The Square Ring is a 1960 Australian TV play based on a stage play by Australian Ralph Petersen which had been successful on the stage in England and been filmed in 1953.
| The Square Ring | |
|---|---|
 Ad in SMH 18 Apr 1960 | |
| Based on | play The Square Ring by Ralph Peterson |
| Directed by | Raymond Menmuir |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Running time | 90 mins |
| Production company | ABC |
| Original release | |
| Network | ABC |
| Release | 20 April 1960 (Sydney, live)[1] |
| Release | 10 August 1960 (Melbourne)[2] |
It was recorded live in Sydney.[3]
Plot
editThe story of six fighters who wait for their turn in the ring one night at a boxing ring in England. Ex champ Docker Starkie is trying to make a comeback; Eddie Burke is a new boy on the way up; Harry Coombers is a certain future champion; Rick Martell is planning on throwing a fight; Sailor Johnson is a broken-down has-been; Rawlings likes to read books before a fight.
Mixing with them all is the dressing room attendant Danny Felton who has seen fighters come and go and understand them. There is also associated characters like a stadium manager.
Cast
edit- Don Barkham as Eddie Burke
- Guy Doleman as Harry Coombes[4]
- Jack Fegan as Docker Starkie
- Ken Goodlet as Sailor Johnson
- Joe Jenkins as Rowdie Rawling
- Owen Weingott as Rick Martell
- Edward Hepple as Danny Felton, the handler
- Al Thomas as the stadium manager
- Ben Gabriel Joe
- Louis Wishart as stadium doctor
- Max Osbiston as Watty
- John Unicomb as Ford
Production
editSydney boxing trainer Ern McQuillan was the technical advisor for the story. Joe Jenkins, who appeared often on television as a dancer, makes his acting debut as Rowdie Rawlings.[5] He would later go on to appear in several Australian TV dramas such as The Emperor Jones, Two-Headed Eagle and The End Begins.[6] [7]
References
edit- ^ "TV Guide". Sydney Morning Herald. 18 April 1960. p. 20.
- ^ "Highlights on TV". The Age. p. 5.
- ^ Vagg, Stephen (February 18, 2019). "60 Australian TV Plays of the 1950s & '60s". Filmink.
- ^ "Big TV cover of the Rome Olympics". The Australian Women's Weekly. Vol. 28, no. [?]. Australia. 3 August 1960. p. 55. Retrieved 18 February 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Drama of the Ring". Sydney Morning Herald. 18 April 1960. p. 19.
- ^ "Negro in "Live" Drama". Sydney Morning Herald. June 13, 1961. p. 30.
- ^ Vagg, Stephen (May 25, 2020). "The A to Z of Non-White Aussie Movies and TV in White Australia". Filmink.