Australian TV Plays: Stella (15 Oct 1963)

Peter Yeldham TV play later turned into the film Boundaries from the Heart.

I think this is the only TV play on this site that was turned into a film? Plenty of plays were from stage plays, radio plays and novels that were turned into films.

Premise

Olwyn's Boundary is a left-over town in the Australian outback. Once destined for development it has now become abandoned except for a mere score of inhabitants.

Stella works at a bar. She is the daughter of former test cricketer Billy Marsden who moved to the hotel in the outback after becoming involved in a scandal.

For years Stella has been desired by shearers on a spree. One of the shearers, Andy Ford, keeps proposing to her but she turns him down.

A school teacher on tour, Arthur Pearson, comes into town, suffering from sunstroke. Stella nurses him.

She becomes fond of Arthur but he takes fright and leaves.

Stella is now ready for Andy but he has become sick of her and decides to go to the city.

Cast

* Katharine Blake as Stella Marsden
* Duncan Lamont as Andy Ford

* Reg Lye as the odd job man Blanco White
* Joseph O’Conor as Billy Marsden
* Charles ‘Bud’ Tingwell as schoolmaster Arthur Pearson

* Wendy Gifford as the governess who marries Marsden

Other adaptations

As well as into a film this was adapted for BBC radio in 1964. It was adapted for Australian radio in 1964 and 1965 and again in 1968.

The makers of Boundaries of the Heart called it a sort of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof".

Background

In late 1962 Associated Rediffusion pitched it to the ABC as a co production. The ABC were agreeable provided the proper female star could be found. They wanted Googie Withers but she was too busy. The ABC suggested Diane Cilento but John McMillan of Associated felt she was too young.They wanted the play done in London and said they wanted the ABC to do a play with a metropolitan setting.

Production

Peter Moffatt directed. Frederick Pusey did the set.

It was one of several Australian-themed works Yeldham wrote in England. He said "I suppose when you get away from this country you can take a good long look at it write with critical affection about it."

Katharine Blake was South African. Joseph O'Connor was Irish.

Reception

Val Marshall of the Sunday Sydney Morning Herald called it "remarkable... easily the most authentic Australian drama yet seen on TV here" even though it was made in London. The critic said it was far superior to The Right Thing. She called the set "so real that you could almost smell the dust and heat." "One of the finest things the ABC has given us... why can't we do the same thing (or better) here?"

It was one of four British TV plays written by Australians bought for Australian TV in 1964.

It screened on Australian TV in 1964.

It also screened in the US and Germany.

Yeldham later told Susan Lever this was one of his best experiences. "the play I did in England called Stella is a very fond memory. It was a … if I say myself I think it was a good play and it was a very poetic production. It was a wonderful piece of work and the papers loved it, everyone loved it. That was one of the best."