The Governess (1958 film)
| The Governess | |
|---|---|
| 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] 21 December 1958[2][3] |
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. Australian TV drama was relatively rare at the time.[4]
It was directed by William Sterling who had previously directed an adaptation of Hamilton's Gaslight (1958).
Plot
The Victorian governess of a family comes under suspicion when the baby son disappears.
Cast
- 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
It 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, citize 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
References
- ^ "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 (18 February 2019). "60 Australian TV Plays of the 1950s & '60s". Filmink.
- ^ ""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
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