I watched this in the 1970s, when I was in my twenties. I recall how deeply I was affected and captivated by Henry Fonda’s masterful presentation of Darrow. This show made some important and positive impressions on my psyche during my formative years of youth. I learned quite a bit about ethics and morality from productions such as this one. So far, I’ve managed to stay on the narrow path in my elder years. My youthful stage of unfolding was way the hell and gone from the narrow path! I’m thrilled to revisit this magnificent play after a fifty-year span of Jerk-nom. Bless Bless! 33:18 Personally, I think this presentation is timely, as well as timeless. Lots to be learned from Mr. Fonda’s portrayal of Clarence Darrow.
What this man does with so little - he makes barely any gestures, never plays for laughs or tears, just him on that stage and he creates an entire world, an entire life and breaks your heart. A fine fine fine actor. What a treasure this is.
One man shows are fantastic, a real marvel to watch as the actor becomes the portrayal. I've seen both James Whitmore and Ed Flanders doing Harry Truman, Laurence Luckinbill as LBJ, and many years ago William Marshall as Fredrick Douglass which sadly seems to have been lost.
"Clarence Darrow Starring Henry Fonda" was one of the last specials to conclude PBS' Festival '75 Membership Pledge Drive on PBS stations across the country including my local PBS station: KPBS San Diego, Circa Monday March 17th, 1975!! 11 Great Nights on Public TV!!
And also, "Clarence Darrow Starring Henry Fonda" re-aired again during PBS' Festival '83 Membership Pledge Drive on PBS stations across the country including my local PBS station: KPBS San Diego, Circa Wednesday March 9th, 1983!! See How Great TV Can Be!!
Henry Fonda. Need we say anymore? This performance here, as in Grapes of Wrath, Clementime, Twelve Angry Men, all else...remarkable, simply remarkable.
I had the pleasure of seeing George C Scott perform this same script in the 80's, I think. It was interesting to see the difference in interpretation, but both actors were incredible in the role. I remember that Leslie Neilsen also toured with this work--I wish I had seen it as well.
This is just terrific. A privilege to see HF on stage, playing a great man. They mess around with the order of his 3 most famous cases though: the Leopold/Lobe trial actually came first, in 1924; then the Scopes 'Monkey' trial was in 1925 and the Ossian Sweet trial was 1926. Doesn't matter though - it's still a great piece of theatre history.
Don't you think it's kind of strange that in a long one man play about Clarence Darrow, they spend only a couple of minutes on Leopold and Loeb and The Scopes trial? He didn't even mention the Scopes trial by name, he just says a couple of sentences about William Jennings Bryant and Christian fundamentalism.Two of the most important cases and trials in America history and it's barely mentioned .
The sync is horrible, picture does not match sound, a major flaw in a play consisting of speeches delivered by the foremost orator in American law. Can it be fixed?
😢 The ideas of Clarence Darrow were concocted by him out of thin air. Bit as he liked to go on hearing himself propound such thin air proposals, he simply ends up being full of hot air.
people in America are free by way of the old constitution that don't mean they will have wealth and glory. it means they have the choice to go this way or that work for this man or start his own business or not work at all and beg. that is freedom . when men sound out against this freedom I see them as stupid how do you see them?
Well, Jimmy Stewart liked him well enough! I love that friendship, which proves that people can dearly like each other, even if they don't agree on politics.
DLZ2000 one day the two pals got into a political fight. They stopped speaking for a day or two, got back together and said, "let's just stay off the subject of politics from now on." And they did. And they stayed pals. Pretty sure they were best friends.
Adam Redfield- They actually invested in a second hand car, and drove out to Hollywood together from New York. They remained best friends for decades, despite being on opposite sides of the political spectrum. Over all that time, they only made two films together. "The Cheyenne Social Club," and a rather grim feature called, "Firecreek." The main difference between Fonda and Stewart, in my opinion at least, is that Fonda could equally play a good or bad guy. Stewart, not so much. (Although his emotional breakdown as he drags Kim Novak up the stairs at the end of "Vertigo" is a sight to behold.) They broke the mold when these two actors were created!
I watched this in the 1970s, when I was in my twenties. I recall how deeply I was affected and captivated by Henry Fonda’s masterful presentation of Darrow. This show made some important and positive impressions on my psyche during my formative years of youth. I learned quite a bit about ethics and morality from productions such as this one. So far, I’ve managed to stay on the narrow path in my elder years. My youthful stage of unfolding was way the hell and gone from the narrow path! I’m thrilled to revisit this magnificent play after a fifty-year span of Jerk-nom. Bless Bless!
33:18 Personally, I think this presentation is timely, as well as timeless. Lots to be learned from Mr. Fonda’s portrayal of Clarence Darrow.
What this man does with so little - he makes barely any gestures, never plays for laughs or tears, just him on that stage and he creates an entire world, an entire life and breaks your heart. A fine fine fine actor. What a treasure this is.
A one-man, two act play by one of the finest actors of the twentieth century.
Quite simply a Master Class on Acting. Thank you Mr. Fonda.
One man shows are fantastic, a real marvel to watch as the actor becomes the portrayal. I've seen both James Whitmore and Ed Flanders doing Harry Truman, Laurence Luckinbill as LBJ, and many years ago William Marshall as Fredrick Douglass which sadly seems to have been lost.
