"I knew that I wanted to have something to do with the camera. I didn't know whether I wanted to be a cameraman, or whether I wanted to direct. Directing, in a sense, was some crazed thing you never thought about. I mean, yeah, it would be great, but it was like trying to be President of the United States."

    About This Interview

    In his six-hour interview, John Frankenheimer (1930-2002) describes his early television work as an assistant director on You Are There, Danger, and Edward R. Murrow's Person to Person. He speaks about his first directorial assignments on You Are There and Danger and recalls making a name for himself directing live anthology dramas ("The Comedian" and "Days of Wine and Roses") on Climax! and Playhouse 90. He discusses his feature film work and his return to television to direct the acclaimed programs Andersonville for TNT and George Wallace for HBO. Michael Rosen conducted the interview in two parts on March 21 and April 13, 2000 in Century City, CA.

    All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.
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    John Frankenheimer on knowing he was good with a camera

    01:39
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    27:48
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    John Frankenheimer on his signature shot

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    John Frankenheimer on knowing he was good with a camera

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    John Frankenheimer on advice for aspiring directors

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    Play Full Interview

    Chapter 1

    On his childhood and early influences; on playing tennis and racing cars; on radio shows and movies he enjoyed; on the 1939 World's Fair; on attending Williams College

    10:21

    On entering the Air Force (Korean War) after college; on getting into acting and the Air Force motion picture squadron; on getting transferred to Burbank; on writing for Harvey Howard Ranch Roundup for Channel 13 Los Angeles

    11:38

    On making documentaries for the Air Force; on filming Chuck Yeager break the sound barrier; on getting a job with John Ford and getting into television

    06:25

    Chapter 2

    On visiting the set of The Dennis Day Show; on moving back to New York an applying for associate director jobs

    11:52

    On his start as an associate director at CBS; on working on Lamp Unto My Feet; on getting promoted to assistant director; on observing The Garry Moore Show and working on Douglas Edwards and the News

    07:23

    On becoming associate director and the format of You Are There

    09:18

    Chapter 3

    On working as associate director on You Are There and on Danger; on working on Person to Person and elections with Edward R. Murrow

    17:06

    On getting into directing while working on Danger

    12:11

    Chapter 4

    On Hubbell Robinson asking him to direct at CBS; on the Hollywood Blacklist; on going to the theater

    08:00

    On staging, directing and casting You Are There

    11:51

    On directing Danger; on CBS' first color television broadcast

    08:16

    Chapter 5

    On directing Danger

    11:43

    On moving to California to direct Cllimax!; on sponsor interference on Climax! and the directing style he developled; on his setup in the studio

    16:35

    Chapter 6

    On directing Climax! and how he staged scenes; on a typical production day and week at Climax!; on the challenges of the color episodes of Climax!; on the stress of directing live television

    18:52

    On identifying other directors' styles and competing with each other to get better; on specific episodes of Climax!

    09:36

    Chapter 7

    On directing the "First and Last" episode of Climax!

    15:22

    On directing the "Deal a Blow" episode of Climax!; on the accomplishment he felt from directing

    05:34

    Chapter 8

    On directing the very first episode of Playhouse 90

    11:21

    On the production schedule for Playhouse 90; on directing tips from mentor David O. Selznick

    16:27

    Chapter 9

    On techniques he used for directing Playhouse 90; on staging and blocking Playhouse 90

    09:55

    On run-throughs and notes from producers on Playhouse 90; on specific episodes of Playhouse 90

    18:17

    Chapter 10

    On Mickey Rooney in "The Comedian" episode of Playhouse 90; on casting; on directing "The Last Tycoon," and "Clash by Night" episodes of Playhouse 90

    18:09

    On the introduction of videotape; On directing "The Days of Wine and Roses" on Playhouse 90

    09:51

    Chapter 11

    On directing Playhouse 90's "The Days of Wine and Roses"; on producers Fred Coe and Martin Manulis; on episodes "The Old Man" and "For Whom the Bell Tolls"

    12:32

    On leaving Playhouse 90; on directing The Dupont Show and the final episode of Playhouse 90

    08:00

    On signing on to direct Breakfast at Tiffany's; on directing films

    07:21

    Chapter 12

    On meeting Ingrid Bergman; On directing The Manchurian Candidate

    10:01

    On meeting and filming Bobby Kennedy; on returning to television for HBO's The Rainmaker

    06:11

    On how directing Against the Wall for HBO turned his life around; on directing Andersonville and George Wallace

    12:14

    Chapter 13

    On advice for aspiring directors; on how technology and director's commentary can add value to films; on how television has changed over the years

    07:27

    On how important it is for him to keep working; on his favorite projects

    02:33

    Against the Wall

    John Frankenheimer on directing HBO's Against the Wall

    05:53

    Andersonville

    John Frankenheimer on directing Andersonville

    02:07

    Best of Broadway

    John Frankenheimer on turning down producer Martin Manulis to do camera work on an episode of Best of Broadway

    02:16

    Climax!

