Killer in Close-Up | |
---|---|
Genre | Anthology |
Written by | George F. Kerr |
Directed by | Christopher Muir William Sterling Raymond Menmuir |
Country of origin | Australia |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 1 |
No. of episodes | 4 |
Production | |
Running time | 30 minutes |
Production company | ABC |
Original release | |
Network | ABC |
Release | 9 September 1957 – 13 August 1958 |
Killer in Close-Up was a blanket title covering four live television drama plays produced by the Australian Broadcasting Commission in 1957 and 1958. It could be seen as the first anthology series produced for Australian television.
Production of the plays was split equally between the Melbourne and Sydney ABC stations, with the first and fourth being produced in Sydney, the second and third in Melbourne. [1] Each ran for 25 minutes. The plays were produced by Christopher Muir, Raymond Menmuir and Will Sterling.
The title came from the use of the close up in television drama. [2]
The drama plays were based on real-life cases, dramatised for television by George F. Kerr. [3] They were, in order:
In Melbourne, the play aired against Chesebrough-Ponds Playhouse on HSV-7 (which consisted selections from US anthology series) and Douglas Fairbanks Theatre (aka Douglas Fairbanks Jr Presents , a British-American anthology production) on GTV-9, and was broadcast at 8:30PM. [8] In effect, viewers had a choice of three different half-hour self-contained dramas during that night.
It was broadcast "live" from Sydney on 4 September 1957, recorded and shown in Melbourne on 4 October 1957. It was directed by Raymond Menmuir. [4] [2]
Based on the 1907 Camden Town Murder, where Robert Wood was tried for the murder of a prostitute and was acquitted.
The first play used nine sets and twelve actors. The Sydney Morning Herald said its goal was "to show new techniques in Australian TV production and acting." [9]
The Wallace Case was directed by Christopher Muir in Melbourne. It was broadcast live in that city on 20 November 1957.
In 1931, William Herbert Wallace is accused of murdering his wife.
Muir used close ups extensively to build tension. George F. Kerr came down from Sydney to help with the production and acted asa narrator. [5]
This episode was recorded live in Melbourne and aired on 18 June 1958. It was directed by Will Sterling.
The episode The Rattenbury Case may be held by the National Archives of Australia (per a search of their website).
Francis Rattenbury, a famous architect, is murdered.
It was the first TV performance from experienced actor Patricia Kennedy. [6]
The play was broadcast "live" from Sydney on 13 August 1958. [7] [10] It aired Melbourne 25 October 1958. [11]
In 1857 Glasgow, a girl is tried for the murder of her lover. From the first meeting between the lovers to the final verdict in Edinburgh Court.
Janette Craig was Miss NSW in 1957. [11]
Autumn Affair is an Australian television soap opera made by and aired by Network Seven station ATN-7, and also shown in Melbourne on Nine Network station GTV-9. Television in Australia had only been broadcasting since 1956 and Seven Network was the first commercial station to make drama a priority.
Raymond Edward Menmuir was a British-Australian director and producer. His career included producing 44 episodes of The Professionals and directing 12 episodes of Upstairs, Downstairs. He also produced an Australian version of The Professionals called Special Squad for the Ten Network in 1984.
Tomorrow's Child is an Australian television film, or rather a live one-off television play, which aired in 1957 on ABC. Directed by Raymond Menmuir, it is notable as an early example of Australian television comedy and was Australia's first live hour long drama. It was set in the future making it technically Australia's first science fiction drama.
Ending It was a 1939 BBC TV one-off play, written by Val Gielgud, and starring John Robinson, Joan Marion, and Dino Galvani. It was 30 minutes in duration. It was broadcast live on 25 August 1939.
Bodgie is an Australian television movie, or rather a live television play with filmed sequences, which aired on ABC during 1959. Originally broadcast on 12 August 1959 in Sydney on ABN-2, a kinescope recording was made of the program and shown in Melbourne on ABV-2 on 2 September 1959.
Roundabout is a television movie, or rather a live television play, which aired on Australian television in 1957. Broadcast 4 January 1957 on ABC station ABV-2, it is notable as the first example of television drama produced in Melbourne.
Treason is a 1959 Australian television live drama, which aired on ABC about the 20 July plot during World War Two. Originally broadcast 16 December 1959 in Melbourne, a kinescope ("telerecording") was made of the program and shown in Sydney on 13 January 1960. It was an adaptation of a stage play by Welsh writer Saunders Lewis, which had previously been adapted as an episode of BBC Sunday-Night Theatre.
A Dead Secret is a 1957 crime play by Rodney Ackland. It is a murder drama set in 1911 London and is based on the Seddon murder trial. It premiered at the Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool then transferred to the Piccadilly Theatre in London's West End where it ran for 212 performances. The West End cast included Paul Scofield, Madge Brindley, Dinsdale Landen, Megs Jenkins, Harold Scott, Gretchen Franklin, Arthur Lowe, Maureen Delany and Laidman Browne.
Rope is a 1957 Australian television film based on the play Rope by Patrick Hamilton. It was presented in real time.
Dark Brown is an early Australian television film, broadcast during 1957 on ABC.
Citizen of Westminster is an early example of Australian television drama which aired on ABC. A one-off play set in England, it aired live on 8 October 1958 in Sydney, and kinescoped for showing in Melbourne on 30 November 1958. Australian TV drama was relatively rare at the time.
The Sergeant from Burralee is an Australian television play written by Phillip Grenville Mann. The play was also broadcast by the BBC and screened for West German television.
One Bright Day is a 1958 Australian television play. It aired on the ABC and was directed by Ray Menmuir. It aired as part of Monday Night Theatre.
An Enemy of the People is a 1958 Australian television play starring James Condon. It was based on the 1882 play by Henrik Ibsen and was updated to a contemporary Australian setting. It was broadcast live.
Murder Story is a 1958 Australian television play.
The Public Prosecutor is a 1958 television play broadcast by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. It was set during the French Revolution and was based on a play by Fritz Hochwälder. It was shown live in Melbourne in July 1958 but did not screen in Sydney until 1960.
Last Call is a 1958 Australian TV play set in a South American country. It was directed by Christopher Muir.
Heart Attack is a 1960 Australian television play written by George F. Kerr. It was recorded in Melbourne, broadcast "live" there, recorded and shown later on Sydney television. It was received with notably critical hostility. It was one of several thrillers filmed in early Australian television.
She'll Be Right is a 1962 Australian television play which aired on the ABC.
Janette Craig is an Australian actress best known for her performance in television soap opera Autumn Affair and as Bubba in Summer of the Seventeenth Doll (1959).