon Brando
Fred Coe
Arthur Penn on meeting Fred Coe during World War II
Arthur Penn on Fred Coe's approach to producing, and on Coe's strengths and weaknesses
Arthur Penn on the writing process on Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse and Fred Coe's involvement on the show
Arthur Penn on the Kennedy-Nixon Debates. When asked by a Kennedy friend his advice on shooting the televised debate, he and Fred Coe made the suggestion "close-ups"
Arthur Penn on his various projects with Fred Coe, and on getting involved in directing feature films
Arthur Penn on the legacies of Fred Coe and Martin Manulis
On various people with whom he worked in his career: Fred Coe
James Dean
Arthur Penn on the Playwrights '56 episode "The Battler" which was to star James Dean
Angie Dickinson
On various people with whom he worked in his career: Angie Dickinson
Patty Duke
Arthur Penn on various people with whom he worked in his career: Patty Duke
George Roy Hill
On various people with whom he worked in his career: George Roy Hill
Martin Manulis
Arthur Penn on the legacies of Fred Coe and Martin Manulis
E. G. Marshall
Arthur Penn on various people with whom he worked in his career: E.G. Marshall
Tad Mosel
Arthur Penn on Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse's production of Tad Mosel's "The Lawn Party"
Arthur Penn on directing Tad Mosel's play "All the Way Home"
Arthur Penn on various people with whom he worked in his career: Tad Mosel
Paul Newman
Arthur Penn on various people with whom he worked in his career: Paul Newman
Rod Serling
On various people with whom he worked in his career: Rod Serling
Ethel Winant
On various people with whom he worked in his career: Ethel Winant