    John Frankenheimer on directing Climax!

    16:35

    John Frankenheimer on directing live television for Climax!

    16:57

    John Frankenheimer on directing Rod Serling's "Portrait in Celluloid" episode of Climax!

    00:46

    John Frankenheimer on directing specific episodes of Climax!

    20:56

    John Frankenheimer on directing "Deal a Blow" episode of Climax!

    01:51

    John Frankenheimer on directing "First and Last" episode of Climax!

    15:22

    John Frankenheimer on getting a phone call from David O. Selznick and going over to critique episodes of Climax! with him 

    03:49

    John Frankenheimer on how actress Mary Sinclair stayed so composed on live television

    01:43

    Climax!: "Deal a Blow"

    John Frankenheimer on directing "Deal a Blow" episode of Climax!

    01:51

    Climax!: "First and Last"

    John Frankenheimer on directing "First and Last" episode of Climax!

    15:22

    Climax!: "Portrait in Celluloid"

    John Frankenheimer on winning an Emmy with Martin Manulis for Rod Serling's "Portrait in Celluloid" episode of Climax!  

    00:29

    John Frankenheimer on directing Rod Serling's "Portrait in Celluloid" episode of Climax!

    00:46

    Danger

    John Frankenheimer on working on Danger

    01:45

    John Frankenheimer on getting into directing while working on Danger

    12:11

    John Frankenheimer on directing Danger

    04:43

    John Frankenheimer on the risks he took directing the live show Danger

    09:27

    Danger: "Knife in the Dark"

    John Frankenheimer on directing an episode of Danger, written by newcomer Rod Serling and starring an unknown actor named Paul Newman

    04:43

    Danger: "No Passport for Death"

    John Frankenheimer on the "No Passport for Death" episode of Danger

    07:20

    Dennis Day Show. The

    John Frankenheimer on visiting the set of The Dennis Day Show

    02:30

    Douglas Edwards with the News

    John Frankenheimer on working on Douglas Edwards and the News

    01:22

    DuPont Show of the Week, The

    John Frankenheimer on directing The Dupont Show

    01:42

    Ford Startime

    John Frankenheimer on directing Ford Startime

    00:11

    Garry Moore Show, The

    John Frankenheimer on observing The Gary Moore Show

    00:30

    George Wallace

    John Frankenheimer on directing Gary Sinise in George Wallace

    02:59

    Lamp Unto My Feet

    John Frankenheimer on being associate director for Lamp Unto My Feet

    00:44

    John Frankenheimer on Lamp Unto My Feet

    00:22

    Person to Person

    John Frankenheimer on working on Edward R. Murrow's Person to Person

    10:12

    Playhouse 90

    John Frankenheimer on directing Playhouse 90

    27:48

    John Frankenheimer on not getting to direct the "Requiem for a Heavyweight" episode of Playhouse 90

    00:31

    John Frankenheimer on directing Playhouse 90

    05:46

    John Frankenheimer on directing Playhouse 90

    06:47

    John Frankenheimer on directing Playhouse 90

    09:47

    John Frankenheimer on directing Playhouse 90

    06:44

    John Frankenheimer on Mickey Rooney in "The Comedian" episode of Playhouse 90

    03:45

    John Frankenheimer on casting Playhouse 90 with Ethel Winant 

    00:46

    John Frankenheimer on "The Last Tycoon" episode of Playhouse 90

    02:54

    John Frankenheimer on the "Clash by Night" episode of Playhouse 90

    04:15

    John Frankenheimer on Playhouse 90 directors and how videotape affected shooting

    09:29

    John Frankenheimer on the "The Days of Wine and Roses" episode of Playhouse 90

    05:50

    John Frankenheimer on directing Playhouse 90's "The Days of Wine and Roses"

    02:01

    John Frankenheimer on directing Playhouse 90's "The Old Man" and videotaping the whole show

    03:12

    John Frankenheimer on directing Playhouse 90's "For Whom the Bell Tolls"

    05:38

    John Frankenheimer on directing Playhouse 90's final episode "Journey to the Day"

    03:01

    John Frankenheimer on the end of the Golden Age of Television

    01:24

    Playhouse 90: "Clash by Night"

