The Fabulous Irishman (Playhouse 90)

"**The Fabulous Irishman**"
"The Fabulous Irishman"
Playhouse 90 episode
	Katharine Bard and Art Carney from "The Fabulous Irishman"
Episode no.	Season 1; Episode 39
Directed by	John Frankenheimer
Written by	Elick Moll
Original air date	June 27, 1957
Guest appearance
	Art Carney as Robert Briscoe;
Episode chronology
← Previous; "Ain't No Time Glory"	Next →; "The Death of Manolete"

"The Fabulous Irishman" was an American television play broadcast live on June 27, 1957, as part of the CBS television series, Playhouse 90. It was the 39th episode of the first season.

Plot

The play tells the story of Irish politician Robert Briscoe. It begins in 1918 when Briscoe, as a young Jewish Irishman, became active in the Irish Republican Army (IRA). During the Irish War of Independence, he smuggled arms past the Black and Tans and was the subject of a "shoot on sight" order. He later became the first Jewish Lord Mayor of Dublin.^[1]

Cast

The cast included performances by:

Art Carney as Robert Briscoe
Katharine Bard as Lillian Isaacs
Michael Higgins as Jamie Farrow
Charles Davis as Sean O'Brien
Eli Mintz as Mr. Isaacs
George Mathews as Mellows
David Opatoshu as Briscoe's Father
Berta Gersten
Peter Lorre

Eddie Cantor hosted the broadcast.

Production

Martin Manulis was the producer and John Frankenheimer the director. Elick Moll wrote the teleplay. The play was presented live on June 27, 1957.^[2]

Reception

In The New York Times, J. P. Shanley called it "a splendid tribute to a colorful patriot" and "a most creditable conclusion" to Playhouse 90's first season. Shanley wrote that Carney was "ideal" for the title role and that Carney has proven himself "a versatile and brilliant actor."^[2]

In The Boston Globe, Elizabeth W. Driscoll called it "one of the most heartwarming offerings of the season and "a story that had all the authenticity and much of the impact of 'The Informer' without its great tragedy." She praised the absence of "sanctimonious little speeches" and wrote that Carney gave a performance that "helps convince you television is a wonderful thing."^[3]

References

^ "To Re-Create Irish Revolution On "Playhouse 90"". The Bedford Daily Times. June 22, 1957 – via Newspapers.com.
^ ^a ^b J. P. Shanley (June 28, 1957). "Robert Briscoe, 'The Fabulous Irishman'". The New York Times. p. 35.
^ Elizabeth W. Driscoll (June 28, 1957). "Fabulous Irishman, Indeed: Mayor Briscoe's Story Expert, Heartwarming". The Boston Globe – via Newspapers.com.

[1] "To Re-Create Irish Revolution On "Playhouse 90"". The Bedford Daily Times. June 22, 1957 – via Newspapers.com.

[NYT-2] J. P. Shanley (June 28, 1957). "Robert Briscoe, 'The Fabulous Irishman'". The New York Times. p. 35.

[3] Elizabeth W. Driscoll (June 28, 1957). "Fabulous Irishman, Indeed: Mayor Briscoe's Story Expert, Heartwarming". The Boston Globe – via Newspapers.com.

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v t e Playhouse 90
People	John Frankenheimer Martin Manulis Franklin J. Schaffner Rod Serling
Season 1	"Forbidden Area" "Requiem for a Heavyweight" "Sizeman and Son" "Rendezvous in Black" "The Country Husband" "The Big Slide" "Heritage of Anger" "Eloise" "Confession" "Made in Heaven" "Sincerely, Willis Wade" "The Family Nobody Wanted" "Massacre at Sand Creek" "Snowshoes: A Comedy of People and Horses" "The Ninth Day" "So Soon to Die" "The Star Wagon" "The Greer Case" "The Miracle Worker" "The Comedian" "The Coat of White" "The Blackwell Story" "Invitation to a Gunfighter" "The Last Tycoon" "The Hostess with the Mostes'" "Charley's Aunt" "Clipper Ship" "If You Know Elizabeth" "Three Men on a Horse" "Four Women in Black" "Child of Trouble" "Homeward Borne" "Helen Morgan" "Winter Dreams" "Circle of the Day" "Without Incident" "Clash by Night" "Ain't No Time for Glory" "The Fabulous Irishman"
Season 2	"The Death of Manolete" "The Dark Side of the Earth" "Topaze" "A Sound of Different Drummers" "The Playroom" "Around the World in 90 Minutes" "The Mystery of Thirteen" "The Edge of Innocence" "The Clouded Image" "The Jet Propelled Couch" "The Troublemakers" "Panic Button" "Galvanized Yankee" "The Thundering Wave" "For I Have Loved Strangers" "The Lone Woman" "Reunion" "The Last Man" "The 80 Yard Run" "Before I Die" "The Gentleman From Seventh Avenue" "The Violent Heart" "No Time at All" "Point of No Return" "Portrait of a Murderer" "The Last Clear Chance" "The Male Animal" "The Right Hand Man" "Turn Left at Mount Everest" "The Dungeon" "Verdict of Three" "Rumors of Evening" "Not the Glory" "Nightmare at Ground Zero" "Bomber's Moon" "Natchez" "The Innocent Sleep" "A Town Has Turned to Dust" "The Great Gatsby" "A Bitter Heritage"
Season 3	"The Plot to Kill Stalin" "Days of Wine and Roses" "The Time of Your Life" "The Long March" "Shadows Tremble" "Word From a Sealed-Off Box" "Heart of Darkness" "Old Man" "The Return of Ansel Gibbs" "Free Weekend" "Seven Against the Wall" "The Nutcracker" "Face of a Hero" "The Wings of the Dove" "The Blue Men" "The Velvet Alley" "A Quiet Game of Cards" "Child of Our Time" "The Second Man" "The Raider" "The Dingaling Girl" "Made in Japan" "For Whom the Bell Tolls" "A Trip to Paradise" "In Lonely Expectation" "The Day Before Atlanta" "Judgment at Nuremberg" "A Corner of the Garden" "Dark December" "Diary of a Nurse" "A Marriage of Strangers" "Out of Dust" "The Rank and File" "The Killers of Mussolini" "Project Immortality" "Dark as the Night" "The Second Happiest Day"
Season 4	"Target for Three" "The Sounds of Eden" "Misalliance" "The Hidden Image" "The Grey Nurse Said Nothing" "The Tunnel" "The Silver Whistle" "A Dream of Treason" "To the Sound of Trumpets" "The Cruel Day" "Tomorrow" "The Hiding Place" "Alas, Babylon" "Journey to the Day" "The Shape of the River" "In the Presence of Mine Enemies"
Revivals	CBS Playhouse CBS Playhouse 90