Australian TV Plays: SP#9 - Rope (31 Oct 1959)

Based on the play by Patrick Hamilton which had been filmed by the ABC in 1957. This was one of two works for Shell Presents from imported actor John Glennon. He was one of a number of fly by nighters who came out here to tell us how it was done (eg Peter Cotes).

Premise

Two friends, Charles and Wyndham, murder someone for fun.

Cast

John Glennon as Wyndham Brandon
Paul Karo as Charles Granillo
Walter Sullivan as Rupert
Feli Wittman as Simone
Tom Farley
Graeme Jones
Muriel Hearne

Production

The play was adapted by American actor-playwright John Glennon who also played one of the lead roles.

Why did he do it so soon after the ABC did? He probably just liked the play and had enough sway.

Sydney model Feil Wittman made her acting debut as Simone.

Glennon made several changes to the play including cutting the time down from two hours to an hour, shifting the action from 1929 to present day New York, and moving the local from one room to a four-room penthouse. "Whereas the original dealt with distance," said Glennon, "you can now eliminate long speeches and convey the same idea by gesture or by a bit of business magnified a hundred fold by that eagle eyed camera."

Rod Kinnear directed.

Reception

The Sydney Morning Herald critic praised "John Glennon' s clever, perceptive and highly mannered performance... and the tensions which producer Rod Kinnear was able to generate by some thoughtful camera work, and some very skilful organisation on a large and attractive set."

The Age TV credit praised the set, credit sequence and some of the acting but had reservations about some of the performances and the direction.

Listener in said it held him hypnotised towards the end.