ART CARNEY MEETS PETER AND THE WOLF (TV)
Summary
In this special musical presentation, the adventures of Art Carney and his puppet friends, the forest animals, provide a framing devise for the retelling of the children's classic "Peter and the Wolf" by the Bil Baird marionettes. In this story, the kind animals of the forest wish to rid their home of the big, bad wolf, whose large teeth frighten them. The wolf, however, has no intention of leaving the woods. The animals elect Carney to help them get the wolf to leave them alone. However, the wolf appeals to Carney's sensitive side by explaining that he is a victim of prejudice and has never done anything wrong. As evidence, he gives revisionist interpretations to his encounters with Little Red Riding Hood and the Three Little Pigs. Carney explains the wolf's predicament to the animals and they decide to take a vote on whether or not the wolf may remain among them. While the vote is taking place, the wolf slinks off and eats a duck.
Then, he tries to get his paws on a bird, but is taken prisoner by a young boy named Peter before he can accomplish his task. The wolf is brought before the animals and placed on trial. The only witness to his crime is Carney's dog whose testimony is useless since he is nearsighted and had mistaken the duck for a "water spaniel." Once again, the wolf claims that he is being discriminated against by being blamed for a crime that he did not commit. Luckily, Carney hears the duck quacking inside of the wolf. He reaches in and pulls out the poor creature, proving that the wolf is not as gentle as he pretends to be. The wolf begs for mercy, claiming that his actions are not his fault: his fate was predetermined by Aesop's fables. Carney offers the wolf a variety of new occupations, but the wolf says all he wants from life is to be admired for his "turpitude" and fed often during the day. This inspires Carney to come up with a brilliant solution for everyone involved. During this program, Carney performs "Magical Morning" and "Be Glad There's a Hole in Your Head," his dog sings "Her," and the wolf (George S. Irving) sings "You Can't Catch Me," "Wolf's Lament," and "Turpitude." Commercials deleted. Includes promos and a public service announcement.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: November 30, 1958 5:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:51:17
- COLOR/B&W: B&W
- CATALOG ID: T:05120
- GENRE: Children's programs; Music; Specials
- SUBJECT HEADING: Children's programs; Musical revues, comedies, etc.; Puppets
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV, 1958
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - PSA - Fight TB Christmas Seals
- TV - Promos - "Lawman"
- TV - Promos - "Maverick"
CREDITS
- John Green … Executive Producer
- Shevelove, Bert (See also: Shevelove, Burt; Shevelove, B.G.) … Producer
- Dick Feldman … Director
- Bil Baird … Created by
- A.J. Russell … Writer
- Ogden Nash … Lyrics by
- Paul Weston … Music by, Conductor
- Sergei Prokofiev … Music (Misc. Credits), Based on the themes by
- Paul Weston Orchestra, The … Orchestra
- Bil Baird … Puppeteer
- Cora Baird … Puppeteer
- Frank Sullivan … Puppeteer
- Carl Harms … Puppeteer
- Frank Fazanas … Puppeteer
- Al Mancini … Puppeteer
- George S. Irving … Cast, the Wolf, Voice
- Art Carney … Cast
- Bil Baird Marionettes, The