DICK POWELL THEATRE, THE: THE RAGE OF SILENCE (TV)
Summary
One in this dramatic anthology series, hosted by Glenn Ford.
In this program, an isolated deaf man, Martin, is knocked down by a car in the street and reacts with anger to the crowd's incomprehensible questioning. He journeys to a school for the deaf, where he is instantly smitten with attractive teacher Elise, who is giving a lesson on elementary American Sign Language. The head of the school, Harry, remarks upon Elise's great personal success and encourages colleague Don to pursue her, pointing out that her deafness doesn't make her "less of a woman." The increasingly lonely Martin learns that he is being ousted from his rented room, then trashes the place in a rage before escaping through a window. Back at the school, Elise reaches out to Martin and, communicating through written notes, invites him to live at the boarding house where she resides, Hilldale Manor. She convinces irascible landlord Mr. Potovsky to allow him to stay in exchange for doing housework.
Another resident, Mrs. Scott, notices Martin's growing obsession with Elise; when Don arrives to take Elise out, Martin is consumed with jealousy and ends up destroying one of Elise's dresses with a knife. Mrs. Scott tells Mr. Potovsky that she feels sure that the new "weirdo" is to blame. Martin flees in shame and stops attending Elise's classes, but Elise pleads with Mr. Potovsky not to kick him out of the house. After a run-in with a homeless man, Martin returns to his room and leaves an apologetic message for Elise, who kindly forgives him and continues spending time with him in and out of class.
Martin surprises Elise with a pair of earrings that she had admired, but he soon realizes that she is still romantically involved with Don. He spots a note left for Mrs. Scott explaining that the couple has headed off to Zuma Beach for the day, and he follows the couple there, attacking Don and Elise in an envious rage. The two men engage in a violent brawl, and Elise desperately appeals to several beachgoers before finally enlisting the help of some nearby cops. One of them shoots Martin, who attempts to communicate one final message to Elise before dying. Deeply shaken, Elise leaves the beach with Don. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: NBC
- DATE: November 30, 1999 9:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:51:07
- COLOR/B&W: B&W
- CATALOG ID: B:12423
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; Deafness; Romance
- SERIES RUN: CBS - TV series, 1961-1963
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Promos - "The Dick Powell Theatre: The Judge"
CREDITS
- Dick Powell … Executive Producer
- Aaron Spelling … Producer
- Richard Newton … Associate Producer
- Don Taylor … Director
- Ed Spiegel … Writer
- Jules Maitland … Writer
- Joseph Mullendore … Music by
- Glenn Ford … Host
- Peter Falk … Cast, Martin
- Carol Lynley … Cast, Elise
- Frederick Beir … Cast, Don
- Monica Keating … Cast, Mrs. Scott
- Fred Essler … Cast, Mr. Potovsky
- Marjorie Bennett … Cast, Landlady
- Alan Carney … Cast, Harry
- Hazel Shermet … Cast, Gert
- Jean Hale … Cast, First Girl
- Marlene Willis … Cast, Second Girl
- Buddy Lewis … Cast, Truck Driver
- Harry Wilson … Cast, Wino
- Will J. White … Cast, First Officer
- Paul Sorenson … Cast, Second Officer
- Bea Tompkins … Cast, Young Girl
- Michael Farrell … Cast, Young Boy
- Matty Jordon … Cast, Chef