From: Reviews and Criticism of Theatrical and Television Dramas (http://www.lasalle.edu/library/vietnam/FilmIndex/home.htm) compiled by John K. McAskill, La Salle University ([email protected])

S7420 (USA, 8/17/1973) [TV]

Credits: director, Robert Downey ; writer/play, . Cast: , , Alan Caldwell, Joe Fields, Cliff De Young. Summary: Adaptation of the stage play by Rabe set in the contemporary U.S. A young man (Aldredge) returns home from Vietnam blind. He is very bitter about the war and alienates his family and friends. A study of how both veterans and their families deal with the aftermath of war. The broadcast of the film was delayed by CBS from March until August 1973 so as not to conflict with of American POWs released by Hanoi. Some Vietnam War opponents criticized this decision as “cowardly.”

Adler, Thomas P. “‘The blind leading the blind’: Rabe’s ‘Sticks and bones’ and Shakespeare’s ‘King Lear’” Papers on language and literature 15 (1979), p. 203-6. Asahina, Robert. “The basic training of American playwrights: Theater and the Vietnam war” Theater 9/2 (1978), p. 30-37. Canham, Cleve. “Saved from ourselves” Audience 6 (Oct 1973), p. 1-2. Christie, N. Bradley. “Still a Vietnam playwright after all these years” in David Rabe: a casebook (edited by Toby Silverman Zinman) New York : Garland, 1991. (p. 97-116) Christy, James J. “Remembering Bones” in David Rabe: a casebook (edited by Toby Silverman Zinman) New York : Garland, 1991. (p. 119-32) Cooper, Pamela. “David Rabe’s ‘Sticks and bones’: The adventures of Ozzie and Harriet” Modern drama 29/4 (Dec 1986), p. 613-25. Cornell, Ted. [et al] “Sticks and bones” Filmmakers’ newsletter 6 (May 1973), p. 20- 26. Cyclops. “Television: At last, here comes ‘Sticks and bones’ (maybe)” New York times (Aug 12, 1973), sec. 2, p. 17. Davies, Lindsay. “Watching the box: TV on stage in ‘Sticks and bones’” in David Rabe: a casebook (edited by Toby Silverman Zinman) New York : Garland, 1991. (p. 133-48) DeRose, David J. “A dual perspective: First-person narrative in Vietnam film and drama” in America rediscovered: critical essays on literature and film of the Vietnam war [GB] (p. 109-19) Donohue, John W. “‘Sticks and bones’ on TV” America 129 (Sep 1, 1973), p. 120. Gent, George. “C.B.S. reschedules ‘Sticks and bones’” New York times (Jul 12, 1973), p. 55. Gill, Brendan, “The theatre: Real play, false play, no play” New Yorker 48 (Mar 11, 1972), p. 82-3. Haines, Harry W. “The pride is back: Rambo, Magnum PI and the return trip to Vietnam” in Cultural legacies of Vietnam [GB] (p. 99-123) Herget, Winfried. “David Rabe’s Vietnam-Trilogie zwischen Expressionismus ind Naturalismus” Anglistik & Englischunterricht 35 (1988), p. 137-51. Hillstrom, Kevin and Hillstrom, Laurie Collier. The Vietnam experience : a concise encyclopedia of American literature, songs, and films [GB] (p. 273-8) Hillstrom, Laurie Collier (see under Hillstrom, Kevin) Hughes, Catharine. “Theatre: An American nightmare” America 126 (Mar 18, 1972), p. 295-6. Katz, Harry. “Bent ‘Sticks’?” [letter] New York times (Sep 2, 1973), sec. 2, p. 10. Koster, Robert J. “A film style tape show: ‘Sticks and bones’” Action 8 (Jan-Feb 1973), p. 14-18. Krebs, Albin. “C.B.S. chief defends decision to postpone ‘Sticks and bones’” New York times (May 24, 1973), p. 91. ______. “C.B.S. stations balk on ‘Sticks and bones’” New York times (Aug 17, 1973), p. 63. ______. “5 diverse groups urge action to counter censorship of TV” New York times (Aug 30, 1973), p. 67. ______. “Paley, C.B.S. chairman, personally vetoed showing of ‘Sticks and bones’” New York times (Mar 20, 1973), p. 78. Les. “Sticks and bones” Variety (Aug 22, 1973), p. ? Mitgang, Herbert. “Creativity and the public” New York times (Apr 9, 1973), p. 37. O’Connor, John J. “Television: How about some backbone?” New York times (Mar 18, 1973), sec. 2, p. 19. ______. “These little pressure groups went to market - with a club” New York post (Sep 2, 1973), sec. 2, p. 11. “Papp and CBS end contract to produce dramatic specials” New York times (Jun 27, 1973), p. 111. “Program pressure” [editorial] New York times (Aug 24, 1973), p. 32. Rabe, David. “Rabe on ‘Sticks and bones’” in David Rabe: a casebook (edited by Toby Silverman Zinman) New York : Garland, 1991. (p. 117-18) Rost, Gertrud Sander. “Suppressed reminder” [letter] New York times (Mar 20, 1973), p. 38. Scharine, Richard G. “Vietnam - theatre as a mirror to national institutions” in his From class to caste in American drama: political and social themes since the 1930s New York : Greenwood, 1991. (p. 99-138) Smith, Hedrick. “Soviet sticks and stones for David Rabe” New York times (Apr 12, 1973), p. 56. Treat, Paul, 2d. “Blunt power” [letter] New York times (Sep 2, 1973), sec. 2, p. 10. Watkins, Richard A. “TV mailbag: Making no bones about ‘Sticks and bones’” [letter] New York times (Apr 1, 1973), sec. 2, p. Weales, Gerald. “The stage: Rampant Rabe” Commonweal 96 (Mar 10, 1972), p. 14- 15.

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