GREAT PERFORMANCES: THE REAL MCTEAGUE: A SYNTHESIS OF FORMS (TV)
Summary
One in this series of dramatic arts programs. This program, conceived and supervised by Robert Altman, examines the treatment of Frank Norris's 1899 novel "McTeague" in various media by interweaving excerpts (read by Studs Terkel) from the novel with clips from Erich von Stroheim's 1924 silent film classic "Greed, and segments from the Lyric Opera of Chicago's production of William Bolcom's1992 opera "McTeague," both based on the novel. Terkel first introduces the piece and explains where Norris got the idea for his book. Then the story of the dentist McTeague -- told in its various forms -- begins. McTeague's best friend, Marcus, brings him a beautiful female patient, Trina, who has a broken tooth. While Trina is under an anesthetic, McTeague falls in love with her. He later tells Marcus of his feelings. Although Marcus was planning on marrying Trina, he quickly gives up all claims to her. On the night of Trina and McTeague's wedding, Trina is informed that she has won the lottery. She is given five thousand dollars in gold coins.
Suddenly, Marcus is filled with anger. He feels that the money would have been his if he had not given Trina over to McTeague and that he is, therefore, entitled to at least half. The McTeagues give him nothing. Trina meanwhile, reveals her miserly nature by refusing to spend any of the money she has won. Even when McTeague loses his dental practice, Trina refuses to touch the gold coins. McTeague finds himself jobless and starving on the streets. Filled with rage and ravaging hunger, McTeague murders his wife and steals the coins. He becomes a wanted man and wanders Death Valley. Marcus meanwhile, learns of McTeague's actions and sets out to find his former best friend in order to collect the coins, which he still feels are rightfully his.
Details
- NETWORK: PBS WTTW Chicago, IL
- DATE: May 26, 1993
- RUNNING TIME: 0:57:07
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:35995
- GENRE: Drama; Music
- SUBJECT HEADING: Films, silent; Operas
- SERIES RUN: PBS - TV series, 1974-
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Jac Venza … Executive Producer
- Frank Barhydt … Coordinating Producer
- Geoffrey Baer … Producer, Writer
- Elaine Goldstein … Series Producer
- David Horn … Series Producer
- Robert Altman … Stage Director, Concept and Creative Supervision by, Librettist
- Kirk Browning … Director, Opera segments directed for television by
- Jack Ginay … Director, Studio segments directed by
- James Arntz … Writer
- Frank Norris … Based on the novel by
- William Bolcom … Music by
- Maurice Jarre … Theme Music by
- Dennis Russell Davies … Conductor
- Arnold Weinstein … Librettist
- Ned Mochel … Fight Choreographer
- Lyric Opera of Chicago Orchestra … Symphony Orchestra
- Studs Terkel … Narrator, Introduced by
- Zasu Pitts … Cast, Trina (Silent Film)
- Catherine Malfitano … Cast, Trina (Opera)
- Jean Hersholt … Cast, Marcus Schouler (Silent Film)
- Timothy Nolen … Cast, Marcus Schouler (Opera)
- Gibson Gowland … Cast, McTeague (Silent Film)
- Ben Heppner … Cast, McTeague (Opera)
- Emily Golden … Cast , Maria (Opera)
- Wilbur Pauley … Cast, the Lottery Agent (Opera), the Inspector (Opera)
- William Walker … Cast
- Martha Jane Howe … Cast
- John Capone … Cast
- Patrick Denniston … Cast
- Victor Benedetti … Cast
- Richard Markley … Cast
- Brian Andrew Nedvin … Cast
- Mark Jones … Cast
- Charles Austin … Cast
- Mark Nienow … Cast
- Elizabeth Koch … Cast
- Beverly Thiele … Cast
- Terese Fedea … Cast
- Eleni Matos … Cast
- Rodrick Dixon … Cast
- Roy Smith … Cast
- Elias Mokole … Cast
- Henry Runey … Cast