Twentieth Century is a 1932 play by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur based on the unproduced play Napoleon of Broadway by Charles B. Millholland, inspired by his experience working for the eccentric Broadway impresario David Belasco.
Synopsis The Hecht-MacArthur comedy is set in the observation car of the 20th Century Limited, travelling from Chicago to New York's Grand Central Terminal. Aboard the luxury train are egomaniacal theatre producer Oscar Jaffe, desperately in need of a hit, and his former paramour and protégé, temperamental actress Lily Garland (born Mildred Plotka), who abandoned him for a Hollywood career. Oscar is determined to sign her for his new show, and Lily is just as determined to ignore his advances, both professional and personal.
Richard Maney Richard Maney, an American theatrical press publicity agent, was satirized in the play.
Productions The first Broadway production, directed by George Abbott, opened on December 29, 1932 at the Broadhurst Theatre, where it ran for 152 performances. Moffat Johnston and Eugenie Leontovich were the stars, with William Frawley and Edward La Roche in featured roles. It was adapted for a critically acclaimed film adaptation of the same name two years later.
The play has been revived on Broadway twice. The first, directed by José Ferrer, opened on December 24, 1950 at the ANTA Playhouse, where it ran for 233 performances. The production starred Ferrer as Oscar and Gloria Swanson, who designed her own gowns, as Lily. Werner Klemperer and Edward Platt were also in the cast.
The second revival, an adaptation by Ken Ludwig directed by Walter Bobbie, opened on March 25, 2004, at the Roundabout Theatre Company's American Airlines Theatre, where it ran for 27 previews and 84 performances. Alec Baldwin and Anne Heche headed a cast that included Dan Butler, Tom Aldredge and Julie Halston.Hernandex, Ernio. "Baldwin and Heche Pull Into the Broadway Station With New 'Twentieth Century', Opening March 25" playbill.com, March 25, 2004 Tony Award nominations went to Heche and Aldredge, and the production earned a Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Set Design of a Play.
Adaptations
Film Hecht and MacArthur adapted their play for the 1934 screwball comedy Twentieth Century, directed by Howard Hawks and starring John Barrymore and Carole Lombard.
Radio Orson Welles, Sam Levene and Elissa Landi starred in The Campbell Playhouse radio adaptation of Twentieth Century, broadcast March 24, 1939, on CBS Radio.https://web.archive.org/web/20180506035555/https://orsonwelles.indiana.edu/wowza4/welles/_definist_/mp4:122.high.mp4/122.high.m3u8
The Campbell Playhouse. March 24, 1939. CBS radio. "Twentieth Century". Sponsored by: Campbell's Soup. The comedy by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur, set in a cross-country train. A Hollywood producer and a star clash on rails. Guest is Richard Maney, a real-life press agent who was satirized in the story. Charles MacArthur (author), Bernard Herrmann (composer, conductor), Edgar Kent, Elissa Landi, Ernest Chappell (announcer), Everett Sloane, Gus Schilling, Howard Teichmann (editor), Orson Welles (host), Ray Collins (narrator), Richard Maney (guest), Sam Levene, Ben Hecht (author), Alan Reed (billed as Teddy Bergman). 58:53.
Television Twentieth Century has been presented on television at least three times: On October 7, 1949, the Ford Theatre production with Fredric March and Lilli Palmer under the direction of Marc Daniels; On October 12, 1953, the Broadway Television Theatre version directed by Robert St. Aubrey and starring Fred Clark and Constance Bennett; On April 7, 1956, the Ford Star Jubilee presentation, produced by Arthur Schwartz and starring Orson Welles and Betty Grable.TCM Notes
Musical On the Twentieth Century, a musical adaptation of the play by Betty Comden, Adolph Green and Cy Coleman, opened on Broadway on February 19, 1978, with John Cullum and Madeline Kahn as the stars. It was directed by Harold Prince and played for 11 previews and 449 performances.
Awards and nominations 2004 Broadway revival Year Award Category Nominee Result 2004 Tony Awards Best Actress in a Play Anne Heche Best Featured Actor in a Play Tom Aldredge Drama Desk Award Outstanding Set Design John Lee Beatty
References
External links Twentieth Century plot summary and character descriptions from StageAgent.com