The Big Knife | The Big Knife

At a glance:

Author: Clifford Odets
First Published: 1949
Type of Plot: Naturalistic; melodrama
Time of Work: The mid-twentieth century
Setting: Beverly Hills, California
Principal Characters: Charlie Castle, Marion Castle, Buddy Bliss, Connie Bliss, Nat Danziger, Marcus Hoff, Smiley Coy, Hank Teagle, Dixie Evans
Genres: Naturalistic literature, Drama, Melodrama
Subjects: Values, North America or North Americans, United States or Americans, Acting or actors, Power, personal or social, Suicide, 1940’s, California, West, U.S., Alcoholism or alcoholics, Substance abuse, Success or failure, Filmmaking or filmmakers, Drunk driving or drivers, Scandal
Locales: Beverly Hills, CA

The Play

The Big Knife is presented in three acts, all the action taking place in the luxurious yet casual “playroom” of Charlie Castle’s Beverly Hills home. The room is filled with comfortable furniture, entertainment accessories, and artwork from notable artists; it also has a small but well-stocked bar, which is used steadily throughout the play by all principal characters.

Act 1 opens on a summer afternoon, with famous star Charlie Castle and his publicist, Buddy Bliss, dodging the probing questions of gossip columnist Patty Benedict. Patty is determined...

The Big Knife | The Big Knife

At a glance:

The Play

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