"Clarence Darrow Starring Henry Fonda" was one of the last specials to conclude PBS' Festival '75 Membership Pledge Drive on PBS stations across the country including my local PBS station: KPBS San Diego, Circa Monday March 17th, 1975!! 11 Great Nights on Public TV!!
And also, "Clarence Darrow Starring Henry Fonda" re-aired again during PBS' Festival '83 Membership Pledge Drive on PBS stations across the country including my local PBS station: KPBS San Diego, Circa Wednesday March 9th, 1983!! See How Great TV Can Be!!
Brilliant actor loved him in On Golden Pond and 12 Angry men.
What an incredible performance….
Henry Fonda. Need we say anymore? This performance here, as in Grapes of Wrath, Clementime, Twelve Angry Men, all else...remarkable, simply remarkable.
Don't forget Once Upon a Time in the West.
One of the finest actors and finest performances. I love Mr. Fonda and miss his exceptional talent !
Thank you for posting this gem.
Wow! Such an amazing performance.
I had the pleasure of seeing George C Scott perform this same script in the 80's, I think. It was interesting to see the difference in interpretation, but both actors were incredible in the role. I remember that Leslie Neilsen also toured with this work--I wish I had seen it as well.
This is just terrific. A privilege to see HF on stage, playing a great man.
They mess around with the order of his 3 most famous cases though: the Leopold/Lobe trial actually came first, in 1924; then the Scopes 'Monkey' trial was in 1925 and the Ossian Sweet trial was 1926. Doesn't matter though - it's still a great piece of theatre history.
Don't you think it's kind of strange that in a long one man play about Clarence Darrow, they spend only a couple of minutes on Leopold and Loeb and The Scopes trial? He didn't even mention the Scopes trial by name, he just says a couple of sentences about William Jennings Bryant and Christian fundamentalism.Two of the most important cases and trials in America history and it's barely mentioned .
What a treat. And Peter Thomas' voice too💫
Thank you ...Bravo!
Magnificent. A joy to watch. Thank you very much for uploading this wonderful gem of a performance.
WTF, did the guy learn the ENTIRE text by HEART???😲 Amazing
Reminds me of his master performance in Twelve Angry Men. A man who has an obsession with justice speaks with a golden voice.
Wow, just wow.
I had searched for this for years. Saw it on its original PBS airing when I was in high school. Thanks so much for uploading.
Fine show . Hank was one of the best.
OMG thanks so much! I saw Fonda live at the Pantages .. I was sooo young and it was still a highlight!!
A great actor. No question about it.
the truth endures ...
Hank was The Best.
That was a very long speech Did he have all of that memorized?
The sync is horrible, picture does not match sound, a major flaw in a play consisting of speeches delivered by the foremost orator in American law. Can it be fixed?
Clarence Darrow could have been a Great man FOR GOD. What a shame to die having fought against the Bible.
I preferred Orson's version.
great ==but the voice is off synched --and sometime watch YOung mr Lincoln --many of the same mannerisms and facial expressions
Fonda is wonderful but Welles' version is magnificent
could you tell me a link?
@@adamjarosz5558 th-cam.com/video/CrjbL4eedkQ/w-d-xo.html
😢 The ideas of Clarence Darrow were concocted by him out of thin air. Bit as he liked to go on hearing himself propound such thin air proposals, he simply ends up being full of hot air.
Fonda was a fine actor but as Darrow I never felt the essence of the old lawyer, just Fonda.
Todays technology.
Couldnt even get the lip sync right.
Lets go back to undigitilised vhs.
is not Hollywood grand
Sub-LIME !
people in America are free by way of the old constitution that don't mean they will have wealth and glory. it means they have the choice to go this way or that work for this man or start his own business or not work at all and beg. that is freedom . when men sound out against this freedom I see them as stupid how do you see them?
Clarence Darrow was a great lawyer. He was, but a lousy dresser.
"ACTORS", PRETENDING TO BE WHO THEY ARE NOT, IS IT A "PROFESSION " ?????
Lol
Fonda treated his wife like shit.
Off-topic.
One of the most overrated actors of all-time. He's no Jimmy Stewart!!
Well, Jimmy Stewart liked him well enough! I love that friendship, which proves that people can dearly like each other, even if they don't agree on politics.
DLZ2000 one day the two pals got into a political fight. They stopped speaking for a day or two, got back together and said, "let's just stay off the subject of politics from now on." And they did. And they stayed pals. Pretty sure they were best friends.
Adam Redfield- They actually invested in a second hand car, and drove out to Hollywood together from New York. They remained best friends for decades, despite being on opposite sides of the political spectrum. Over all that time, they only made two films together. "The Cheyenne Social Club," and a rather grim feature called, "Firecreek." The main difference between Fonda and Stewart, in my opinion at least, is that Fonda could equally play a good or bad guy. Stewart, not so much. (Although his emotional breakdown as he drags Kim Novak up the stairs at the end of "Vertigo" is a sight to behold.) They broke the mold when these two actors were created!
Bill Anthony, great story. Thank you for sharing it. :)
Of course he's not Jimmy, he's much better!