An epic political drama about the US Congress and Champ Donahue, a Democratic Congressman from New York expertly portrayed by Academy Award winning actor Van Heflin and his former aide, Robbie Conroy, played by Peter Fonda.
Donahue is accused of engaging in graft and is exposed by his 28- year-old protege Conroy.
A superb cast was rounded up for this TV drama. It includes veteran character actor Pat Hingle who portrays Donahue's attorney, Alexandra Isles, and Will Geer. the production was video taped at NBC's color studio in Brooklyn, NY.
This excellent political drama has been missing and considered "lost" for decades. However, It does survive, existing as audio in the archives of Archival Television Audio, Inc.
This was the first of five "On Stage" dramas presented by NBC for the 1968-1969 television season. It is also notable as David Wolper Productions' first TV drama presentation.
Written by Rod Serling.
NOTE:
At the beginning this television presentation, the announcer states:
" And now from New York, on video tape, Act 1 of "Certain Honorable Men."
This video tape appears to have been wiped (erased) as so many television Quad tapes were erased and reused to record other television productions during the 1960's and 1970's. At the time the cost of a 2" Quad Videotape cost on average $600 for a one hour reel which weighed 13 pounds.
The one and only time "CERTAIN HONORABLE MEN" aired on TV was on Sept. 12, 1968, on NBC. Subsequently, this production vanished from the cultural landscape. Despite its pedigree, "CERTAIN HONORABLE MEN" has essentially been lost to the sands of time. It was never been released on video, or as a DVD. It is also difficult to even locate more than a single photo or the original artwork advertising this fascinating presentation adaptation to the television screen.
