The Trials of Oz

The Trials of Oz
Written by	Geoffrey Robertson (adaptor of transcripts)
Directed by	Sheree Folkson
Starring	Hugh Grant Leslie Phillips Simon Callow Nigel Hawthorne
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language	English
Production
Producer	Simon Curtis
Editor	Stephen Newnham (video tape)
Camera setup	multi-camera
Running time	90 mins.
Production company	BBC/ABC (Aus)
Original release
Network	BBC 2

The Trials of Oz is 1991 video-taped BBC television drama shown in the UK on 9 November 1991 as part of BBC 2's Performance anthology series of single plays.

The drama concerns the six-week trial in June and July 1971 of the joint editors of the British underground magazine Oz in which the three men were prosecuted on three charges, including obscenity, for the 28th issue known as Schoolkids Oz. It is based on the transcripts of the court case which were adapted by Geoffrey Robertson, who was junior defence counsel at the trial. The re-enactment features Hugh Grant as Richard Neville, Peter O'Brien as Jim Anderson, Kevin Allen as Felix Dennis, the three charged men. The production also featured Leslie Phillips as Judge Michael Argyle, Nigel Hawthorne as Brian Leary, Simon Callow as John Mortimer, Alfred Molina as George Melly, Lee Cornes as Marty Feldman, and Nigel Planer as John Peel.

The three accused were convicted of obscenity and given sentences ranging from nine to fifteen months, but released on appeal at which the trial judge was severely reprimanded for misdirecting the jury.

The play was nominated for a BAFTA Award as Best Single Drama.

See also

Hippie Hippie Shake, an unreleased 2010 feature film about Neville, the creation of UK Oz, and the obscenity trial.

External links

• Trials of Oz at IMDb