Don Juan in Hell

This was an interesting and well done version of the excerpt from Shaw's "Man and Superman". The problem in commenting on it is that has been so long since it was shown on TV. It may have been on Playhouse 90 or The Play of the Week. Too bad that it hasn't had a repeat showing as it was quite a tour de force for George C. Scott portraying the Devil in "shades" looking and acting deceptively smarmy (ain't that just like the Devil!) The rest of the cast, as best as I can remember, were also excellent. This came out around the time that another cast did the same performance on Broadway and as it contained a higher-powered group of actors the Scott one may have suffered in the comparison. That cast included Charles Laughton as the Devil, Charles Boyer as Don Juan, Agnes Moorehead as Dona Ana; I've forgotten who played the statue.

Probably too "intellectual" for most audiences. Shaw wrote as play within a play, "Man and Superman." A four-sided debate on the meaning and purpose of life. The serious subject enlivened by Shaw's humour and wit. The play has little action, but the 1960 TV production overcomes this with clever staging.

Scott witty and sardonic, the perfect devil, well before he became famous.

My rating would be higher except I am relying on my memory as I have not seen the show since it was originally on NY's Channel 13. I keep hoping that one of the PBS networks will realize what a treasure it is and re-televise it.

cheers, Boom

PS The Broadway cast mentioned in the next review had Cedric Hardwicke as the Commendatore, Agnes Moorhead as Dona Anna, Boyer Don Juan and a superb Laughton as the Devil. An LP recording was made by that cast.