Australian TV Plays: AP#1.20 - Ticket to Nowhere (29 Aug 1966)

Australian Playhouse written by John Bragg and directed by Fred Maxian. Who?

It was a Hitchcock style thriller.

Premise

A man, Fuller, finds himself with an unusual fellow-passenger on a long train journey. He thinks the man is trying to steal his identity. The other man has a wife with the same name as Fuller's, Joyce - plus she looks identical - and he lives on the same street and is seeing Fuller's mistress Wendy.

Johnson tells Fuller that Fuller is going to be killed and Johnson will take over his identity. Fuller kills Johnson. A lady tries to get in the carriage, sees the body, Johnson says he is sick.

Johnson throws Fuller out of the train. Two men come on the train and ask Johnson if he is fuller. He says yes. The man arrests "Fuller" for murdering his wife.

Cast

Terry Norris as Fuller
Wynn Roberts as Johnson
Lynne Flanagan as a woman who tries to enter the compartment
Terry McDermott as detective
Allan Rowe as the ticket collector
Alexander Varadi

Production

Director Fred Maxian normally did variety shows. He was from Austria and moved to Australia in 1938 (I think). He worked for GTV-9. A piece on him is here. His credits include The Evie Hayes Show, Vikki, The World of Operetta and Music Unlimited.

Alan Rowe was a TV comedian. John Bragg appeared in an episode of Consider Your Verdict. He also wrote episodes of Homicide - see here and here.

I assume this was shot in Melbourne. it was shot on 13 July 1966.

Designer: Cas Van Puffelen; technical producer: Robert Forster; lighting: Ronald Crumb; produced and directed by Fred Maxian; we wish to that the Victorian Railways for their kind co-operation; ABC National Television.

Reception

The Age called it "good stage craft. It fitted well into the half hour.".