26th episode of the 12th series of Play of the Week
| "Present Laughter" | |
|---|---|
| Play of the Week episode | |
| Episode no. | Series 12 Episode 26 |
| Directed by | Gordon Flemyng |
| Based on | Present Laughter by Noël Coward |
| Original air date | 28 February 1967 (1967-02-28) |
| Running time | 100 mins |
| Guest appearances | |
| |
"Present Laughter" is a 1967 British television version of the play of the same name by Noël Coward. It aired as a Play of the Week. Peter O'Toole starred. It was a co-production between Associated Television and O'Toole's own company, Keep Films. It aired in the United States in 1968. It was O'Toole's first appearance on television after becoming a movie star and marked his debut on American television in a television drama.
Production
Coward, who originated the stage lead role, advised O'Toole "Don't try and copy me. Be yourself." Honor Blackman was offered the role of the seductress but asked to play the wife. She had a high-profile at the time due to her success in Goldfinger.
The play was one of four two-hour specials Lew Grade of ATV sold to American television in October 1966 for £2.5 million along with episodes of The Prisoner and The Saint. It was shot in colour.
Reception
The Leicester Mercury said "there was not a dull moment".
The show was broadcast in the United States as part of a series of specials on ABC. The Los Angeles Times called it "great fun and it played beautifully on TV. O'Toole was a delight."
References
- ^ Roberts, Diane (16 February 1967). "'Be yourself' said Noel to Peter O'Toole". Lincolnshire Echo. p. 6. Retrieved 20 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- Kirkley, Donald (28 February 1968). "Look and Listen". The Baltimore Sun. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
- Sellers, Robert (2015). Peter O'Toole: The definitive biography. New York: Thomas Dunne Books. p. 395. ISBN 978-1-250-09594-7.
- Baily, Kenneth (5 March 1967). "Why Honor said no to O'Toole". The People. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
- Greig, Ramsden (10 October 1966). "Lew Grade sells British TV shows for 7m dollars". The Evening Standard. p. 12.
- "O'Toole showed superb flair in Coward play". Leicester Mercury. 1 March 1967. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
- McMinn, Alenee (29 February 1968). "'Present Laughter' on ABC series". Los Angeles Times. p. 78.
External links
- "Present Laughter" at IMDb
- "Present Laughter" at BFI
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