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A Local Boy

A Local Boy is a 1964 Australian TV play produced in ABC's Gore Hill Studios in Sydney.[7] Australian TV drama was relatively rare at the time.[8]

A Local Boy
Written byAlun Owen[1]
Directed byHenri Safran
StarringJohn Meillon
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
Production
Running time60 mins[2]
Original release
NetworkABC
Release21 October 1964 (1964-10-21) (Sydney)[3]
Release4 November 1964 (1964-11-04)[4][5]
Release10 November 1965 (1965-11-10) (Brisbane)[6]

The play featured, reportedly, the first near-nude scene on Australian television.[6]

Plot

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In Wales, a barrister, David Owen, attempts to become a member of Parliament. He comes up against the older member, Evan Lloyd.

Cast

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  • John Meillon as David Owen[9]
  • June Thody as Prue Owen
  • John Grey as Albert, the barman
  • John Huson as Gerran Jones, a political agent
  • Tom Farley as Evan Lloyd
  • Ethel Lang as Mrs. Williams.

Production

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It was Meillon's first television play since he returned from England after five years to appear in Rattle of a Simple Man.[10] He went on to appear in The Recruiting Officer for the ABC soon afterwards.[11] Thoday was an Adelaide actor who had returned to Australia after five years in England.[6]

The near-nude scene came when the character of Prue Owen tried to entice her husband back into bed. The camera focused on her bare back for a few seconds. "The scene is not designed for sensationalism," said director Henri Safran. "It wasn't put in there to shock the public. It is a very delicate scene and was handled tastefully. The play called for the scene and it was handled tastefully."[6]

"The scene was very well handled," said Thody. "There was nothing unpleasant about it."[6]

Reception

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The Australian Woman's Weekly said they were "pleasantly surprised" by the quality.[12]

The Canberra Times said, "It was such a surprise this week to see a locally produced play that was worthy of the talents of the cast that I cannot remember when it last happened."[13]

The Sydney Morning Herald said it was made with "outstandingly high polish."[14]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Pre-selection battle on radio". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 31 July 1964. p. 9. Retrieved 23 January 2020 – via Trove.
  2. ^ "The Sydney Morning Herald from Sydney, New South Wales, Australia". TV Guide. 19 October 1964. p. 15.
  3. ^ "John Meillon to star". Sydney Morning Herald. 12 October 1964. p. 13.
  4. ^ "On the Way Up". The Age. 29 October 1964. p. 31.
  5. ^ "TV Guide". The Age. 29 October 1964. p. 26.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Near Nude Scene in ABC Play". TV Times. 3 November 1965. p. 3.
  7. ^ "MONDAY". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 19 October 1964. p. 18. Retrieved 23 January 2020 – via Trove.
  8. ^ Vagg, Stephen (18 February 2019). "60 Australian TV Plays of the 1950s & '60s". Filmink.
  9. ^ "THE HAMMARSKJOLD DIARY First English translation". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 21 October 1964. p. 23. Retrieved 23 January 2020 – via Trove.
  10. ^ "Dramas political setting". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 21 October 1964. p. 23. Retrieved 23 January 2020 – via Trove.
  11. ^ "Convicts acted comedy in 1789". The Australian Women's Weekly. Australia. 23 December 1964. p. 18. Retrieved 23 January 2020 – via Trove.
  12. ^ "EMDEN DRAMA RE-ENACTED". The Australian Women's Weekly. Australia. 4 November 1964. p. 15. Retrieved 23 January 2020 – via Trove.
  13. ^ "Local Boy makes good television". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 23 October 1964. p. 15. Retrieved 23 January 2020 – via Trove.
  14. ^ "'A Local Boy' on ABN 2". 22 October 1964. p. 9.
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