An Australian television play by Ruth Park and D'Arcy Niland. It was commissioned by Australia's ATN-7 in 1959 but they decided not to produce it. The writers then won in a writing competition in England where it was filmed in 1962.
Premise
The story of an old time boxer, Billy Driscoll, who claim to have won a marathon bout against Gov. Macquarie in 1907 that went for 19 rounds although the referee ruled it as "no decision". Driscoll is visited by Alan Titchfiueld, a television interviewer who compares a TV show called Their Finest Hour who wants to do a show on Billy. The ex boxer agrees and the show is a great success.
Billy is then visited by his opponent, Macquarie, who he thought was dead. Macquarie disputes Billy's claim that he won. At the goading of a promoter, the two agree to a rematch in the La Perouse sandhills.
Cast
* Leo McKern as Billy Driscoll
* John Laurie as Gov. Maquarie
* John Meillon as Jim Driscoll
* Christopher Burgess
* Judy Cornwell as Martine
* Jerry Desmonde as Alan Titchfield
* Gerry Duggan
* David Eadie
* Patricia Garwood as Macquarie
* Darryl Kavann
* Lew Luton as Newscaster
* Edward Ogden as Doug
* Kathie Reed as Make-Up Girl
* John Tate as Bryce Hewitt
* Maurice Travers
* Noel Trevarthen as Vince
* Jerold Wells as Jazzer
* Alister Williamson as Tony
* Fred Abbott
* Colin Albury as Floor Manager
Production
In March 1959 ATN-7 announced they were going to make a series of TV plays in Australia. Among the writers were Ruth Park and D'arcy Niland. (Others included Alan Seymour and Morris West adapting Children of the Sun). They commissioned No Decision but ultimately decided not to make it.
They joined the 1959 ABC Writers Workshop. A 1960 SMH profile on the team refers to them writing for TV.
In 1961 the Park/Niland play A Little South of Heaven was filmed for Australian TV.
ATN-7 allowed the script to be submitted to a competition in England held by ATV. In June 1961 Associated TV awarded the script first prize in a competition of 1,515 entries.
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| The Guardian 28 June 1961 p 8 |
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| The Observer 2 July 1961 p 22 |
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| The Age Supplement 5 Oct 1961 p 3 |
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| SMH 9 Jan 1962 p 3 |
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| The Stage 11 Jan 1962 p 11 |
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| The Stage 29 June 1961 p 9 |
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| Leicester Evening Mail 6 Jan 1962 p 5 |
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| The Age TV Supplement 6 July 1961 p 1 |
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| The Age 6 Aug 1960 p 18 |
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