AFTER THE FALL (TV)
Summary
This is a televised version of Arthur Miller's celebrated 1964 experimental play -- widely believed to mirror his marriage to Marilyn Monroe -- which takes place inside the mind of a New York-based Jewish lawyer. Act 1 begins as Quentin examines his life as he considers embarking on a relationship with a woman he met in Germany, Holga. Quentin references having recently quit his job, following the death of his second wife, Maggie, and the demise of his mother. Quentin recalls having visited a concentration camp with Holga while in Germany. Quentin then reflects on the day he got married to his first wife, Louise. Meanwhile, his mother takes his father to task for bringing them to the verge of poverty by selling off the family's assets. Quentin discusses how he misses Holga before recalling his dealings with a close friend, Lou, and his buxom wife, Elsie, as things began "falling apart" in his life. He recalls when Louise first had a "meeting" with him to tell him that she was going into psychoanalysis before telling her husband what his problem with women is. Then, after Quentin wonders why he can't be "innocent," his friend Mickey arrives. Mickey announces that he's been subpoenaed for his suspected communist activities, and that he's going to "name names." Then, as Quentin ponders how one can make promises, Mickey informs Lou how he is going to tell the truth about his thoughts on communism and how the party "swindled" him before wondering if he can offer up Lou's name.
In Act II, Quentin considers the day you "stop becoming" and, instead, just "are." He recalls the "symmetrical truth" of running into the fragile Maggie, a receptionist at his law firm, at a bus stop, and how he finally talked to her "like a woman."
In Act III, Quentin returns home to ponder the miracle of having a woman of his own -- Louise -- before he realizes he forgot an important business meeting earlier in the day. Then, he reveals to Louise his earlier meeting with Maggie, what impressed him about her behavior, and how he wanted to have sex with her. Louise says she knows that Quentin doesn't want her. Quentin then ponders the ease of judging others before a phone call alerts him that Lou jumped in front of a subway train and killed himself. Back in the present, Quentin then details how he was a bad friend to Lou, wondering how to deal with one's own evil and conscience before revealing that Holga's plane will land that evening at Idlewild.
In Act IV, Quentin recalls dining with Holga in a German cafe one afternoon a few weeks earlier when they ran into a former Hitler Youth who had once nearly killed her. Quentin ponders why he is so "disconnected" and unable to "mourn" as he recalls a story his mother told him. Later, Quentin accepts an invitation back to Maggie's apartment where the "rushed" Maggie details how, several years earlier, Quentin indirectly led to her becoming a famous singer. Eventually, Maggie reveals that she would "do anything" for Quentin, before disclosing some revelations.
In Act V, Quentin has a secret meeting with Maggie in a park, before they discuss a potential rendezvous in Washington, D.C., as well as the necessity of her making a new will. Returning to her apartment, Maggie reveals her love of Quentin before he teaches her how to "stand up" for herself. Next, Quentin defends activist Reverend Barnes in Washington, D.C. in front of the House Committee on Un-American Activities as his mind wanders to making love with Maggie. Later, the two discuss their growing relationship back in Maggie's hotel room. Then, Quentin ponders the nature of love, expressed as "the truth of roses." In Act VI, as Maggie and Quentin prepare to wed, Maggie reveals some of her past sexual promiscuities, but Quentin doesn't care. Quentin ponders the past before Maggie wonders if he will be faithful to her after seeing him hug Elsie too intimately for her tastes. After the wedding, the two return to Maggie's renovated apartment. Then, the two fight over Maggie's career, as she feels that she is a "joke." Quentin admits to not realizing how much love she needs. Later, in the bedroom, Maggie reveals why she thinks she isn't a good wife, and that her husband and lawyer shouldn't be the same man. She also insists on Quentin making sure that her fellow performer is fired. Later, Maggie refuses to let Quentin's mother be part of their life. Meanwhile, she begins developing a drinking and pill problem and becomes more manic as her relationship with Quentin deteriorates. Quentin ponders that love must be "blind" and "limitless."
Act VII begins as a crying Maggie stands at the end of a dock before Quentin arrives to rescue her from a suicide attempt. Later, Maggie fights about how she won't perform in the "stupid show" she's currently in, before Quentin reveals that he got fired. Then, Quentin discusses how he knows Maggie wants to die, yet he doesn't understand how to prevent it. As Maggie continues popping pills, Quentin tells her that she may have to be institutionalized. Further, he is going to have to remove himself from her life. Maggie tells Quentin why she wants to die, and what he did to perpetuate her craziness. Quentin tries to defend himself by admitting his shame in thinking of all the men that might have "had" Maggie. Eventually, Quentin concludes that neither he nor his wife are "innocent" and that both used the other in their search for love. But he also determines that Maggie doesn't want his love, she'd rather have his "destruction." The play ends with Maggie nearly dying at Quentin's hand, and Quentin summarizing his thoughts on survival, hope for the future, and the ability to forgive. Commercials deleted.
The acquisition and cataloging of The Arthur Miller Collection was made possible by The Laura Pels Foundation.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: December 10, 1974 8:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 2:06:55
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:02882
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; Arthur Miller Collection, The; Theatre
- SERIES RUN: NBC - TV, 1974
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Gilbert Cates … Producer, Director
- Peter Dohanos … Associate Producer
- Arthur Miller … Writer
- Garry Sherman … Music by
- Faye Dunaway … Cast, Maggie
- Christopher Plummer … Cast, Quentin
- Bibi Andersson … Cast, Holga
- Mariclare Costello … Cast, Louise
- Murray Hamilton … Cast, Mickey
- Nancy Marchand … Cast, Mother
- Addison Powell … Cast, Father
- Lee Richardson … Cast, Lou
- Jennifer Warren … Cast, Elsie
- Robert Blackburn … Cast, Harley Barnes
- Max Brandt … Cast, German Professor
- Edward Dunn … Cast, Lucas
- Dorothi Fox … Cast, Carrie
- M.B. Miller … Cast, Dan
- Albert M. Ottenheimer … Cast, Chairman
- Roger Serbagi … Cast, First Man