The Challenge / Rod Serling's Wonderful World of... "Propaganda"

10899 Wilshire Boulevard,Los Angeles CA 90024

21 May, 2022

Description

UCLA Film & Television Archive presents free screenings at the Billy Wilder Theater at the Hammer Museum. Please review our COVID-19 protocols and admission policies. ---------- The ChallengeU.S., 1955 Directed by Sidney Lumet, the unsold pilot The Challenge examines the impact of McCarthyism via the story of a gentle bus driver (Jack Warden) who refuses to sign a state loyalty oath. The charged teleplay explores themes of patriotism and groupthink that Emmy Award-winning writers Reginald Rose Rose and Rod Serling would both insightfully explore repeatedly during their acclaimed careers, despite opposition from network censors and sponsors. DCP, b&w, 30 min. Production: A Worthington Miner Production; produced with the Assistance of The Fund of the Republic. Producer: Matthew W. Rapf. Director: Sidney Lumet. Writers: Reginald Rose, Rod Serling. With: Jack Warden, Louise Larabee, Michael Allen, Frank Thomas, Sr. Preservation funding provided by the John H. Mitchell Television Preservation Endowment. Digitally preserved by the UCLA Film & Television Archive from 16mm composite elements. Audio engineering services by Nicholas Bergh, Endpoint Audio. Special thanks to the Library of Congress, Moving Image Section, Rob Stone; Princeton University Library, Special Collections, Daniel J. Linke, William R. Clements. Rod Serling's Wonderful World of… “Propaganda”U.S., 3/8/1970 Produced by the stalwart creative team behind KNXT's beloved Ralph Story's Los Angeles (1964-1970), local series Rod Serling’s Wonderful World of… (1970) tackled weighty topics ranging from prejudice to propaganda. As host, Emmy-winning television icon Serling brought his trademark gravitas to the program’s mini-documentaries intended to provoke and promote thought. Sadly, as common with local television programming of its era, only a single episode of the obscure series is known to survive. DCP, color, 25 min. KNXT. Production: A KNXT Production. Executive Producer: Dan Gingold. Producer: Joe Saltzman. Director: Dan Gingold. Writers: Jere Witter, Nate Kaplan. Host: Rod Serling. Preservation funding provided by the John H. Mitchell Television Preservation Endowment. Preserved by the UCLA Film & Television Archive from an original 2 in. videotape. Video transfer at DC Video. Engineering services by David Crosthwait. Use courtesy of KCBS. Special thanks to Paul Button.