NRR Project: 'John Brown's Body' (1953)

 

NRR Project: “John Brown’s Body”

Written by Stephen Vincent Benet

Adapted and directed by Charles Laughton

Performed by Tyrone Power, Raymond Massey, Judith Anderson et al

Recorded 1953

120 min.

This is a forgotten gem. In 1928, poet Stephen Vincent Benet wrote an epic, book-length poem on the Civil War, John Brown’s Body, for which he won the Pulitzer Prize. Decades later, the actor and director Charles Laughton had the remarkable idea to put on a staged reading of the work. Read Gary Grieve-Carlson’s essay on this piece at the National Recording Registry here.

Laughton had previous experience creating what was referred to then as “readers’ theater.” In this genre, dramatic works are staged without scenery and blocking, consisting simply of actors standing on stage reading their parts from music stands. Laughton successfully staged the “Don Juan in Hell” portion of George Bernard Shaw’s 1905 play Man and Superman in this manner.

Now Laughton marshalled his forces. He edited the poem down to a performable length, and conceived of an inventive presentation that incorporated three primary performers (the incredibly gifted Tyrone Power, Judith Anderson, and Raymond Massey), a chorus of 20, and music and sound effects created by Walter Schumann. The result is a fascinating, moving tapestry of sound, a historical drama that outlines the conflict in a journey that lasts for two absorbing and beautiful hours. It is well worth the listening.

The National Recording Registry Project tracks one writer’s expedition through all the recordings in the National Recording Registry in chronological order. Next time: Let’s Go Out to the Programs.