The Prince of Peace (radio serial)

The Prince of Peace is a 1950 Australian radio serial by Morris West about Jesus Christ. According to The Sun "each of the 39 episodes is self-contained, and the series presents a chronological story of Christ's life from His birth to. His resurrection. Each episode is told by an eye-witness — each a feasible character from one of the various social groups of polyglot Grneco-Roman Judea."[2]

The Prince of Peace
Genredrama serial
Running time30 mins (9:00 pm – 9:30 pm)
Country of originAustralia
Language(s)English
Home station2DB
Written byMorris West
Directed byMorris West
Produced byMorris West
Recording studioMelbourne
Original release1950 –
1951
No. of series1
No. of episodes39[1]
Sponsored byPresbytrian Church

The story and scripts were agreed upon by the producers and committee of church representatives. Controversial matters were avoided. The names of the cast were not revealed.[2]

The Melbourne Argus called it "a serial drama that will be appreciated by Roman Catholics, Protestants, indifferentists, and atheists alike."[3]

The Advocate called it a "distinguished addition to the field of broadcast drama... The subject, a difficult one for radio presentation, has been handled with reverence and understanding, with, moreover, a feeling for its human as well as its spiritual values."[4]

The Argus called it "very successful."[5]

The show was played again in 1953[6] and 1959.[7]

The Apostle of Peace

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The series was so popular it led to a sequel, The Apostle of Peace also written and produced by West, which focused on Saint Paul. It was based on Luke's Acts of the Apostles, and letters written by Paul as he travelled through the empires of Rome, Greece and Syria. It started in September 1951.[8]

References

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  1. ^ "Life Of Christ Is Portrayed". The Farmer and Settler. Vol. XLVIII, no. 6. New South Wales, Australia. 6 March 1953. p. 2. Retrieved 13 December 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ a b "New radio series on life of Christ". The Sun. No. 13, 436. New South Wales, Australia. 3 March 1953. p. 28 (LATE FINAL EXTRA). Retrieved 13 December 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ ""Prince of Peace"-3DB BIBLE STORY WELL PORTRAYED". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 32, 546. Victoria, Australia. 23 December 1950. p. 12. Retrieved 13 December 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "Radio Film". Advocate. Vol. LXXXIV, no. 4981. Victoria, Australia. 11 January 1951. p. 19. Retrieved 13 December 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "RADIO". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 32, 694. Victoria, Australia. 16 June 1951. p. 15. Retrieved 13 December 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "Thursday, October 15 Commercial", ABC Weekly, 15 (41), Sydney, 10 October 1953, retrieved 13 December 2023 – via Trove
  7. ^ "Sunday, June 14 Commercial", ABC Weekly, 21 (23), Sydney, 10 June 1959, retrieved 13 December 2023 – via Trove
  8. ^ "Life of Paul in DB Drama". The Age. No. 30, 058. Victoria, Australia. 30 August 1951. p. 1 (THE AGE RADIO SUPPLEMENT). Retrieved 13 December 2023 – via National Library of Australia.