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Civil War Theme-‘TheEagerly Watched By AmericansSince the Civil War theme had previously been taboo on television, Variety recently reported that The Americans” (Mondays, 6:30 - 7:30 p. m., NBC-TV) was the most eagerly watched by all networks. Now five months after its premiere it has proven to have been just as eagerly watched by the American public.In this hour - long adventure series the viewers see individual qualit: ^ that are recognized as distinctly American.To provide strong and personal identification for TV viewers, The Americans” unfolds colorful drama of the Civil War years through the eyes of two young brothers, the Canfields. Dne of these fictional brothers is a Confederate soldier; the other wears the Union blue. Out of their diverse experiences a rounded picture of a nation struggling through its darkest hour to a new plateau of understanding a nd achievement. While the principal roles in most episodes of The Americans” are portrayed by guest talent, the Canfield brothers provide the twin pivots around which the storyline action develops. They lend a thread of continuity to what otherwise would be an anthology series with a Civil War setting.The series is laden with action in the sense that the settings and incidents afforded by Its Civil War backdrop are rich with color and excitement, full of movement, never static. To add to the effectiveness of this action - packed, colorful panorama, and to invest the series with maximum realism, the speech, manners, costumes, and other articles and details are scrupulously authentic. In t h e main, however, the emphasis is on good adult drama, presenting credible characters involved in conflicts that are psychologically meaningful.Two rising young stars, Darryl Hickman and Dick Dav-alos are cast in the continuing roles. Hickman portrays Ben Canfield who sided with the North. Davalos plays Jeff Canfield who chose to fight for the South.In real life, their careers are related in that both began their acting at the age of five.If his father had not been an insurance salesman, Darryl Hickman might never have become an actor. The father, Milton Hickman, has sold many a policy in the past 30 years, but more important from Darryl’s point of view is the one he sold about 25 years ago to the director of a children’s dancing school. The school director said he would buy the policy on only one condition — that the elder Hickman enroll his son in the school. Papa Hickman agreed, thereby unwittingly launching one of the busiest careers in Hollywood.Within a year, Darryl was un-INDEXIn the top picture Dick Davalos and Darryl Hickman are joined by Gigi Berresk in an episode of The Americans seen Monday nights at 7:30 on Channels 5 and 7. Bottom picture shows Kent Smith, Darryl Hickman and John Ducette in another scene from the show.Weekday DaytimePrograms Page 4TV Movies Page 7TV Sports______Page 8Color Programs - Page 5er contract at MGM. F r o m radically his first day on the t, Darryl became the child rorkhorse of the stiulio. It was ommonplace for him to bi-ycle” (Hollywood talk for forking two pictures at once). )nce, at the age of 10, he tri-ycled from Assignment in iritany” with Jean Pierre mmont, in which he played a ’rench underground boy; to Keeper of the Flame” with ipencer Tracy and Katherine [epburn, as a neurotic lad; to The Human Comedy” with lie key Rooney, as a backwardDarryl stopped counting Ws otion picture credits at 106. jc a little fellow, he got to besuch a big man at the studio that he often was able to write his own ticket. From time to time this meant suggesting his kid brother for a part in one of his pictures. Thus began the career of television’s Dwayne Dobie Gillis” Hickman.When he became too old for child roles and too youn* for adult roles, he entered a transition period that he readily admits was his most difficult to date. After college and a hitch in the Army he came back to Hollywood filled with doubt. Was he a has-been, just another former child star,” would anyone remember? It was weeks, but it seemed like years, before he was called — for a minor TV role. The television credits of Darryl, the man, now outnumber the movie credits of Darryl, the boy. .Dick Davalos, born in the Bronx, New York City, started acting in a boarding school production of Snow White . No dwarf, Dick played the role of the magic mirror. He remained the headliner of school theatre cal productions and made his professional debut, shortly blt;£* fore graduation at age 16, with the Chapel Theatre Players in the title role of Hans Brmker”.Upon discharge from a hitch In the Navy, young Davalos enrolled in the Martha Graham School of the Dance in New York —partially because of the newly acquired coordination of my sea legs and partially to diversify myself as an entertainer. But he soon realized that emphasis on movement alone was not enough, and he began studying under Uta Hagen at the Herbert Berghof Studio.Studio sontacte led to »minor roles off Broadway and on television, and these led to a successful screen test for a role (as brother to the character portrayed by James Dean) in “East of Eden. Under the motion picture contract that followed, he appeared in several notable films, including The Sea Chase” and All theCheck the listings and yoi the Entertainment ChaniM North Carolina*Leave It (SAVE YOU!EVERYFOR COI TELEVISIOr*
Newspaper Details
Wilson Daily Times
Wilson, North Carolina, US
Sat, May 20, 1961
Page 13
Full Page
Clipped by
Nick N.
NA, 20 Dec 2023
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