Blue Murder
Ad from SMH 2 Dec 1959
Genrethriller
Written byGeorge F. Kerr[1]
Story byGeorge F. Kerr
Directed byRay Menmuir
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
Production
Running time60 mins
Production companyABC
Original release
NetworkABC
Release2 December 1959 (1959-12-02) (Sydney, live)[2][3]
25 February 1960 (1960-02-25) (Melbourne, tape)[4][5]

Blue Murder is an Australian live television play which aired in 1959 on ABC. Broadcast live in Sydney on 2 December 1959, a kinescope ("telerecording") was made of the broadcast so it could be shown in Melbourne (it is not known if it was also shown on ABC's then-new stations in Adelaide and Brisbane).[6]

It is not known if the kinescope recording still exists. Filmink magazine wrote "it sounds as if it would be great, campy fun."[7]

Premise

On Sydney's north shore, an ageing actress, Thelma Lane-Forest, is killed by her bitter and untalented son, Ricky. The son's girlfriend, Jeanette, has a brother, Philip, who is a theatre critic. A journalist, Lundy, also becomes involved.

Cast

  • Ric Hutton as Ricky Lane-Forest
  • Nancye Stewart as Thelma Lane-Forest
  • Derani Scarr as Jeanette Gage
  • Colin Croft as Philip Gage
  • Hugh Stewart as Martin Johnson
  • Richard Davies as Lundy

Reception

The Sydney Morning Herald felt the plot was illogical, but also called it a "neatly constructed thriller, very competently produced" with "enough gloss on the writing and production to overcome any lingering questions raised by logic; and the play succeeded admirably on its own chosen level – it was craftsmanlike, thoroughly professional and pleasantly diverting."[8]

The story was also adapted into a radio play which was broadcast in 1960.[9]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Advertising". The Canberra Times. Vol. 35, no. 9, 697. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 3 September 1960. p. 15. Retrieved 8 May 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ↑ "TV Guide". Sydney Morning Herald. 30 November 1959. p. 12.
  3. ↑ "Advertising". Sydney Morning Herald. 2 December 1959. p. 21.
  4. ↑ "TV Guide". The Age. 25 February 1960.
  5. ↑ "Drama Set in Sydney Suburb". The Age. 25 February 1960. p. 14.
  6. ↑ Vagg, Stephen (27 February 2022). "Forgotten Australian Television Plays: Four from George F. Kerr". Filmink.
  7. ↑ Vagg, Stephen (18 February 2019). "60 Australian TV Plays of the 1950s & '60s". Filmink.
  8. ↑ J.M. (3 December 1959). "Live TV Show of Thriller". Sydney Morning Herald. p. 8.
  9. ↑ "Advertising". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 3 September 1960. p. 15. Retrieved 27 May 2020 – via Trove.
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