The Governess is a 1958 television play broadcast by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation based on a play by Patrick Hamilton, which had been performed several times on Australian radio. It was directed by William Sterling who had previously directed an adaptation of Hamilton's Gaslight (1958).
| The Governess | |
|---|---|
 Ad from The Age, 3 Oct 1958 | |
| Based on | Play by Patrick Hamilton |
| Directed by | William Sterling |
| Starring | Patricia Kennedy |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Running time | 60 mins |
| Production company | ABC |
| Original release | |
| Network | ABC |
| Release | 5 October 1958 (Melbourne)[1] |
| Release | 21 December 1958[2][3] |
It was one of several Patrick Hamilton adaptations done on Australian television.[4]
Plot
editThe Victorian governess of a family comes under suspicion when the baby son disappears.
Cast
edit- Patricia Kennedy as the governess
- Carole Potter as Ellen Drew, the daughter of the house
- Brian James
- John Morgan
- Mary Disney
- Sydney Conabere
- Lesley Pope
- Muriel Hearne
- Nevil Thurgood
- Charmain Jacka
Production
editIt was the first in a series of "live" dramas to be broadcast every fortnight on Sunday night on ABV-2. (Either broadcast live in Melbourne or telerecordings of plays originally broadcast live in Sydney.) This was in response to criticism of viewers of "old American and British films". Mr Ewart Chapple, Victorian manager of the ABC, said when announcing the policy that ""We have complete faith in local artists and in their ability to provide entertainment of world standard."[5]
It was followed by The Last Call, The Rose without a Thorn, The Lark, Citizen of Westminster, and Enemy of the People (the last of "the season").[6]
The advertisement for the show made nationalistic appeals saying "do you really want to encourage talented local young artists" and "we're doing our part - you can tell by tuning in."[7]
The play was the TV debut of Carole Potter, a 15-year-old school girl.[8]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "TV Guide". 3 October 1958. p. 32.
- ^ "TV Guide". ABC Weekly. 17 December 1958. p. 35.
- ^ "TV Guide". Sydney Morning Herald. 21 December 1958. p. 74.
- ^ Vagg, Stephen (20 March 2021). "Forgotten Australian TV Plays: Reflections in Dark Glasses". Filmink. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
- ^ ""Live" Dramas - reply to "Dated" Films". The Age. 26 September 1958. p. 23.
- ^ "Line Up of TV Dramas for Sunday Night". The Age. 26 September 1958. p. 24.
- ^ The Age. 3 October 1958. p. 26.
{{cite news}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ "Schoolgirl in TV role". The Age. 3 October 1958. p. 27.
External links
edit
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