Produced and directed by Alex Segal, the production starred Richard Kiley, Gary Merrill, and Brian Keith.

Lucky Dover arrives at the hospital having lost 25 pounds and in delicate mental condition.

Freddy Benton suffers from crippling guilt for having been broken by his captors into signing a false confession.

The program was broadcast from New York City on the ABC network on October 27, 1953, at 9:30 p.m.[2] David Davidson wrote the teleplay specially for the Steel Hour.

[4] Prior to writing the teleplay, Davidson interviewed repatriated prisoners and Army doctors.

[5] The Steel Hour was led by producer/director Alex Segal, who was previously at the helm of the critically acclaimed Celanese Theatre and Pulitzer Prize Playhouse.

[6] Albert Heschong, who was later inducted into the Art Directors Guild Hall of Fame, received screen credit as the designer.

[1] The sets, which included the military hospital and prisoner of war camp, were called "outstandingly well suited", "splendid", and "reasonably authentic.

[8] Technical military assistance was provided by Col. Kenneth Brewer, Lt. Col. Phillip P. Smith, Lt. Col. Roy Weir Jr., and Lt. Ray M.

[10] Television critic Leo Mishkin called it "TV drama of the first order, written with keen perception of character, and staged and acted with remarkable power.

"[11] In the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Win Fanning called it "great drama" and wrote that the production "came closer" to meeting theatre's responsibilities of truth and dramatic integrity "than anything presented heretofore on the living room screen.