Ralph Nelson's "Man in The Funny Suit", 1960-- perhaps his best movie

Ralph Nelson was a live television director until his breakthrough movie, "Lilies of the Field", in 1963.
This came earlier, and is one of his finest works.
Previously, Ralph's most powerful television show was "Requiem for a Heavyweight" by Rod Serling, an early production on the CBS dramatic series "Playhouse 90." (There have been many versions of "Requiem for a Heavyweight" since.)
"The Man in the Funny Suit" dramatizes the making of the first "Requiem for a Heavyweight," especially Ralph's difficulties with comedian Ed Wynn, who was mistakenly put into the cast by the producer. Ed Wynn was a famous nonsense comedian who did not know how to act-- and learned at the last minute, as we see here.
In "Man in the Funny Suit", Ed Wynn plays himself, Keenan Wynn plays himself, Ralph Nelson plays himself, Red Skelton plays himself, and so on.
(While Ralph was not officially a film director at this point, "Man in the Funny Suit" was shot on film, and so it could count as his first film.)
The first "Requiem" may be seen at
• RESTORED: Requiem for ...
See also Wikipedia's article on "The Man in the Funny Suit", hidden at
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Man_in_the_Funny_Suit

[@144wychwood]

Love this! The irony is when I watched Requiem week or so ago, I remember saying to myself that Ed Wynn did great job. Who knew that there was serious trepidation about him playing role? Obviously, Rod Serling didn't hold it against him because he went on to feature Wynn Sr. in two Twilight Zone episodes.

[@JoeLibby]

What a remarkable program. I loved it. And it's cool to see the real principals recreating the behind-the-scenes drama.

[@rondobson1828]

I've known about this story for over 40 years being a Rod Serling fan and I had no idea this existed until just now. What a fascinating piece of work this is.

[@waltergray8299]

I Am An Old Retired Clown It Is So Hard To Take Life And Be A Real Person We Are Not To Cry>>There Are Times You Must Walk Away & Not Let Them See You Cry

[@bgeditor1733]

The live version of "Requiem for a Heavyweight" is one of my favorite things EVER. I just found out about "The Man in the Funny Suit" two days ago. I watched it, and it all clicked when I saw Ralph Nelson in this piece he wrote, directed, and acted in, about "Requiem." I thought "Holy $#)! Ralph Nelson is Ted Nelson's father! Gotta be!" And so it is. Ted, you're a genius, so was your dad, and it's further astounding that this is a powerful piece about a father-son relationship.

[@pianopappy]

Ted, I'm so happy I was able to find this, after wondering for decades if it still existed, so that I might have the opportunity to see it again. I'm writing this before I'm going to push "Play"; because I want to convey the high regard I have for this program by recalling a few scenes that I still remember after all these years. I had seen the original "Requiem" in October 1956, a few weeks before my 16th birthday. I was in military college in 1960 (where TV watching during study hours was not allowed) so I knew nothing of the "Funny Suit" program until about ten years later. A syndicated rerun of this wonderful program came on the air late one night on WBAL-TV in Baltimore, after network programing and the late newscast ended. I stayed up to watch the whole program. Here are some of the scenes that I remember to this day: the reaction of some professionals in the audience to Ed's old "The Perfect Fool" routine, Ed's breakups when he rehearsed the line "You stink!" with his father as Maish, Rod Serling expressing his concern that Ed would spoil his brainchild, Ed's rehearsing a key scene with a mirror, and the look on Keenan's face just before his father delivers the "You stink!" line on the live show. Curiously, I do not remember Red Skelton being on the program. One other very important thing I did not remember is the title of the program, which is why I never expected to see it again. Thank goodness a Wikipedia article on "Requiem" mentioned it. Thank you very much.

[@russellhoffer]

I saw this 60 yrs ago i though it great then i think its great today.Thank you very much for the past greatness

[@Katorri]

This is fantastic, Desilu delivered on production

[@sclogse1]

Ned Wynn, son of Kennan, wrote a marvelous book about his life in the family, and his journey through the sixties where he found himself at the epicenter of all the new scenes: the surf scene, the beach movies,the motorcycle scene, (with Brando and Lee Marvin) the hippies, (with the Momas And The Papas, the Guru scene, even meeting Charles Manson). He places himself not at the center of them, but almost as a recluse who found himself smashed in each of them. The book is very funny, droll, bittersweet, and very real. My very favorite book on the Hollywood scene back then, including his childhood in a home where Judy Garland would sing in the living room, or Marlena Dietrich could drop by with cookies, or Tyrone Power would wrestle with his father on the front lawn. Titled, We Will Aways Live in Beverly Hills.

[@59gregster]

In the 80's I met the man who stood in for Jack Palence when they used his back or used him in a distant shot while Jack ran to the next scene. I wish I new this so I could have asked him about this.

[@good-dm6gr]

We miss you rod serling

[@Exiro]

Can you imagine such compassion in today's competition-obsessed society?

[@GohAhweh]

OUTSTANDING!!!💙

[@Lgevirtz]

A wonderful show, beautifully acted and directed!

[@dumbbo1]

I caught this just recently and then just had to see Requiem For A Heavyweight. Ed Wynn was outstanding. Audiences were so much better for his decision to expand his acting chops.

[@ronturk6602]

This is the first time I saw this, and it was great. Thank you for sharing this!

[@tjpulliam19]

Loved this!

[@TobyDeshane]

Wonderful story. :)

[@yiquanawalkb4run26]

ah this was really wonderful, thank you

[@yaddamop]

So, THIS was how it went down (dramatically, anyway). I knew the stories about this in interviews. Martin Manulis said himself he was thinking some seconds before air time of what other kind of work could he do if this flopped! I worked in live TV news and features and it can be touch and go sometimes. Thanks for posting this!