The Man With Blond Hair is a play by Norman Krasna based on a true story. Although Krasna became better known for comedy this was a drama; the writer later said that he "really wrote" the play "to win the Nobel Peace Prize".[1] The play only ran for 7 performances on Broadway. This failure prompted him to return to comedy and Krasna wrote Dear Ruth his most popular hit.
| The Man with Blond Hair | |
|---|---|
| Written by | Norman Krasna |
| Date premiered | 4 November 1941 |
| Place premiered | New York |
| Original language | English |
| Subject | Nazis |
| Genre | Drama |
| Setting | Roof of an East Side tenement; The Hoffman living room |
Plot
editTwo Nazi airmen, Rudolph and Stumer, escape internment in Canada and find themselves in New York where they are arrested. A policeman arranges for them to escape so the policeman may recapture and beat them.
Stumer escapes but Rudolph is captured by a gang of kids. They are about to force him to jump off a roof when Ruth, fiancée of one boy Involved, takes him away to her apartment via the fire escape.
At Ruth's apartment he is fed and well treated by her mother, while the boys search for him. One of the boys is shot by the police before he is about to spot Rudolph. Rudolph gives himself up to the police.
Original cast
edit- Eleanor Lynn as Ruth Hoffmann
- Rex Williams as Rudolph
- Bernard Lenrow as Stumer
- Dora Weissman as Mrs Hoffmann
- Coby Ruskin as Harry
- Robert Williams as Matt
- Alfred Ryder as John
- James Gregory as Frank Connors
- Curt Conway as Sidney
- Rex Williams as Carl
- George Wallach as messenger boy
- Francis de Sales as McCarthy
- Owen Martin as Harvey
Background
editIn September 1941 Krasna arrived in New York to begin rehearsals. The play was then called Fire Escape. RKO were financing the entire production and Krasna was making his Broadway directorial debut.[2][3]
Reception
editThe Christian Science Monitor called the play "essentially immature and inconclusive."[4]
The New York Times said it "contains several interesting scenes, offers two excellent tenement settings... and bits of engaging acting... this correspondent was never bored... but it could never believe his melodrama. It looked very like a loosely contrived and whimsical play, more interested in bravaura scenes than integrity."[5]
Production history
editThe Broadway production closed after seven performances.[6] This led to Krasna delay plans to put on a play he had written with Groucho Marx, The Time of Elizabeth. "I got burned on the other one; we want to be careful next time", said Krasna.[7] Krasna sold the story to the movies. In October 1943 Warners announced they purchased Night Action as a vehicle for Helmut Dantine and were to make it after Dantine finished Northern Pursuit.[8] Warners did not say how much they paid for it.[9] In October George Sklar was assigned to write the script.[10] However the film was not made.[11]
References
edit- ^ Patrick McGilligan, "Norman Krasna", Backstory: Interviews with Screenwriters of Hollywood's Golden Age, California Press p 225
- ^ "Notes on the Theatre as the New Season Gets Slowly Under Way: GOSSIP OF THE RIALTO". New York Times. Sep 21, 1941. p. X1.
- ^ "ANNE OF ENGLAND' TO ARRIVE TONIGHT". New York Times. Oct 7, 1941. p. 27.
- ^ "The Man With Blond Hair". The Christian Science Monitor. Nov 5, 1941. p. 20.
- ^ BROOKS ATKINSON (Nov 5, 1941). "THE PLAY". New York Times. p. 30.
- ^ "FIVE PLAYS LISTED TO OPEN THIS WEEK". New York Times. Nov 10, 1941. p. 20.
- ^ "DARK HORSE' OFF TO SUNDAY NIGHT". New York Times. Nov 13, 1941. p. 34.
- ^ "SCREEN NEWS HERE AND IN HOLLYWOOD". New York Times. Oct 27, 1943. p. 27.
- ^ "LOOKING BACKWARD AT THE 1943–44 SEASON: Being a Summary and Many Figures of the Year's Activities". New York Times. 4 June 1944. p. X1.
- ^ "Of Local Origin". New York Times. Oct 28, 1943. p. 28.
- ^ Davis, George Kidder. "Columbia Pictures vs Krasna". Supreme Court Appellate Division-First Department.