The Oldest Living Graduate

I saw this production on April 7, 1980 LIVE on NBC television. There had not been a live TV production on network television in years before this. I made myself a videocassette recording of this production off the air with an old 3/4" U-Matic video recorder. Recently, I played this production after having it sit in my library for over 20 years. It is the story of a family in Bradleyville Texas in 1962. Fonda is the elder Kincaid. The story revolves around Kincaid, Jr. wanting to get at some property that his dad owns. Dad won't allow it to be sold. He has his reasons for not selling.

The production, as presented on TV, looks as it should. It is a stage play with one setting. The Kincaid family living room. It is a good story, and all the principal actors shine in their roles.

After the production ended, there was a short video about the shows author. It showed him in various settings, and showed short interviews with him. Then Henry Fonda came on the screen and announced that the author had died this day.

I know that there has to be a copy of this production that looks better than the one that I have. In the meantime, I'm very happy with the original.

So much of live TV has disappeared that we are fortunate to have this video of The Oldest Living Graduate. This play was done from a theater at Southern Methodist University in Dallas and Henry Fonda leads an impressive cast.

Set in 1980 Fonda though he does not realize it yet is the oldest living graduate of a Texas military academy. Several deaths during the World Wars and by simple attrition have made it so.

Fonda's son George Grizzard has plans for developing some acreage on their land that Fonda doesn't want touched. He also has plans for a media event to celebrate his dad's survival. Both Fonda doesn't want to hear about.

The story is a touching one and Public Television assembled a great cast to support Fonda and Grizzard.

This one should not be missed.

"The Oldest Living Graduate" is a play that was performed for live television...something you just don't see anymore. It stars Henry Fonda and is one of the last projects he worked on before his death in 1982.

The story is almost like a one-man play. Sure, there are other people in the play, but they seem to be there for Fonda to act against and he clearly is THE center of the production. He plays Colonel Kincaid, a well to do and VERY cranky old man who lives with his son (George Grizzard) and daughter-in-law (Cloris Leachman).

While very little is said about it in act 1, there is a ceremony coming where the Colonel will be honored as the oldest living graduate of a local military academy. Mostly in Act 1, the Colonel talks, reminisces AND complains...and talks even more!

Act 2 is specifically about the ceremony. When they are preparing for it, the Colonel acts pretty goofy...as if he's trying convince everyone there that his elevator no longer makes it to the top floor, so to speak! Later, he's rather petulant and rude...with little apparent provocation. So, instead of being on his best behavior, he's far, far from it...and a bit of a loose cannon. What happens next? See the play.

Fonda is enjoyable in this play. However, subtle he ain't! Instead, he chews up the stage and dominates the production from start to finish. Interestingly, although she is overwhelmed just like the rest of the cast by Fonda's character, the one who came off best was Leachman...and she's the only one in the play who can stand up to the old man.

So is it worth seeing? Yes. It's enjoyable and even a less than subtle performance by Fonda is a joy to see. However, although I noticed a lot of laughing from the audience, it really was rarely funny nor was it quite as clever as their reactions seemed to indicate. It was very good and worth seeing.