User Reviews

The Studio One production of "Man Under Glass" is certainly unique since it's a "live" television drama portraying the exact same medium. The story involves a much-reviled TV director, played by Albert Salmi at his histrionic best, who's on the verge of a nervous breakdown. He covers up his shortcomings and precarious mental state by screaming at his cast, his crew, and anyone else he happens to bump into. Salmi's character (called Lenny Shanks) purposely and foolishly leads an understudy on (a very young and pre-"Bonanza" Michael Landon) with false hopes, ridicules an old movie star trying to make a comeback (Jason Robards Sr.) and treats his main assistant, played by Peggy Ann Garner, like a despised ex-wife. Patrick McNee of "The Avengers" fame, is also in the cast as the only sane person in the director's "glass" booth. With its chaotic setting and flaring tempers, "Man Under Glass" exposes the nerve-wracking tensions that can exist on the set during the taping of a live TV broadcast. There can be absolutely no mistakes and everything has to be timed perfectly for it to work. Shank, with his head-filled neuroses, is the last person who should be in charge of directing this kind of production. In the end, he collapses in a heap but is given a reprieve and some much-needed comfort from his understanding assistant, Ms. Garner. A strait-jacket might have worked better for him. "Man Under Glass" gives its talented cast a workout and its frenetic pace firmly plants it in the reality of 1950s live television. As for Albert Salmi, he actually had severe psychological problems in his own life. He killed his wife and then himself in 1990.