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Rope (Shell Presents)

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9th episode of the 1st season of Shell Presents
"Rope"
Shell Presents episode
Advertisement from The Age, 29 Oct 1959
Episode no.Season 1
Episode 9
Directed byRod Kinnear
Teleplay byJohn Glennon
Original air date31 October 1959 (1959-10-31)
Running time70 mins
Episode chronology
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"Rope" is a 1959 Australian TV play based on the play by Patrick Hamilton. It was part of Shell Presents. It aired on 31 October 1959 in Melbourne, and a tapped version aired on 15 November 1959 in Sydney.

The play Rope had been filmed for Australian television by the ABC in 1957. It was one of several Patrick Hamilton adaptations done on Australian television. (Murder mysteries were popular on Australian television at the time.) It was also arguably one of the first depictions of queer characters on Australian television.

Plot

Two friends, Charles and Wyndham, murder someone for fun.

Cast

  • John Glennon as Wyndham Brandon
  • Paul Karo as Charles Granillo
  • Walter Sullivan as Rupert
  • Feli Wittman as Simone
  • Tom Farley
  • Graeme Jones
  • Muriel Hearne

Production

The play was adapted by American actor-playwright John Glennon who also played one of the lead roles. According to Filmink "Glennon is one of a number of people who came down under in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s to help “instruct” Australians how to make television drama... This was very much in the long tradition of Australian cultural institutions being impressed by a foreign accent, particularly one from England or America."

Sydney model Feil Wittman made her acting debut as Simone.

Glennon made several changes to the play including cutting the time down from two hours to an hour, shifting the action from 1929 to present day New York, and moving the local from one room to a four-room penthouse. "Whereas the original dealt with distance," said Glennon, "you can now eliminate long speeches and convey the same idea by gesture or by a bit of business magnified a hundred fold by that eagle eyed camera."

Reception

The Sydney Morning Herald critic praised "John Glennon' s clever, perceptive and highly mannered performance... and the tensions which producer Rod Kinnear was able to generate by some thoughtful camera work, and some very skilful organisation on a large and attractive set."

The Age TV credit praised the set, credit sequence and some of the acting but had reservations about some of the performances and the direction.

References

  1. "Thrill Murder Drama for TV". The Age. 29 October 1959. p. 11.
  2. "Role in Rope for Glennon". The Age. 17 September 1959. p. 13.
  3. Vagg, Stephen (18 February 2019). "60 Australian TV Plays of the 1950s & '60s". Filmink.
  4. Vagg, Stephen (20 March 2021). "Forgotten Australian TV Plays: Reflections in Dark Glasses". Filmink. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  5. Vagg, Stephen (27 April 2021). "Forgotten Australian TV Plays: The Big Killing". Filmink. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
  6. Vagg, Stephen (14 June 2021). "Forgotten Australian TV Plays: A Season in Hell". Filmink.
  7. "I.V. HIGHLIGHTS". The Biz. New South Wales, Australia. 4 November 1959. p. 11. Retrieved 14 September 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. Vagg, Stephen (30 July 2023). "Forgotten Australian Television Plays: Ruth". Filmink.
  9. "Murder by Students". Sydney Morning Herald. 9 November 1959. p. 13.
  10. "Rope Cut for TV Showing". The Age. 24 September 1959. p. 13.
  11. "Rope-A Live Play On ATN". Sydney Morning Herald. 16 November 1959. p. 11.
  12. Janus (5 November 1959). "Rope Had Some Fine Features". The Age. p. 14.

External links

TV drama productions of Rod Kinnear


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