The third in the series. Made in Melbourne. William Sterling directed. George F. Kerr wrote it.
Premise
Mrs Rattenbury is put on trial for the murder of her husband along with a young man, Stoner.
The play includes scenes of events leading up to the murder as well as the trial.
Cast
- Patricia Kennedy as Mrs Rattenbury
- Edward Brayshaw as Stoner
- John Morgan
- Neil Fitzpatrick
- James Haggart
- Bettine Kauffmann
- Laurie Lange
- Brian Moll
- Wynn Roberts
- Nevil Thurgood
- John Stewart as Mrs Rattenbury's son
- George F. Kerr as narrator
Real life case
Francis Rattenbury was an architect, murdered in 1935 by his second wife's lover, Stoner, a chauffeur. Stoner was convicted but was eventually let out. The wife was acquitted but killed herself.
The trial was dramatised for Australian radio as early as 1936.
(Terence Rattigan dramatised it in the 1973 play Cause Celebre).
Production
It was the first TV performance from Patricia Kennedy. She supposedly promised William Steling that if she made her TV play it would be directed by him.
Rehearsals began in Melbourne on 9 June 1958.
Writer George F. Kerr came down from Melbourne to help narrate this play. He had previously done this for The Wallace Case. Listener In said "It was devised to bring under sharp focus of camera close ups the emotions and physical reactions of characters who were concerned in these well known trials."
Edward Brayshaw was a favourite of Will Sterling.
The NAA may have a copy of it. See here. Not online though. It's in the same collection as Last Call. The NAA may also have photos. See here.
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| The Age 13 June 1958 p 13 |
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| The Age 6 June 1958 p 25 |
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| The Age 13 June 1958 p 33 |
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| The Age 18 June 1958 p 36 |
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| ABC Weekly 13 August 1958 p 33 |
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| ABC Weekly 13 August 1958 p 39 |
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| The Age Supplement 13 June 1958 p 1 |
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| Listener In TV June 1958 |
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