Steve McQueen made his debut on Broadway in 1955, by replacing Ben Gazzara in the play A Hatful of Rain.

This is probably the first time that the issue of drug addiction is handled on stage or screen.

In 1951 a young Steve McQueen was contemplating entering ’tile setting school’ (through the assistance provided to him under the GI bill), but his plans took a change of direction when a girl he was dating took him to ‘The Neighbourhood Playhouse’, one of New York’s premier acting schools. Steve’s interest was sparked. He applied to enter the school on June 25 1951, and was accepted.

At first acting was a bit of a lark for him, and he seemed more interested in racing bikes and dating actress’s, but as time progressed, he developed the desire to excell in acting.

A Hatful of Rain was already a big success on Broadway when Steve joined the cast. It was his Broadway debut. The play’s topic was drug addiction, and Steve played the role of addict Johnny Pope. Steve appeared opposite actress Vivian Blain (who played his wife). 

The story was a rarity for its time in its frank depiction of the impact of drug addiction. The setting is a housing project apartment.

Johnny Pope is a soldier who returns from the Korean war, where a stay in a military hospital has left him secretly addicted to morphine. His emotional distance (and his tendency to stay out all night) alienate him from the apartment’s other residents: Johnny’s pregnant wife Celia, and his brother Polo. Celia is convinced that Johnny is having an affair, but of course the truth is far worse.

Johnny and Polo’s father John Sr. arrives in town and stays with them in the small apartment, further complicating a tense situation and leading to a dynamic and dramatic climax.

A Hatful of Rain (a tv version)

delete reply danceinsilence wrote on Apr 30, ’08 I remember the original version, though I didn’t get to see it until the mid 60’s on vhs. Drug addiction distorts everything, and McQueen’s version and this tv version is a graphic realization of there being no fine line to separate reality from fantasy of the what if’s. Denial is hell. (I know from past experience) Excellent posting. 8=) http://danceinsilence.multiply.com/journal/item/201/Another_one_of_the_baddest_good_guys_has_gone_by_the_wayside

delete reply millimusings wrote on Apr 30, ’08 You have certainly educated me here on many issues. Very interesting Review of Steve ‘s early beginnings and The Play A Hatful of Rain. Thank You.

delete reply philsgal7759 wrote on Apr 30, ’08 It does sound familiar though I do not recall seing it Thanks for participating

edit delete reply lauritasita wrote on Apr 30, ’08 Narice, I don’t know if you can rent it. I know I would love to see it again.

delete reply sanssouciblogs wrote on Apr 30, ’08 Great post-I don’t recall this. The tv version looks excellent, I am sure Steve McQueen’s perfomance was dynamite. It appears to have been made into a movie in the 60’s.  It seems drug addiction has been a timely topic for more years than we realize.

delete reply skeezicks1957 wrote on May 1, ’08 I am not familiar with this play or movie.  It looks like it deals with a very important issue in a way that makes an impact.

edit delete reply lauritasita wrote on May 1, ’08 skeezicks, I think this movie was not well known because it dealt with an issue that people preferred to sweep under the rug at the time.