Blithe Spirit (Ford Star Jubilee)

"Blithe Spirit" is a 1956 television play version of the play of the same name by Noël Coward. Coward directed and starred in the adaptation. It aired as an episode of Ford Star Jubilee.

"Blithe Spirit"
Ford Star Jubilee episode
Episode no.	Season 1 Episode 5
Directed by	Noël Coward Frederick De Cordova
Written by	Noël Coward
Based on	Blithe Spirit by Noël Coward
Original air date	14 January 1956 (1956-01-14)
Guest appearances
Lauren Bacall as Elvira Condomine Claudette Colbert as Ruth Condomine Noël Coward as Charles Condomine Brenda Forbes as Mrs. Bradman Mildred Natwick as Madame Arcati Marion Ross as Edith Philip Tonge as Dr. Bradman

Production

Coward wrote in his diary that Colbert was "extremely tiresome" during rehearsals, not arriving at the first rehearsal knowing the words, being "exceedingly bossy", insisting on only being "photographed on one side of her face, so all grouping of scenes has to be arranged accordingly", constantly changing her mind over her dresses, and being "determined to play Ruth as a mixture of Mary Rose and Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, and very, very slowly. I have already had two stand-up fights with her, not very edifying and a hideous waste of time." He thought Bacall "is charming and no trouble; also, unfortunately, no comedienne, but she moves beautifully, looks ravishing and is trying like mad". He wrote Mildred Natwick "is wonderful: true, subtle and hilariously funny without ever being in the least grotesque".^[1]

Coward's leg was in great pain during rehearsals, requiring him to take injections of novocaine to get through it. He clashed with Colbert and was dissatisfied with a pre-show recording he did of the production. On 15 January, he wrote "It is all over and a triumphant success. How it managed to be I shall never know."^[2] He added "God preserve me in future from female stars. I don't suppose he will, but I might conceivably do something about this myself. I really am too old to go through all these tired old hoops."^[3]