The Wicked Scheme of Jebal Deeks
| "The Wicked Scheme of Jebal Deeks" | |
|---|---|
| Ford Startime episode | |
 Alec Guinness and Patricia Barry in "The Wicked Scheme of Jebal Deeks" | |
| Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 6 |
| Directed by | Franklin Schaffner |
| Written by | John D. Hess |
| Original air date | November 10, 1959 |
| Running time | 1 hour |
| Guest appearances | |
| |
"The Wicked Scheme of Jebal Deeks" was an American television play broadcast by NBC on November 10, 1959, as part of the television series, Ford Startime. It was written by John D. Hess. Franklin Schaffner was the director and producer. Alec Guinness starred as Jebal Deeks and received an Emmy nomination for outstanding single performance by an actor.
Plot
[edit]A long-time bank employee, Jebal Deeks (played by Alec Guinness), schemes to ruin the bank. Deeks works his way up the bank hierarchy as he helps the bank through the chaos and is offered the position of bank president. However, a secretary follows Deeks's plan replicates his sabotage, leading him to resign.
Cast
[edit]The cast included performances by:[1]
- Alec Guinness as Jebal Deeks
- Henry Jones as Byrnes
- Patricia Barry as Miss Calhoun
- Roland Winters as Fannington
- William Redfield as Bricklow
- Clinton Sundberg as Berry
- Bartlett Robinson as Elliott
- Peter Turgeon as Auditor
- Arthur Hughes as McComb
- Charles White as Auditor #1
- Woodrow Parfrey as Auditor #2
- Albert Linville as Carpovec
- Conrad Bain as The Minister
- William Hickley as The Painter
- Bill McCutcheon as Teller #1
- Ed Preble as Teller #2
- Allen Joseph as Teller #3
- Isabel Price as Miss Morse
- Barbra Lowe as Miss Lee
- David Doyle as The Tailor
- James Reese as The Doctor
Production
[edit]The program was broadcast by NBC on November 10, 1959, as part of the television series, Ford Startime. It was written by John D. Hess. Franklin Schaffner was the director and producer. Hubbell Robinson was the executive producer.[1]
Alec Guinness made him American television debut in the production.[2] For his performance, Guinness received both an Emmy nomination for outstanding single performance by an actor and a Sylvania Award nomination for outstanding performance by an actor in a starring role.[3]
Reception
[edit]In The New York Times, Jack Gould called it "a wonderful hour of good fun" and "a gentle and hilarious comedy" perfectly tailored to Guinness's style.[2]
UPI television critic Fred Danzig wrote that the role was "a great treat" and for the first two acts had "speed, was light-footed, thoroughly digestible, sportive and saucy." However, Danzig wrote that the third act slowed and lacked theatrical sense in that he believed Deeks could have handled the upstart who replicated his planned chaos.[4]
Associated Press television critic Cynthia Lowry called it "60 minutes of pure delight."[5]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Ford Startime: The Wicked Scheme of Jebal Deeks". The Paley Center for Media. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
- ^ a b Jack Gould (November 11, 1959). "Comedy a la Guinness: Makes U. S. Debut as Meek Bank Official In 'The Wicked Scheme of Jebal Deeks'". The New York Times. p. 71.
- ^ Robert J. Hoyland (January 10, 1960). "Picking TV Award Winners No Easy Task This Time". The Kansas City Star. p. 6E – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "'Jebal Deeks' Cut To Guinness' Style". The Lima Citizen (UPI story). November 11, 1959. p. 34 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Cynthia Lowry (November 11, 1959). "'Jebal Deeks' Perfect Role for Alec Guinness". The Daily Home News. p. 35 – via Newspapers.com.