Marriage Lines is a 1962 Australian television play directed by Christopher Muir.
| Marriage Lines | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Comedy-drama |
| Based on | Play by Clemence Dane |
| Directed by | Christopher Muir |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Producer | Les Bail |
| Running time | 60 mins[4] |
| Production company | Australian Broadcasting Commission |
| Original release | |
| Release | 3 October 1962 (Melbourne)[1] 26 November 1962 (Sydney)[2][3] |
Plot edit
Lysette returns to London after three unsuccessful marriages to look up her cousin Virgilia who is married to publisher Felix. Felix runs a business that used to belong to Virgilia's father. Lysette begins an affair with Felix. Robbie Lambert is upset Felix wants to sell his theatre.
Cast edit
- Walter Sullivan as Felix Pilgrim
- Patricia Kennedy as Virgilia Pilgrim
- Mary Ward as Lysette Eggerton
- Moira Carleton as Chrissie, the Piglrims' maid
- Beverley Dunn as Peggy, Felix's secretary
- Joy Mitchell as Daphne
- Campbell Copelin as Robbie Lambert
- Vernon Yorke as American
- Kurt Ludescher and Ray Angel as waiters
- Roland Heimans as office boy
Production edit
The play had been filmed by the BBC in 1961.[5][6] It was an original for television.[7] The play had been performed on Australian radio in 1961.[8]
In discussing why the ABC chose it for production, Filmink magazine hypothesized that "the ABC were attracted by Dane's reputation... The BBC stamp of approval would have helped."[9]
Walter Sullivan travelled to Melbourne to shoot the production.[3] It was Beverly Dunn's first TV play since she returned to Australia.[1] Kennedy appeared by courtesy of Emerald Hill Theatre in Melbourne. Cas Van Puflen designed it.
Reception edit
The Australian Women's Weekly TV critic called the production "a half-and-half job. Christopher Muir's production was satisfyingly polished; the play itself was woeful. The ABC decided to advertise this offering as a "sophisticated comedy." The theme—one woman trying to snaffle another's husband— can be funny, I suppose. But "Marriage Lines" was a melodrama of mothball manners... the cast had to battle with curiously dated dialogue... [a] sheer waste of good production and a goodish cast. "Marriage Lines" should have been murdered. Preferably at the dress rehearsal, if not before."[10]
References edit
- ^ a b "Happy People Supply Conflict in 2 Plays". The Age. 25 October 1962. p. 14.
- ^ "TV Guide". Sydney Morning Herald. 26 November 1962. p. 17.
- ^ a b "Sophisticated Drama". Sydney Morning Herald. 26 November 1962. p. 15.
- ^ "TV Guide". The Age. 25 October 1962. p. 35.
- ^ Marriage Lines at IMDb
- ^ Marriage Lines at BFI
- ^ BBC listing
- ^ "Radio plays". The Age. 28 September 1961. p. 22.
- ^ Vagg, Stephen (29 November 2020). "Forgotten Australian TV plays: Marriage Lines". Filmink.
- ^ "GOOD PRODUCTION, GOOD CAST, BAD PLAY". The Australian Women's Weekly. Vol. 30, no. 28. 12 December 1962. p. 19. Retrieved 8 December 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
External links edit
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