Robert Redford Guest-Starred On A Failed '60s Drama War Set During The Civil War
Before Robert Redford secured his legacy as one of Hollywood's greatest movie stars, he appeared in one episode of a forgotten NBC drama about the Civil War.
Robert Redford, the renowned actor, briefly appeared on a failed 1960s television drama set during the Civil War. The series, titled "The Americans," premiered on NBC on January 23, 1961, to commemorate the centennial of the Civil War. The show, which only ran for 17 episodes, featured Darryl Hickman and Dick Davalos as the two brothers Ben and Jeff Canfield, who fought for the Union and Confederacy respectively.
Redford played the role of George Harrod, a Confederate soldier destined for execution. To maintain neutrality, the show aimed to provide equal time to both sides, but this approach was criticized for glossing over historical complexities like economics and slavery. The producers even changed the original title, "The Blue and the Gray," due to concerns over Southern viewers' sensitivities.
Despite these efforts, the show failed to attract strong ratings and was canceled after 17 episodes by NBC.
Written by urgent.news from TVLine's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
