Australian TV Plays: Last Call (19 Oct 1958)

Shot in Melbourne. Set in South America. Why make this?

It does star Richard Pratt who became a billionaire cardboard box manufacturer and a massive supporter of the arts. That's a point of difference.

Premise

The action starts in the office of General Zaguerro, the President ("near dictator") of a fictitious South American republic, Estragan, which is under attack by forces of neighbouring Torrin over mineals found within Estragan. Zaguerro has ruled the country for over a decade.

Zaguerro is in the office with his vice president, Villadiego, and the Minister of the Interior, Pelmazo. They receive a report from Captain Delmonico that the war is going badly. Zaguerro has an aide, Lt Jiminez, and a batman, Trampas.

Zaguerro wants to join the front to rejuvenate the troops. He has been reluctant to do so because of his protective feelings of his 20 year old niece, Camelia.

Pelmago starts whispering Iago-style thoughts into the ear of Villadiego, the vice president who used to be an economist. Pelmago knows Villadiego loves Camelia.

A shipment of weapons arrives, having been delivered by soldier of fortune Captain Rockett. Rockett admits he stole the weapons from the Torrils so they do not trust him.

The general takes a liking to Rockett and asks him to look after Camelia if anything goes wrong on his trip, saying he has access to money. Rockett likes the general and agrees.

Pelmago persuades Villadiego and Jiminez to turn against the General and get rid of Rockett. Villadiego declares his love for Camelia but she rejects him. She has developed feelings for Rockett and they kiss.

Pelmago tells Rockett that he must leave the country without Camelia. He puts Rockett under guard from Jiminez. Rockett persuades Jiminez to let Camelia and Rockett leave. He also gives Rockett the location of where the general might have gone so that Rockett can leave a message warning of Pelmago's coup attempt.

Camelia tells Rockett she loves him and leaves, to go wait for Rockett. Rockett gets through on the phone, leaving a message asking for the general to get back at once, but before he can complete it Pelmago mortally wounds him with a gun. Before he dies, Rockett mortally shoots Pelmago.

Cast

John Morgan
Richard Pratt as the minister of the South American republic (Pelmago?)
Wynn Roberts
Judith Thompson as Camelia
Earl Francis

Play

It was based on a play by Donald Gurrey according to The Age listing. Another report says it is from a play by Donald Fraser. TV Listener In said it was from Donald Fraser. So does the script.

I haven't been able to find out much about it - whether it was adapted for radio, or came from stage, or a novel. Maybe it was an original. Or "Donald Gurrey" is a nom de plume.

Production

It was broadcast in a series of "live" dramas that were shown every fortnight on Sunday night on ABV-2 Melbourne. In order, they were The Governess, The Last Call, The Rose without a Thorn, The Lark, Citizen of Westminster, and Enemy of the People (the last of "the season").

Some outdoor scenes were shot at Moorabbin Airport.

It was directed by Chris Muir. The running time was 60 mins.

It was the television debut for Richard Pratt and Judith Thompson. A bio of Pratt is here. He was a very Melbourne tycoon, Pratt, into Aussie rules and the theatre. Pratt acted a bit, and played Johnny overseas in Summer of the Seventeenth Doll. As far as I know this was his only TV acting role.

Judith Thompson later appeared in another South American set drama, You Can't Win 'Em All.

The NAA says it has the opening and closing titles - see here - but that dates from 1970.

Reception

TV Listener in critic "Ion", called it "a wordy, well lighted rigamarole about a revolution in an unbelievable South American state run by incredible people. And I certainly only stayed in response to the call of duty.. It seems lately that the ABC has become obsessed by mechanical technique and production. The best lighting and the best camerawork in the world, the best producing, don't make a good television play. You've got to have a good television play to go with it. Just as it was in Shakespeare's day the secret of drama is to be found in the playwright's basic material. Without a story that captures audience attention, characters who are credible and situations that are logically and easily developed - there can be no play - for TV, films or stage."

It rated a share of 7%.

The play was ferociously criticised in a memo from Clement Semmler, stating: “All are in agreement that the standard of production of this play was below that to be expected of our live plays and below the standard normally achieved by Mr Muir. Much of the acting was amateurish and gave little indication of high standard of direction. Camera work, while adequate, never achieved any degree of integration with the action. The play itself was of fair quality for an entertainment play and a satisfactory program would normally have been anticipated.”

Richard Pratt's acting career

He moved to Melbourne in 1952 and got involved in theatricals at Melbourne Uni. He was in Bus Stop in Oct 1956 see a review here and The Fifth Season in Jan 1957 review here and here. He was involved in the Habimah Players too.

The original production of The Doll was in 1955 with Noel Ferrier as Roo, Lawler as Barney, Carmel Dunn as Emma, June Jago as Olive, Roma Johnston as Pearl, Fenella Maguire as Bubba and Malcolm Billings as Johnny Dowd. See here. The show went to Sydney with Ferrier replaced as Roo by Lloyd Berrell and later Kenneth Warren. Jago and Maguire went with the show the whole way - Maguire got married to a French millionaire. Roma Johnston couldn't as she was under contract to JC Williamson. Dunn was replaced by the more age appropriate Ethel Gabriel. Billings couldn't go to Sydney because of other commitments and was replaced by John Llewellyn in 1956. (Billings went to work at the BBC as a producer). Pratt seems to have joined the cast in 1957 see here.

He was cast as Johnnie Dowd.

John Sumner wrote in his memoirs Recollections at Play "We needed someone who could create an immediate impact, someone who had charisma... a young actor who had made his mark in university drama... had the right qualities." See here. He had appeared in stage as Antony in Julius Caesar opposite Noel Ferrier.

Pratt was cast in Jan 1957. He appeared in the revival of the play at the Elizabethan Theatre in Feb 1957. The SMH review said he "had the right sort of animal self-confidence" see here. (Warren was the other newcomer). It played for four sold out weeks.

In March 1957 it was announced he'd appear in the London production of the Doll alongside Kenneth Warren, Lawler, June Jago, Madge Ryan, Ethel Gabriel, and Fenella Maguire. See here. It received good reviews see here. In November 1957 it was announced the play would take its original cat and go to Broadway see here. They left in January 1958 after a seven month run in England. Reviews weren't good. John Chapman said he couldn't understand the language see here. It lasted 29 performances.

In March 1958 it was reported Ethel Gabriel and Pratt did screen tests in Hollywood - see here. This is confirmed in this SMH piece here which also says Rita Hayworth was going to be in the film. Apparently Delbert Mann did the test see here.

In June 1958 was in a stage play Molly at a Jewish Theatre see here.

In July 1958 he was in a stage production of Therese Barton by Zola review here and here. In Jan 1959 he announced his engagement to Jeanne. See here.

Pratt later said "I would have liked to have been a very successful actor but there are very few successful actors. So I went back to the family business. I guess I was a very good businessman." See here.

His theatre credits are here. Before he retired he appeared in an important play The Ballad of Angel's Alley by Jeff Underhill. See here.