The Andersonville Trial

"The Andersonville Trial" was a television adaptation of a 1959 hit Broadway play by Saul Levitt, presented as an episode of PBS's 1970-71 season of "Hollywood Television Theatre".

The play was based on the actual 1865 trial of Henry Wirz, played by Richard Basehart, commander of the infamous Confederate Andersonville prison, where thousands of Union prisoners died of exposure, malnutrition, and disease. A notable cast included William Shatner as the Chief JAG Prosecutor Norton Parker Chipman, Jack Cassidy (who was nominated for an Emmy) as Wirz's defense counsel, and Buddy Ebsen as a Georgia physician called in to testify about the fate of many of the Union prisoners.

The television adaptation was directed by actor George C. Scott, who had played the Judge Advocate in the original stage version.

The TV production of the play won 1971 Emmy Awards for "Outstanding Single Program," for "Technical Direction and Electronic Camerawork," and for Levitt's adaptation. It was also honored with a Peabody Award.

Cast and Characters

*William Shatner as Lt. Col. Norton P. Chipman
*Cameron Mitchell as Maj. Gen. Lew Wallace
*Richard Basehart as Capt. Henry Wirz
*Jack Cassidy as Otis Baker
*Martin Sheen as Capt. Williams
*Buddy Ebsen as Dr. John Bates
*Albert Salmi as James Gray
*John Anderson as Ambrose Spencer
*Michael Burns as James Davidson
*Woodrow Parfrey as Louis Schade
*Whit Bissell as Dr. Ford
*Lou Frizzell as Jasper Culver "(Frizzell was the only member of the original Broadway cast to appear in the TV-movie)"

References

*Brooks, Tim and March, Earle, "The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows"

External links

*imdb title|id=0065399|title=The Andersonville Trial
* [http://www.ibdb.com/production.asp?ID=2874 The Andersonville Trial] (Broadway play) at Internet Broadway Database