Legend of Lylah Clare (The DuPont Show of the Week)

"The Legend of Lylah Clare" is a 1963 American television play that originally aired as an episode of the anthology series The DuPont Show of the Week on May 19, 1963, with Tuesday Weld in the title role and Alfred Drake co starring.[1][2] It was later adapted into a feature film of the same name.

"Legend of Lylah Clare"
The DuPont Show of the Week episode
Episode no.Season 2
Episode 17
Directed byFranklin J. Schaffner
Written byRobert Thom
Based onidea by Edward De Blasio
Produced byJacqueline Babbin
Original air date19 May 1963 (1963-05-19)
Running time60 mins
Guest appearances

Schaffner's biographer called it "part Josef von Sternberg/Marlene Dietrich and part Vertigo" and "most enjoyable" of the four plays Schaffner directed for The DuPont Show of the Week.[3]

Premise

A young woman, Elsie, resembles a star, Lylah Clare, who died 30 years ago when she was 25. Her agent sends her to the house of Loui Zakin, the producer-director who worked with Clare. Zakin casts her in the lead in a biopic of Lylah Clare.

Gradually it becomes apparent the spirit of Lylah is possessing Elsie.

Production

The show was made by the Directors Company, a production company formed by Franklin Schaffner and Fielder Cook to make some of the Dupont Dramas. Schaffner said if the audience could stay with the story until the last twenty minutes he would "guarantee nightmares". Robert Thom's script was described as a "modern Dybbuk".[4]

Tuesday Weld was recommended to play the lead by writer Robert Thom. Schaffner was initially reluctant, feeling they needed a better known actor, especially as co star Alfred Drake was only known on Broadway. However, when the other actor Schaffner wanted was unavailable, Weld was cast. "I was pleasantly surprised by her natural talent," said the director. "She does a fine job."[5]

The play featured an extended sequence with Weld in a bathtub.[5]

Photography of Lylah Clare were by Jerry Schatzberg.

Reception

Robert Aldrich who bought the film rights to the play and turned it into a film said Tuesday Weld "did marvellously" although the play "was much more strikingly fashioned to fit the [Marilyn] Monroe mould and we tried hard not to do that" in his movie.[6]

References
  1. Miller, Frank. "The Legend of Lylah Clare". Retrieved March 3, 2014.
  2. MacMinn, Aleene (April 17, 1963) "Camera Angles: Corey Released From 'Eleventh Hour' Role" Los Angeles Times p.c15
  3. Kim, Erwin (1985). Franklin J. Schaffner. Scarecrow Press. p. 174.
  4. Smith, Cecil (May 17, 1963) "The TV Scene: 'Show of Week' Modem 'Dybbuk'" Los Angeles Times p.c12
  5. Pack, Harvey (12 May 1963). "Tuesday Weld will bathe for cameras". The Sacramento Bee. p. 117.
  6. Ringel, Harry (summer 1974) "Up to Date with Robert Aldrich" Sight and Sound v.43, n.3, p.166
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