AMERICAN PLAYHOUSE: ETHAN FROME (TV)
Summary
One in this dramatic anthology series. This presentation is an adaptation of Edith Wharton's 1911 tragic novella, concerning the doomed romance between a Vermont farmer and his sickly wife's cousin. Upon arriving in Stockfield, young, idealistic Reverend Smith is troubled that the taciturn, crippled Ethan Frome is treated like a pariah by the townspeople. Ethan Frome's story, told to the Reverend in flashback by a longtime Stockfield resident, recalls how Ethan came to marry his distant cousin, Zeena, who cared for his ill mother until her death. Once married, Zeena herself is assailed by a series of illnesses which exhaust the couple financially and emotionally. With Zeena too fragile to maintain their humble household, they take in Zeena's relation, Mattie Silver, a frail teenage orphan who thrives in their home during the Vermont winter. When Zeena travels to a neighboring town for medical treatment, Ethan and Mattie begin an affair. When her suspicions become aroused, Zeena makes arrangements to have Mattie replaced by hired help. The lovers, distraught about their imminent separation, decide to embrace each other one last time as they go sledding down the Vermont mountainside.
This program is followed by "Behind the Scenes of Ethan Frome" a thirteen-minute short film that features comments from the cast and crew about the making of this film. There are observations about plot and character by the principle actors: Liam Neeson (Ethan Frome), Joan Allen (Zeena Frome) and Patricia Arquette (Mattie Silver). Several crew members describe their behind-the-scenes roles in the film's production, including Ellen Ryba (wardrobe supervisor), Mike Reynolds (generator operator), Tim Spencer (dolly grip) and Terry McTaggart (camera assistant).
Acquisition and cataloging of this program was made possible by a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS WNET New York, NY
- DATE: November 16, 1994 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:54:07
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:34645
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; Literature - Adaptations
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 1982-
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Lindsay Law … Executive Producer
- Richard Price … Executive Producer
- Lindsay Law … Executive Producer
- Stan Wlodkowski … Producer
- Johlyn Dale … Associate Producer
- John Madden … Director
- Richard Nelson … Writer
- Edith Wharton … Based on the novel by
- Rachel Portman … Music by
- Patty Smith … Choreographer
- Chip Hedler … Choreographer
- Liam Neeson … Cast, Ethan Frome
- Patricia Arquette … Cast, Mattie Silver
- Joan Allen … Cast, Zeena
- Tate Donovan … Cast, Reverend Smith
- Katharine Houghton … Cast, Mrs. Hale
- Stephen Mendillo … Cast, Ned Hale
- Debbon Ayer … Cast, Young Ruth
- Rob Campbell … Cast, Young Ned
- Jay Goede … Cast, Denis Eady
- George Woodard … Cast, Jotham
- Gil Rood … Cast, the Conductor
- Phil Garran … Cast, Mr. Howe
- Virginia Smith … Cast, Mr. Howe
- Annie Nessen … Cast, Sarah Anne Howe
- Marcie Vaughn … Cast, Young Woman
- Burt Porter … Cast, Harmon Gow
- De Wees, Rusty … Cast, a Man at the Post Office
- Paul Donlon … Cast, a Man at the Post Office
- Robert Nutt … Cast, the Church Elder
- David Dellinger … Cast, the Funeral Minister
- W. Clark Noyes … Cast, a Man at Funeral
- Howard Boardman … Cast, a Man at Funeral
- Deborah Bremer … Cast, a Woman at Funeral
- Tom Todoroff … Cast, the Second Conductor
- De Cormier, Louise … Cast, Mrs. Varnum
- Edsel Hughes … Cast, Mr. Varnum
- Dennis Mientka … Cast, Andrew Hale
- Darri Johnson … Cast, a Customer at Eady Store
- Patty Smith … Cast, Mrs. Homan
- For Vermont ETV "Crossroads"
- Enzo di Maio … Coordinating Producer
- Chris Sariego … Segment Producer
- Peter Wilder … Theme Music by