The production, starring Sterling Hayden and Geraldine Page, was adapted by Horton Foote from the short novel "Old Man" by William Faulkner.

Horton Foote wrote the teleplay based on William Faulkner's short novel "Old Man" published in 1938 as part of the book The Wild Palms.

In The New York Times, John P. Shanley called it a "superlative production" and praised Geraldine Page for "a performance of remarkable range and sensitivity.

"[1] Television critic William Ewald called it "superb" and credited the success to the John Frankenheimer, "one of TV's young geniuses," and Horton Foote.

He also praised Page's performance as "brilliant" and called a scene in which Hayden rescued Page from the river in time for her to give birth to a baby as "one of the most moving scenes I've ever witness[ed] on TV.