Blue Murder (1959 film)

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Blue Murder
Blue Murder.png
Ad from SMH 2 Dec 1959
Genrethriller
Written by George F. Kerr [1]
Story byGeorge F. Kerr
Directed by Ray Menmuir
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
Production
Running time60 mins
Production companyABC
Original release
Network ABC
Release2 December 1959 (1959-12-02) (Sydney, live) [2] [3]
Release25 February 1960 (1960-02-25) (Melbourne, tape) [4] [5]

Blue Murder is an Australian live television play which aired in 1959 on ABC. Broadcast live in Sydney on 2 December 1959, a kinescope ("telerecording") was made of the broadcast so it could be shown in Melbourne (it is not known if it was also shown on ABC's then-new stations in Adelaide and Brisbane). [6]

Contents

It is not known if the kinescope recording still exists. Filmink magazine wrote "it sounds as if it would be great, campy fun." [7] It was one of several thrillers filmed in early Australian television. [8]

Premise

On Sydney's north shore, an ageing actress, Thelma Lane-Forest, is killed by her bitter and untalented son, Ricky. The son's girlfriend, Jeanette, has a brother, Philip, who is a theatre critic. A journalist, Lundy, also becomes involved.

Cast

Reception

The Sydney Morning Herald felt the plot was illogical, but also called it a "neatly constructed thriller, very competently produced" with "enough gloss on the writing and production to overcome any lingering questions raised by logic; and the play succeeded admirably on its own chosen level – it was craftsmanlike, thoroughly professional and pleasantly diverting." [9]

The story was also adapted into a radio play which was broadcast in 1960. [10]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Advertising". The Canberra Times . Vol. 35, no. 9, 697. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 3 September 1960. p. 15. Retrieved 8 May 2016– via National Library of Australia.
  2. ↑ "TV Guide". Sydney Morning Herald. 30 November 1959. p. 12.
  3. ↑ "Advertising". Sydney Morning Herald. 2 December 1959. p. 21.
  4. ↑ "TV Guide". The Age. 25 February 1960.
  5. ↑ "Drama Set in Sydney Suburb". The Age. 25 February 1960. p. 14.
  6. ↑ Vagg, Stephen (27 February 2022). "Forgotten Australian Television Plays: Four from George F. Kerr". Filmink.
  7. ↑ Vagg, Stephen (18 February 2019). "60 Australian TV Plays of the 1950s & '60s". Filmink.
  8. ↑ Vagg, Stephen (27 April 2021). "Forgotten Australian TV Plays: The Big Killing". Filmink. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
  9. ↑ J.M. (3 December 1959). "Live TV Show of Thriller". Sydney Morning Herald. p. 8.
  10. ↑ "Advertising". The Canberra Times . Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 3 September 1960. p. 15. Retrieved 27 May 2020– via Trove.


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