    John Frankenheimer on the "Clash by Night" episode of Playhouse 90

    04:15

    Playhouse 90: "Days of Wine and Roses"

    John Frankenheimer on the "The Days of Wine and Roses" episode of Playhouse 90

    05:50

    John Frankenheimer on directing Playhouse 90's "The Days of Wine and Roses"

    02:01

    Playhouse 90: "For Whom the Bell Tolls"

    John Frankenheimer on directing Playhouse 90's "For Whom the Bell Tolls"

    05:38

    Playhouse 90: "Journey to the Day"

    John Frankenheimer on directing Playhouse 90's final episode "Journey to the Day"

    03:01

    Playhouse 90: "Requiem for a Heavyweight"

    John Frankenheimer on not getting to direct the "Requiem for a Heavyweight" episode of Playhouse 90

    00:31

    Playhouse 90: "The Comedian"

    John Frankenheimer on directing the Emmy-winnig episode of Playhouse 90 "The Comedian" 

    06:44

    John Frankenheimer on Mickey Rooney in "The Comedian" episode of Playhouse 90

    03:45

    Playhouse 90: "The Last Tycoon"

    John Frankenheimer on "The Last Tycoon" episode of Playhouse 90

    02:54

    Playhouse 90: "The Old Man"

    John Frankenheimer on directing Playhouse 90's "The Old Man" and videotaping the whole show

    03:12

    Rainmaker, The

    John Frankenheimer on returning to television for HBO's The Rainmaker

    01:37

    See It Now

    John Frankenheimer on the Hollywood Blacklist and The Senator McCarthy episode of See It Now

    03:38

    See It Now: "A Report on Senator Joseph R. McCarthy"

    John Frankenheimer on the Hollywood Blacklist and The Senator McCarthy episode of See It Now

    03:38

    You Are There

    John Frankenheimer on working on You Are There as Sidney Lumet's associate director

    09:11

    John Frankenheimer on working as associate director on You Are There

    05:09

    John Frankenheimer on his first directing gig on You Are There

    11:51

    Creative Influences and Inspiration

    John Frankenheimer on directing tips from mentor David O. Selznick

    03:49

    John Frankenheimer on the influence of movie directors on him

    01:08

    Emmy Awards

    John Frankenheimer on winning an Emmy with Martin Manulis for Rod Serling's "Portrait in Celluloid" episode of Climax!  

    00:29

    John Frankenheimer on directing the Emmy-winnig episode of Playhouse 90 "The Comedian"

    06:44

    Hollywood Blacklist

    John Frankenheimer on the Hollywood Blacklist

    00:40

    John Frankenheimer on the Hollywood Blacklist and The Senator McCarthy episode of See It Now

    03:38

    John Frankenheimer on the Hollywood Blacklist and the blacklisted writers of You Are There

    00:49

    John Frankenheimer on sponsor interference on Climax!  

    01:58

    Technological Innovation

    John Frankenheimer on the challenges of color television

    03:33

    John Frankenheimer on every 3rd episode of Climax! being in color

    03:32

    John Frankenheimer on videotape

    01:42

    TV's Golden Age (1940s & '50s)

    John Frankenheimer on the end of the Golden Age of Television

    01:24

    We Considered

    John Frankenheimer on the Hollywood Blacklist and The Senator McCarthy episode of See It Now

    03:38

    Directors

    John Frankenheimer on knowing he was good with a camera

    01:39

    John Frankenheimer on the differences between associate director and assistant director

    00:57

    John Frankenheimer on his directing style on Climax!

    00:40

    John Frankenheimer on losing weight on show day while directing live television

    02:54

    John Frankenheimer on being able to identify directors by camera work

    00:54

    John Frankenheimer on the sense of accomplishment he felt from directing

    00:54

    John Frankenheimer on directing tips from mentor David O. Selznick

    03:49

    John Frankenheimer on techniques he used for directing Playhouse 90

    05:46

    John Frankenheimer on directing big movie stars - Ingrid Bergman

    00:53

    John Frankenheimer on directing movies

    03:48

    John Frankenheimer on advice for aspiring directors

    03:13

    Classic Anthology Series

    John Frankenheimer on directing Climax!

    16:35

    John Frankenheimer on directing live television for Climax!

    28:28

    John Frankenheimer on directing specific episodes of Climax!

