Defection! The Case of Colonel Petrov

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"Defection! The Case of Colonel Petrov"
Play of the Month episode
Episode no.Season 2
Episode 1
Directed by Bill Hays
Teleplay byDonald Bull
Based onThe Case of Colonel Petrov
by Michael Bialoguski
Original air date27 September 1966 (1966-09-27)
Running time100 mins
List of episodes

"Defection! The Case of Colonel Petrov" is a television play episode of the BBC One anthology television series Play of the Month originally aired on 27 September 1966. [1]

Contents

It was based on the book The Case of Colonel Petrov by Michael Bialoguski, which has been filmed for American television as "The Case of Colonel Petrov". [2] [3] Bialoguski was a consultant on the show. [4] A number of Australian expatriate actors living in London featured in the cast. [5]

The Age wondered why the story, which took place in Australia and had a massive impact on Australian politics, had been adapted for British television but not Australian television. [6]

It aired in the US in 1968. [7] The Australian Broadcasting Commission declined the opportunity to broadcast the production. [3]

Cast

Reception

The Observer called it "efficient". [8]

References

  1. "TV Guide". Evening Standard . 27 September 1966. p. 4.
  2. "Petrov Case As U.S. T.V. Drama". The Sydney Morning Herald . 17 April 1956. p. 3.
  3. 1 2 Vagg, Stephen (11 August 2025). "Forgotten Australian Films: Into the Straight". Filmink. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
  4. "PETROV AFFAIR MADE TV PLAY". The Canberra Times . Vol. 41, no. 11, 488. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 21 September 1966. p. 18. Retrieved 1 May 2023 via National Library of Australia.
  5. "Madge Ryan as Mrs Petrov in BBC play". The Canberra Times . Vol. 41, no. 11, 495. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 29 September 1966. p. 28. Retrieved 1 May 2023 via National Library of Australia.
  6. "Teletopics". The Age TV and Radio Guide. 29 September 1966. p. 3.
  7. "True-Life Defection Subject of Show". The Daily Herald . 20 May 1968. p. 23.
  8. Richardson, Maurice (2 October 1966). "Television". The Observer. p. 25.