NO LOVE LOST: A LIVE NORMAN CORWIN RADIO DRAMA
FROM THE MUSEUM OF TELEVISION & RADIO
Summary
This special evening at The Museum of Television & Radio
in Los Angeles features the recording of a historical
radio drama for broadcast on National Public Radio. The
drama concerns a fictional meeting in 1799 of Thomas
Jefferson, Aaron Burr, and Alexander Hamilton, with John
Lenox as moderator. The narrator states: "Although the
meeting recounted in this program never actually took
place, all opinions and advocacies of the panelists were
actually stated by them, often in their exact words, and
all incidents and events cited are likewise historically
true." Before the drama begins, Michael Zannella, vice
president of The Museum of Television & Radio in Los
Angeles, introduces Norman Corwin, who discusses the
historical period of the piece. Corwin introduces the
performers of "No Love Lost": Martin Landau as Lenox,
Jack Lemmon as Burr, Lloyd Bridges as Hamilton, William
Shatner as Jefferson, and Bonnie Grice as the narrator.
Then, Corwin asks the audience to create applause and
murmurs that will be inserted into the program during
post-production. As the program begins, the narrator
describes the politicians' entrance into the meeting
hall. First, the politicians criticize the demeaning
term "discussants." Hamilton then recalls the time he
was attacked on Wall Street and Burr recounts the
various names used to describe political parties. The
politicians debate whether the U.S. should go to war
with France; Hamilton and Burr discuss their work
together on a well-known murder trial; and Hamilton
describes how he became an aide to George Washington.
When Burr and Jefferson assert that Hamilton is too fond
of war, Lenox supports the accusation with a document,
after which Burr describes how he once prevented a
mutiny. Next, Jefferson describes his feelings upon
completing the Declaration of Independence and notes
changes made in the document. Each politician then
describes problems facing the U.S., including the vast
difference between the budgets of the Treasury and the
executive branch. But when the moderator asks about a
personal scandal, Hamilton takes offense and leaves the
room. Upon returning, Hamilton explains why he publicly
confessed his affair and confronts Burr and Jefferson
about their indiscretions. Following a discussion about
the Constitution and democracy, Hamilton, Burr, and
Jefferson describe problems that future generations may
have to handle. As the debate concludes, the narrator
reveals events that await each panelist in the future.
Once the program is over, Corwin thanks the actors and
audience members for their work and cooperation and
comments on the assets of the radio medium.
(This video copy of "No Love Lost" is an expanded
version of the program broadcast on National Public
Radio. See
R:14860 for the summary of that edited broadcast.)
Details
- NETWORK: N/A
- DATE: August 6, 1996
- RUNNING TIME: 1:13:05
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:45280
- GENRE: N/A
- SUBJECT HEADING: Declaration of Independence; U S - History - Colonial period - Drama
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Norman Corwin … Director, Writer, Guest
- Michael Zannella … Host
- Bonnie Grice … Narrator
- Martin Landau … Cast, John Lenox
- Jack Lemmon … Cast, Aaron Burr
- Lloyd Bridges … Cast, Alexander Hamilton
- William Shatner … Cast, Thomas Jefferson