    20:56

    John Frankenheimer on directing Playhouse 90

    27:48

    John Frankenheimer on directing Playhouse 90

    28:12

    John Frankenheimer on directing Playhouse 90

    28:00

    John Frankenheimer on directing Playhouse 90

    12:32

    News and Documentary

    John Frankenheimer on working on You Are There as Sydney Lumet's associate director

    09:11

    John Frankenheimer on the Hollywood Blacklist and The Senator McCarthy episode of See It Now

    03:38

    TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials

    John Frankenheimer on directing Gary Sinise in George Wallace

    02:59

    James T. Aubrey

    John Frankenheimer on the end of the Golden Age of Television

    01:24

    Lauren Bacall

    John Frankenheimer on "The Last Tycoon" episode of Playhouse 90

    02:54

    Tallulah Bankhead

    John Frankenheimer on working on Edward R. Murrow's Person to Person

    02:02

    Ingrid Bergman

    John Frankenheimer on directing big movie stars - Ingrid Bergman

    00:53

    John Frankenheimer on meeting Ingrid Bergman 

    05:01

    Humphrey Bogart

    John Frankenheimer on "The Last Tycoon" episode of Playhouse 90

    02:54

    Yul Brynner

    John Frankenheimer on Yul Brynner's directing days on Danger

    00:25

    Ned Calmer

    John Frankenheimer on working on You Are There  

    00:24

    John Carradine

    John Frankenheimer on directing "First and Last" episode of Climax!

    15:22

    Fred Coe

    John Frankenheimer on visiting the set of The Dennis Day Show

    00:08

    John Frankenheimer on Martin Manulis leaving and Fred Coe joining Playhouse 90

    01:18

    John Frankenheimer on the "The Days of Wine and Roses" episode of Playhouse 90

    05:50

    John Frankenheimer on producers Martin Manulis and Fred Coe

    01:41

    John Frankenheimer on Playhouse 90's "The Old Man" and "For Whom the Bell Tolls"

    08:50

    John Frankenheimer on directing Playhouse 90's final episode "Journey to the Day"

    03:01

    Charles Collingwood

    John Frankenheimer on working on You Are There  

    00:24

    Bob Cooper

    John Frankenheimer on directing HBO's Against the Wall

    05:53

    Walter Cronkite

    John Frankenheimer on working on You Are There  

    00:06

    Bill Dozier

    John Frankenheimer on Bill Dozier wanting Martin Manulis and Frankenheimer to do "South of the Sun" for Climax!  

    01:28

    Dominick Dunne

    John Frankenheimer on talking to Dominick Dunne about getting a job in television

    00:37

    Douglas Edwards

    John Frankenheimer on Douglas Edwards

    00:14

    Horton Foote

    John Frankenheimer on writers of Playhouse 90

    02:42

    John Ford

    John Frankenheimer on meeting and getting a job with John Ford

    02:26

    Don Hewitt

    John Frankenheimer on working on Douglas Edwards and the News

    01:08

    George Roy Hill

    John Frankenheimer on fellow directors and renegotiating contracts

    05:28

    Jason Robards, Jr.

    John Frankenheimer on directing Playhouse 90's "For Whom the Bell Tolls"

    05:38

    John F. Kennedy

    John Frankenheimer on meeting Robert F. Kennedy

    01:48

    Robert F. Kennedy

    John Frankenheimer on meeting Robert F. Kennedy

    04:34

    Burt Lancaster

    John Frankenheimer on directing movies with Burt Lancaster, and not getting along with him well

    03:48

    Piper Laurie

    John Frankenheimer on the "The Days of Wine and Roses" episode of Playhouse 90

    05:50

    Peter Lorre

    John Frankenheimer on "The Last Tycoon" episode of Playhouse 90

    02:54

    Sidney Lumet

    John Frankenheimer on working on You Are There as Sydney Lumet's associate director

    09:11

    John Frankenheimer on working as Sidney Lumet's associate director on You Are There

    05:09

    John Frankenheimer on producer Martin Manulis wanting him to direct Climax! after not securing Sidney Lumet

    01:32

    John Frankenheimer on Sidney Lumet's preparation

    00:52

    James MacArthur

    John Frankenheimer on directing James MacArthur in "Deal a Blow" episode of Climax!

    01:51

    Martin Manulis

    John Frankenheimer on turning down producer Martin Manulis to do camera work on an episode of Best of Broadway

    02:16

    John Frankenheimer on producer Martin Manulis wanting him to direct Climax!

    12:21

    John Frankenheimer on Martin Manulis' optimism and contriubtions to the "First and Last" episode of Climax!

    00:28

    John Frankenheimer on "Deal a Blow" and "The Gay Illiterate" episodes of Climax!

