The Andersonville Trial

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The Andersonville Trial was a television adaptation of a 1959 hit Broadway play by Saul Levitt, presented as an episode of PBS's 1970-71 season of Hollywood Television Theatre.

The play was based on the actual 1865 trial of Henry Wirz, played by Richard Basehart, commander of the infamous Confederate Andersonville prison, where thousands of Union prisoners died of exposure, malnutrition, and disease. A notable cast included William Shatner as the Chief JAG Prosecutor Norton Parker Chipman, Jack Cassidy (who was nominated for an Emmy) as Wirz's defense counsel, and Buddy Ebsen as a Georgia physician called in to testify about the fate of many of the Union prisoners.

The television adaptation was directed by actor George C. Scott, who had played the Judge Advocate in the original stage version.

The TV production of the play won 1971 Emmy Awards for "Outstanding Single Program," for "Technical Direction and Electronic Camerawork," and for Levitt's adaptation. It was also honored with a Peabody Award.

[edit] Cast and Characters

William Shatner as Lt. Col. Norton Parker Chipman, the Judge Advocate
Cameron Mitchell as Gen. Lew Wallace, President of the Court
Richard Basehart as Henry Wirz
Jack Cassidy as Otis Baker
Martin Sheen as Capt. Williams
Buddy Ebsen as Dr. John Bates
Albert Salmi as James Gray
Ray Stricklyn as Court Clerk
John Anderson as Ambrose Spencer
Michael Burns as James Davidson
Whit Bissell as Dr. Ford
Alan Hale Jr. as Court-martial board member
Kenneth Tobey as Court-martial board member
Harry Townes as Col. Chandler
Ian Wolfe as Court-martial board member
Lou Frizzell as Jasper Culver (Frizzell was the only member of the original Broadway cast to appear in the TV-movie)