Alas Babylon - Playhouse 90 (1956) Discussion

[–] jerry_chaon 18 years ago

Were you ever able to obtain a copoy of the Playhouse 90 episode of Alas Babylon?

I would also like to obtain a copy. I remember watching the episode when it originally aired. It was amazingly real. If the program did not break for a
commercial once in a while, you would actually think you were watching live breaking news coverage of preperations for world war.

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[–] movibuf1962 18 years ago

I've always wanted to see this play. The one tiny clip I saw of it on a CBS documentary special some years back showed that it had been shot on videotape (b/w) instead of a kinescope, which would explain why it looked live to you. The vault at Studio City in Hollywood probably still contains the original.

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[–] santler 18 years ago

Not only was it shot on videotape -- it also included perhaps the first serious "special effect" in TV terms, a videotape-behind-videotape mushroom-cloud atomic blast behind "live" actors. Very scary stuff for us kids back then...

And oh yeah -- WE won the war!

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[–] movibuf1962 18 years ago

Check your PMs, please.

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[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] jaxrwld65 17 years ago

Hello. Are you still out there? I just came across this thread and would like to know if you ever found a copy of this episode. I checked ebay an amazon and searched the net a little but I can't find one copy. I read this book back in HS in the 80's and could not put it down. I never knew about this Playhouse 90 until right now and I would love to see that episode!
Thanks!

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[–] sirk46 17 years ago

Ditto if anyone find a source for the vid.
Alas I never saw it but the book has been on my shelf for decades.
I read it often it and recco it to younger friends.
C
(60 yo)

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[–] woodardmd-paul 17 years ago

Has anyone found a copy of this episode of Playhouse 90.

Thanks

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[–] Yemaya2005 15 years ago

I love to get it, also!

I saw it when I was 12 years old. I still have the write up from TV GUIDE saved in my childhood
"scrap book."

ps I also have the TV GUIDE write up of a new tv show airing.......the Twilight Zone.

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[–] ginia 15 years ago

Yemaya, I've sent you a Private message. :)

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[–] rsunset327 13 years ago

I'd LOVE to be able to see this. I just finished the audiobook and I've read the actual book many times.

Such an amazing story that holds up just as well in 2011 as it did when it was made.

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[–] cataclyzmik_dk 15 years ago

Has anyone had luck finding this episode?

I also would love to obtain a copy.

If all else fails, maybe they'll air it on Turner Classic Movies.

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[–] ejmartiniak 13 years ago

This place can help. I just ordered a copy from this place. He is very nice and prices are reasonable--he charged $19.95 for this.

[email protected]
107 Tucker crescent
Saskatoon SK
S7H 3H7 CA
Toll free in North America: 1-800-440-2960
Collect Outside North America: 306-955-3763

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[–] CatTales 10 years ago

it was donated to UCLA in 2013 so at the moment, you can watch it there, but it hasnt made its way to the grey market yet.
For episodes in general, a good quality seller in USA is this guy, and cheap:
http://otrdvd.co/

robertsvideo doesnt have it so dont waste your time contacting him. He's both expensive and weird.

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[–] eljefe320 9 years ago

I saw it there. Great episode. Too bad its not viewable anywhere else.

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[–] ygb-1 9 years ago

Watching it now on DVD. Alas, I do not recall where I ordered it, only that I ordered it with Andy Griffith's "Angel in My Pocket." Both came on dvd-r's in nice dvd cases without any information about who had produced them. The DVD is decent quality, considering the quality of TV back them. Comes complete with commercials!

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[–] eljefe320 9 years ago

I doubt it. How convenient that you can't say where or how you got it.

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[–] borg1005-1 8 years ago

Someone PLEASE help, I want to obtain a copy of this "Playhouse 90" episode. Format does not matter.

Eleven years later - I hope you are still around. I am amazed that no one, even up to 2015 has not mentioned that this film is on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHPdXQwRnoc. Read the book and double your pleasure.

The show had a lot of stock footage and cut out a lot of what the book fleshed out, but it still worth watching due to the quality of the actors.

My only real gripe is that, in the book, Diana Lynn's position in the group was of equal horsepower, being a State Dept. analyst and not just a "secretary". A very attractive woman and it was sad to discover that she died at an early 45 from a brain hemorrhage.

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[–] kylere 8 years ago

Sorry, that is not Alas, Babylon. Read and THEN post.

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[–] borg1005-1 8 years ago

Sorry, that is not Alas, Babylon. Read and THEN post.

Right church, wrong pew.

Observation: Interesting how snotty people can be when they can post anonymously.

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