DVD: What Makes Sammy Run?

What Makes Sammy Run? has to be one of the great American novels of the 20th century that's never been made into a film. Another example would be Catcher in the Rye although you could argue that by changing a few things the movie Igby Goes Down essentially is that book. Same with Sammy when you think about the devious Hollywood characters that populate movies from The Bad and the Beautiful to Swimming With Sharks.
Ben Stiller was attached to a version of Sammy in the early 90s, and someone else must have it on their development list now; it just has never been made. Schulberg had even visited the same territory with his character of Lonesome Rhodes in the script for 1957's A Face in the Crowd, a film whose reputation has only grown in recent years.
First broadcast as a two-parter in 1959 on the NBC Sunday Showcase, Budd Schulberg's What Make's Sammy Run? captures the slick satire of Hollywood producer nee paperboy Sammy Glick. With his gift for gab Sammy talks his way in the door using other people's talent as leverage. To the other people Sammy doles out peanuts while he basks in the fame, money and glory.
Starring Larry Blyden (from Houston) as Sammy the television version was shot live while taping and then broadcast. The result reveals the wealth of a time capsule, showing talented actors who's names may be familiar to film buffs but whose faces have been forgotten, and offering a very cynical view of humanity that's at odds with everything else television of that era depicted. Those used to viewing high definition images may be put off by the quality of the video of the production. Like much of multi-camera studio television from the 50s it was preserved by filming the original video elements so even the digital restoration has that soft focus, gleaming sheen so peculiar to early television. And that's a good thing, the viewing experience takes on an archaic mood perfectly suited to its period drama.
Joining Blyden are John Forsythe as the voice of reason, a sultry Dina Merrill and a trim Barbara Rush. There's an informative Schulberg interview in the extras. Also, Rush and Merrill provide a commentary track. In the first few minutes Merrill offers a bombshell while talking about Blyden who died in 1975. His Variety obit lists his death as a car accident in Morocco but Merrill states that he was killed by robbers who hijacked his car.
What Makes Sammy Run? is a classic piece of early television but one which takes a serious eye for character and technique to fully appreciate.