PLAYHOUSE 90: PROJECT IMMORTALITY (TV)

Summary

One in this dramatic anthology series about a dying man who is offered an unusual kind of immortality -- in the form of a computer. In this part, Prof. Lawrence Doner, who is considered to have the greatest mind in America, is dying of leukemia. Martin Schramm, a mathematician from the Defense Department, meets with Doner and proposes his project to model a computer program after the professor's brain pattern, a process that would require hours of testing and note-taking each day. After much debate, Doner agrees to a minimum of two and a half hours a day and allows Schramm to move into the Doner household. A few weeks later, however, Schramm complains to his project co-workers that Doner is uncooperative and has philosophical reservations about the tests. Meanwhile, Doner's son, Arthur, complains to his mother and sister, Ketti, about the loss of precious time with his father because of Schramm's testing. Arthur interrupts a heated meeting between Doner and Schramm, but he becomes upset and storms out of the room when his father doesn't have time to talk. Later, Doner suffers a collapse while speaking at a symposium on spaceships, which enables Schramm to convince him of the need to preserve his mental energies by fully committing to the computer project. The harmony is short-lived, however, when another heated argument erupts between the two men. Doner admits to his wife, Eva, his frustration with Schramm's serious attitude and his desire to show Schramm that there's more to life than computers. After an evening of song with Doner at the piano, Arthur and Ketti discuss their different attitudes in dealing with their father's illness and imminent death.

Although his energy is fading, Prof. Lawrence Doner continues to busy himself with Martin Schramm despite pleas from his wife, Eva, to stay home. Eva accuses Doner of squandering precious time by pretending he's not ill. Alone, Doner can't bear to look at the clock, knowing he doesn't have much time left. At a meeting with Schramm's colleagues, Doner suggests simultaneous testing with the computer program. Meanwhile, Doner's son, Arthur, runs away from home to Boston. Doner, who is increasingly losing his strength, and Schramm follow him. Alone with Doner, Arthur pours out his anger and fear of watching his father die and Schramm replacing him as a son. Doner is soon hospitalized. The Defense Department tests the computer and finds it is able to predict Doner's response. When Schramm visits Doner in the hospital, Eva and Ketti inform him of the project's success. Doner dies alone later that night. Includes commercials.

Details

• NETWORK: CBS
• DATE: June 11, 1959 Thursday 9:30 PM
• RUNNING TIME: 1:26:59
• COLOR/B&W: B&W
• CATALOG ID: T89:0238
• GENRE: Drama
• SUBJECT HEADING: Drama
• SERIES RUN: CBS - TV series, 1956-1961
• COMMERCIALS:
  • TV - Commercials - Ansco
  • TV - Commercials - Camel cigarettes
  • TV - Commercials - Kimberly Clark products
  • TV - Commercials - Renault Dauphine
  • TV - Commercials - Your Gas Company

CREDITS

• Peter Kortner … Producer
• Anthony Barr … Associate Producer
• A.J. Carothers … Associate Producer
• Fielder Cook … Director
• Loring Mandel … Writer
• Jerry Goldsmith … Music by
• Frank Baxter … Host
• Lee J. Cobb … Cast, Lawrence Doner
• Kenneth Haigh … Cast, Martin Schramm
• Gusti Huber … Cast, Eva Doner
• Michael Landon … Cast, Arthur Doner
• Patty McCormack … Cast, Ketti Doner
• Paul Fix … Cast, General
• Richard Carlyle … Cast, Schoonover
• Frank Ferguson … Cast, DeKlasch
• Barney Phillips … Cast, Colonel Bender
• Don Keefer … Cast, Leech
• Frederic Worlock … Cast, Dr. Samman
• Joseph Sargent … Cast, Liggett
• Sheridan Comerate … Cast, Driver
• Azaria Port … Cast, Agassiz
• Donald Foster … Cast, Laniel
• William Boyett … Cast, Weiner