JP Miller

Writer
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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

In his over four-hour Archive interview, acclaimed writer JP Miller (1919-2001) talks extensively about writing teleplays for live television dramas and his relationships with Fred Coe, Tad Mosel, Horton Foote, Delbert Mann, John Frankenheimer and Paddy Chayefsky. Miller discusses writing many acclaimed television dramas including: Days of Wine and Roses, The Rabbit Trap and Helter Skelter. He also recalls writing for Philco-Goodyear Playhouse. Jeff Kisseloff conducted the interview in Stockton, NJ on April 17, 1997.

"We managed to get by. In 'The People Next Door' for instance, the young lady ran out of the house naked and ran around a tree. Of course, the censors would have none of that. Some chap said, 'you have to cut the scene.'  And producer Herb Brodkin says, 'look, she's in a body stocking. The scene is necessary to the show, and we're gonna do the scene. If you don't want us to do the scene, you're gonna have to come down and stop the show in the middle of it, because we're gonna do it.' And it was done."

Full Interview

Chapter 1
On his early years, education, and interest in writing

Chapter 2
On his college education; on writing plays; on writing his first teleplay tailored to Philco Playhouse
27:02

Chapter 3
On writing for live television; on writing for Philco-Goodyear Playhouse; on working with Fred Coe
26:35

Chapter 4
On working as a writer in live television with Fred Coe, Paddy Chayefsky, and Horton Foote
26:59

Chapter 5
On some other writers he worked with including Tad Mosel and Sumner Locke Elliot; on writing the teleplays "The Rabbit Trap" and "The Days of Wine and Roses"
27:57

Chapter 6
On writing the Playhouse 90 teleplay "The Days of Wine and Roses" (Airdate: October 2, 1958), which became a feature film
27:02

Chapter 7
On the title "Days of Wine and Roses"; on writing for television and the advent of videotape; on working on Playhouse 90

Chapter 8
On the "Golden Age" of television; on his other projects; on people he worked with

Chapter 9
On some of the people he worked with over his career; on summing up his thoughts on television
Shows

Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse

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JP Miller on writing his first teleplay for Philco-Goodyear Televisoin Playhouse
02:42
JP Miller on writing for live television on Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse; working with producer Fred Coe
16:32
JP Miller on writing the Goodyear Television Playhouse teleplay "The Rabbit Trap"
08:05

Playhouse 90

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JP Miller on writing the Playhouse 90 teleplay "The Days of Wine and Roses" (Airdate: October 2, 1958)
03:36
JP Miller on writing the Playhouse 90 teleplay "The Days of Wine and Roses" (Airdate: October 2, 1958)
27:02

Playhouse 90: "Days of Wine and Roses"

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JP Miller on writing the Playhouse 90 teleplay "The Days of Wine and Roses" (Airdate: October 2, 1958)
03:36
JP Miller on writing the Playhouse 90 teleplay "The Days of Wine and Roses" (Airdate: October 2, 1958)
27:02
People

Paddy Chayefsky

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JP Miller on working as a writer in live television with Fred Coe, Paddy Chayefsky, and Horton Foote
26:59

Fred Coe

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JP Miller on writing for live television on Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse; working with producer Fred Coe
16:32
JP Miller on working as a writer in live television with Fred Coe, Paddy Chayefsky, and Horton Foote
26:59

Horton Foote

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JP Miller on working as a writer in live television with Fred Coe, Paddy Chayefsky, and Horton Foote
26:59

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