John Frankenheimer

Director

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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About

About this interview

In his six-hour Archive interview, John Frankenheimer (1930-2002) gives a vivid description of 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 two-part interview on March 21 and April 13, 2000 in Century City, CA.

"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."

Highlights

John Frankenheimer on knowing he was good with a camera

01:39

John Frankenheimer on directing Playhouse 90

27:48

John Frankenheimer on his signature shot

00:30

John Frankenheimer on advice for aspiring directors

03:13

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

Shows

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

Topics

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

Runaway Production

John Frankenheimer on getting into directing while working on Danger

12:11

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

John Frankenheimer on the end of the Golden Age of Television

01:24

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

We Considered

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

03:38

Professions

Directors

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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

Genres

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

People

James T. Aubrey

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John Frankenheimer on the end of the Golden Age of Television

01:24

Lauren Bacall

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

02:54

Tallulah Bankhead

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

02:02

Ingrid Bergman

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John Frankenheimer on directing big movie stars - Ingrid Bergman

00:53

John Frankenheimer on meeting Ingrid Bergman

05:01

Humphrey Bogart

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

02:54

Yul Brynner

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John Frankenheimer on Yul Brynner's directing days on Danger

00:25

Ned Calmer

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John Frankenheimer on working on You Are There

00:24

John Carradine

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

15:22

Fred Coe

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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

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John Frankenheimer on working on You Are There

00:24

Bob Cooper

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John Frankenheimer on directing HBO's Against the Wall

05:53

Walter Cronkite

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John Frankenheimer on working on You Are There

00:06

Bill Dozier

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

01:28

Dominick Dunne

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

00:37

Douglas Edwards

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John Frankenheimer on Douglas Edwards

00:14

Horton Foote

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John Frankenheimer on writers of Playhouse 90

02:42

John Ford

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John Frankenheimer on meeting and getting a job with John Ford

02:26

Don Hewitt

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John Frankenheimer on working on Douglas Edwards and the News

01:08

George Roy Hill

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John Frankenheimer on fellow directors and renegotiating contracts

05:28

John F. Kennedy

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John Frankenheimer on meeting Robert F. Kennedy

01:48

Robert F. Kennedy

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John Frankenheimer on meeting Robert F. Kennedy

04:34

Burt Lancaster

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

03:48

Piper Laurie

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

05:50

Peter Lorre

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

02:54

Sidney Lumet

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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

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

01:51

Martin Manulis

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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

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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

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John Frankenheimer on writers of Playhouse 90

02:42

John Frankenheimer on JP Miller's writing style

00:30

Paul Monash

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John Frankenheimer on writers of Playhouse 90

02:42

Edward R. Murrow

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

10:12

Ralph Nelson

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John Frankenheimer on competing with other directors to get better

04:14

Paul Newman

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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

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

04:15

Jack Palance

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

02:54

William S. Paley

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John Frankenheimer on CBS' first color variety show

02:38

Arthur Penn

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

04:15

Sydney Pollack

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

05:38

Lee Remick

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

02:54

Jason Robards, Jr.

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

05:38

Cliff Robertson

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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

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John Frankenheimer on Hubbell Robinson asking him to direct Danger

01:30

Mickey Rooney

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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

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

02:05

Mark Rydell

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John Frankenheimer on getting into directing while working on Danger

12:11

David O. Selznick

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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

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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

View Person Page

John Frankenheimer on working on You Are There

00:24

David Shaw

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John Frankenheimer on writers of Playhouse 90

02:42

Frank Sinatra

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John Frankenheimer on directing Frank Sinatra in The Manchurian Candidate

04:49

Mary Sinclair

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

01:43

Gary Sinise

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John Frankenheimer on directing Gary Sinise in George Wallace

02:59

Kim Stanley

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

04:15

Maureen Stapleton

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

05:38

Inger Stevens

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John Frankenheimer on directing actress Inger Stevens

00:30

Mike Wallace

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John Frankenheimer on CBS' first color variety show

02:38

Ethel Waters

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

00:45

Ethel Winant

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John Frankenheimer on casting Playhouse 90 with Ethel Winant

01:47

John Frankenheimer on working with Ethel Winant again on Andersonville

02:07