    04:12

    John Frankenheimer on Martin Manulis wanting him to direct the first Playhouse 90

    01:24

    John Frankenheimer on notes from producers on Playhouse 90  

    00:37

    John Frankenheimer on the "Clash by Night" episode of Playhouse 90

    04:15

    John Frankenheimer on Martin Manulis leaving Playhouse 90

    01:18

    John Frankenheimer on producers Martin Manulis and Fred Coe

    01:41

    Lee Marvin

    John Frankenheimer on working with a difficuil director when he was an associate director

    04:09

    John Frankenheimer on directing Lee Marvin in "The American"

    01:15

    JP Miller

    John Frankenheimer on writers of Playhouse 90

    02:42

    John Frankenheimer on JP Miller's writing style

    00:30

    Paul Monash

    John Frankenheimer on writers of Playhouse 90

    02:42

    Edward R. Murrow

    John Frankenheimer on working on Edward R. Murrow's Person to Person

    10:12

    Ralph Nelson

    John Frankenheimer on competing with other directors to get better

    04:14

    Paul Newman

    John Frankenheimer on directing an episode of Danger, written by newcomer Rod Serling and starring an unknown actor  named Paul Newman

    04:43

    Clifford Odets

    John Frankenheimer on the "Clash by Night" episode of Playhouse 90

    04:15

    Jack Palance

    John Frankenheimer on "The Last Tycoon" episode of Playhouse 90

    02:54

    William S. Paley

    John Frankenheimer on CBS' first color variety show

    02:38

    Arthur Penn

    John Frankenheimer on the "Clash by Night" episode of Playhouse 90

    04:15

    Sydney Pollack

    John Frankenheimer on directing Playhouse 90's "For Whom the Bell Tolls"

    05:38

    Lee Remick

    John Frankenheimer on "The Last Tycoon" episode of Playhouse 90

    02:54

    Cliff Robertson

    John Frankenheimer on the "The Days of Wine and Roses" episode of Playhouse 90

    05:50

    John Frankenheimer on Cliff Robertson's performance in rehearsal versus live television

    01:31

    Hubbell Robinson

    John Frankenheimer on Hubbell Robinson asking him to direct Danger

    01:30

    Mickey Rooney

    John Frankenheimer on directing the Emmy-winnig episode of Playhouse 90 "The Comedian"

    06:44

    John Frankenheimer on Mickey Rooney in "The Comedian" episode of Playhouse 90

    03:45

    Robert Ryan

    John Frankenheimer on directing Robert Ryan in "Snows of Kilimanjaro"

    02:05

    Mark Rydell

    John Frankenheimer on getting into directing while working on Danger

    12:11

    David O. Selznick

    John Frankenheimer on getting a phone call from David O. Selznick and going over to critique episodes of Climax! with him 

    03:49

    Rod Serling

    John Frankenheimer on directing an episode of Danger, written by newcomer Rod Serling and starring an unknown actor named Paul Newman

    04:43

    John Frankenheimer on winning an Emmy with Martin Manulis for Rod Serling's "Portrait in Celluloid" episode of Climax!  

    00:29

    John Frankenheimer on directing Rod Serling's "Portrait in Celluloid" episode of Climax!

    00:46

    John Frankenheimer on writers of Playhouse 90

    02:42

    John Frankenheimer on directing the Emmy-winnig episode of Playhouse 90 "The Comedian" 

    06:44

    Eric Sevareid

    John Frankenheimer on working on You Are There  

    00:24

    David Shaw

    John Frankenheimer on writers of Playhouse 90

    02:42

    Frank Sinatra

    John Frankenheimer on directing Frank Sinatra in The Manchurian Candidate

    04:49

    Mary Sinclair

    John Frankenheimer on how actress Mary Sinclair stayed so composed on live television

    01:43

    Gary Sinise

    John Frankenheimer on directing Gary Sinise in George Wallace

    02:59

    Kim Stanley

    John Frankenheimer on the "Clash by Night" episode of Playhouse 90

    04:15

    Maureen Stapleton

    John Frankenheimer on directing Playhouse 90's "For Whom the Bell Tolls"

    05:38

    Inger Stevens

    John Frankenheimer on directing actress Inger Stevens

    00:30

    Mike Wallace

    John Frankenheimer on CBS' first color variety show

    02:38

    Ethel Waters

    John Frankenheimer on working on Edward R. Murrow's Person to Person

    00:45

    Ethel Winant

    John Frankenheimer on casting Playhouse 90 with Ethel Winant 

    01:47

    John Frankenheimer on working with Ethel Winant again on Andersonville

    02:07

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