The Governess (1958 film)

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]

The Governess
Based onplay by Patrick Hamilton
Directed byWilliam Sterling
StarringPatricia Kennedy
Country of originAustralia
Original language(s)English
Production
Running time60 mins
Production company(s)ABC
DistributorABC
Release
Original networkABC
Original release5 October 1958 (Melbourne)[1]
21 December 1958[2][3]
Ad from The Age, dated 3 Oct 1958

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
  • List of live television plays broadcast on Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1950s)

References
  1. "TV Guide". 3 October 1958. p. 32.
  2. "TV Guide". ABC Weekly. 17 December 1958. p. 35.
  3. "TV Guide". Sydney Morning Herald. 21 December 1958. p. 74.
  4. Vagg, Stephen (18 February 2019). "60 Australian TV Plays of the 1950s & '60s". Filmink.
  5. ""Live" Dramas - reply to "Dated" Films". The Age. 26 September 1958. p. 23.
  6. "Line Up of TV Dramas for Sunday Night". The Age. 26 September 1958. p. 24.
  7. The Age. 3 October 1958. p. 26. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  8. "Schoolgirl in TV role". The Age. 3 October 1958. p. 27.


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