The Music Upstairs

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The Music Upstairs
Written by Michael Noonan
Directed by William Sterling
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
Production
Running time60 mins
Production companyABC
Original release
NetworkABC
Release3 October 1962 (1962-10-03) (Melbourne, live) [1]
Release7 November 1962 (1962-11-07)

The Music Upstairs is a 1962 Australian television play. [2] It was written by Australian playwright Michael Noonan when he was living in England. It starred Felicity Young who was married to George Thoms. [3]

Contents

Plot

Three doctors, Joe, Ruth and Tom, have just graduated are driving through London when they run over a pedestrian. The doctors panic and decide not to stop. Joe wants to confess, but Tom is indifferent and Ruth loves Tom. The pedestrian later dies and a person who witnessed the accident starts to blackmail them.

Cast

Production

William Sterling said "the play s hard hitting with lots of emphasis on suspense... jazzy beat music provides background." [1]

Reception

The Bulletin TV critic, Frank Roberts, referred to a recent request in parliament by Bill Hayden to ensure legislative protection for Australian actors and writers. Roberts said "The lot engaged in The Music Upstairs deserve it, somewhere south of Macquarie Island, pulling sleds. I stood it for 30 minutes, creating some kind of endurance record, and then switched to The Untouchables." [5] This review prompted a letter of criticism from Ted Willis. [6]

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References

  1. 1 2 "TV Drama in Three Moods". The Age. 27 September 1962. p. 12.
  2. Vagg, Stephen (18 February 2019). "60 Australian TV Plays of the 1950s & '60s". Filmink.
  3. "Melbourne Suspense Play". Sydney Morning Herald. 29 October 1962. p. 21.
  4. "She made her TV debut as a corpse". The Australian Women's Weekly . Vol. 30, no. 2. 31 October 1962. p. 2 (Television). Retrieved 18 February 2017 via National Library of Australia.
  5. Roberts, Frank (17 November 1962). "TELEVISION OUT OF TUNE". The Bulletin. p. 34.
  6. Roberts, Frank (15 December 1962). "OUT OF TUNE". The Bulletin. p. 15.