The Road (TV play)
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (March 2019) |
| The Road | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Horror Science fiction |
| Written by | Nigel Kneale |
| Directed by | Christopher Morahan |
| Country of origin | Great Britain |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Running time | 55 mins |
| Production company | BBC Television |
| Original release | |
| Release | 29 September 1963 (UK) |
The Road is a 1963 British television play by Nigel Kneale. It was broadcast as part of the BBC Television anthology drama series First Night. An Australian remake was aired the following year.
Premise
It is the late 18th century. A small English village is haunted by ghostly apparitions. Sir Timothy Hassall, accompanied by his friend Gideon Cole, investigate.
Cast
- Gideon Cobb — John Phillips
- Sir Timothy Hassell — James Maxwell
- Lavinia — Ann Bell
- Sam Towler — Rodney Bewes
- Tetsy — Meg Ritchie
- Lukey Chase — Victor Platt
- Big Jeff — David King
- Landlord — Reg Lever
- Villagers — Richard Beale, Beaufoy Milton
Significance
"The Road", initially presented as a ghost story, has a science fiction twist ending, making it ultimately a story of science fiction horror. The original 1963 BBC production has been called "one of the great missing masterpieces of British television."[1]
1964 Australian Version
| The Road | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Horror Science fiction |
| Written by | Nigel Kneale |
| Directed by | Patrick Barton (Australia) |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Running time | 75 mins[2] |
| Production company | ABC |
| Original release | |
| Release | 17 June 1964 (Melbourne)[3] (Australian) 26 August 1964 (Sydney) (Australian) 14 October 1964 (Brisbane)[4] (Australian) |
The play was filmed the following year for Australian TV.
Australian TV drama was relatively rare at the time and only occasionally produced science fiction. Other examples of Australian science fiction on TV include The End Begins (1961), Tomorrow's Child (1957) and The Stranger.[5]
Of the play, director Patrick Barton said "the utopian rationalism of Cobb matched against the semi credulous tumbling semi scientific mind of Hassall are an example of two forces alive in the 18th century."[3]
Cast
- Norman Kaye as Sir Timothy Hassall
- Alexander Archdale as Gideon Cobb
- Martin Magee as Sam Towler
- Ernest Parham as Jethro
- Joy Mitchell as Livinia
- Judith Arthy as Tetsy
Reception
The Sydney Morning Herald review complained that the story was "too feeble to stand up to scrutiny".[6]
Radio play adaptation
A BBC Radio 4 audio adaptation, written by Toby Hadoke and directed by Charlotte Riches, aired on October 27, 2018. The production starred Mark Gatiss as Gideon Cobb, Adrian Scarborough as Sir Timothy Hassall and Hattie Morahan as Lady Lavinia Hassall.[7]
References
- ^ Murray, Andy (20 October 2018). "Nigel Kneale's 'The Road': Toby Hadoke Interview". We Are Cult.
- ^ "TV Guide". The Age. 17 June 1964. p. 14.
- ^ a b "Untitled". The Age TV Supplement. 11 June 1964. p. 5.
- ^ "Ghost Hunt Ends in Horrifying Vision". TV Times. 7 October 1964. p. 10.
- ^ Vagg, Stephen (18 February 2019). "60 Australian TV Plays of the 1950s & '60s". Filmink.
- ^ "TV Play's Uncertain Build Up". Sydney Morning Herald. 27 August 1964. p. 10.
- ^ "Drama - The Road - BBC Sounds".
