Trapped By Television

Trapped By Television is a 1936 drama film directed by Del Lord and starring Mary Astor, Lyle Talbot, and Nat Pendleton. The film is about a woman who becomes addicted to television and subsequently estranged from her family.

The story centers around Peggy Shannon (Mary Astor) who becomes obsessed with television and watches it for hours on end, neglecting her duties as a wife and mother. She becomes so engrossed in the programs that she fails to notice that her teenage daughter has been sneaking out at night, putting herself in danger.

Peggy’s husband Tom (Lyle Talbot) and her best friend Jimmy (Nat Pendleton) try to intervene and convince her to cut back on her television consumption, but to no avail. Meanwhile, Peggy’s daughter falls in with a bad crowd and finds herself in trouble.

As Peggy’s addiction to television continues to worsen, she begins to see and hear things from the TV that aren’t really there. Eventually, she finds herself in a dangerous situation and must come to terms with the toll her addiction has taken on her and her family.

Trapped By Television is a cautionary tale about the dangers of addiction and the negative effects it can have on a person’s life. It touches on themes of neglect, family, and the corrupting influence of popular media.

Mary Astor delivers a powerful performance as Peggy Shannon, capturing her character’s descent into addiction and subsequent struggle to regain control. Lyle Talbot and Nat Pendleton also give strong performances as Peggy’s concerned husband and friend, respectively.

The film was regarded as a timely exploration of a then-new phenomenon and was noted for its ability to capture the mood and anxieties of the era. It was also praised for its frank depiction of the negative effects of addiction, which was a bold move for a Hollywood film at the time.

Overall, Trapped By Television is a well-crafted drama that still feels relevant today. Its themes of addiction, family, and media still resonate with modern audiences and its message is as important now as it was over 80 years ago.