The Innocent (Armchair Theatre)

The Innocent is a 1960 British television play that aired as an episode of Armchair Theatre. It starred Diana Dors.

"The Innocent"
Armchair Theatre episode
Episode no.Season 3
Episode 87
Directed byCharles Jarrott
Written byBob Kesten
Original air dateMay 8, 1960 (1960-05-08)
Running time60 mins
List of episodes

The play was especially written for Dors. It was her second British television play, following one for the BBC eight years previously.[1] She was paid £1,000 to appear in the play, which was high at the time.[2]

Dors sung two songs from her album Swinging Dors in the play.[3]

Premise

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Jane Francis is a famous pop singer who is married to an artist, David Manning, with whom she shares a daughter, Susan. Family friend Sir Malcolm tells Jane that David is cheating on her with a model, Tina. Tina is murdered.

Cast

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  • Diana Dors as Jane Francis
  • Ian Hunter as Sir Malcolm Saville
  • Patrick Macnee as David Manning
  • Basil Dignam as Mr. Bradshaw
  • Deborah Buchan (granddaughter of John Buchan) as Susan
  • Geoffrey Denys as Clerk of the Court
  • Denis Holmes as Detective Sergeant
  • Cecily Hullett as Miss Emery
  • Robert Raglan as Detective Superintendent
  • Kynaston Reeves as Judge
  • Yvonne Romain as Tina Fiori
  • Nicholas Selby as Charles Seale

Reception

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The Liverpool Post said Dors "gives a first class dramatic performance. But I hope next time they will give her a more convincing vehicle for her talent."[4]

The Leicester Mercury called it "an unremarkable crime play" and said Dors "run amok with... over acting."[5]

References

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  1. ^ "Two blondes with a different technique for this weekends look". Nottingham Evening News. 7 May 1960. p. 17.
  2. ^ "£1,000 an hour for Diana Dors". Coventry Evening Telegraph. 31 March 1960. p. 10.
  3. ^ "'It's not for the cash', says Dors". Birmingham Evening Mail. 7 May 1960. p. 6.
  4. ^ "Diana Dors' first play for TV". Liverpool Daily Post (Merseyside ed.). 9 May 1960. p. 9.
  5. ^ "No Oscars for Diana Dors". Leicester Mercury. 9 May 1960. p. 9.
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