Based on TS Eliot's play about the murder of Thomas a'Becket. Two horus.
Premise
Archbishop Thomas a'Beckett is murdered at the behest of King Henry II.
Cast
- Wynn Roberts as Becket
- Barbara Brandon, Moira Carleton, Anne Charleston, Marcia Hart and Madeleine Howell as Chorus
- Patricia Kennedy
- Jane Oehr
- Carole Potter
- Lyndell Rowe
- Mary Ward
- Edward Brayshaw, Keith Hudson, Alan Tobin as priests
- Christopher Hill, Kevin McBeath, Neil Curnow as tempters
- Keith Eden, John Morgan, Roly Barlee and Sydney Conabere as knights
- James Lynch as messenger
- parts of the mass and "de deum" sung by the choir of the Sacred Heart Monastery, Croydon, Victoria
Original play
The play was first performed in 1935. Borrow a copy here.
Whole books have been written on it such as this one.
Other adaptations
The play had been performed may times in Australia. The Elizabethan Theatre Trust did a version in 1960. Robert Speight played the lead.
It was performed on BBC radio in 1936, 1941 and 1953. The BBC TV showed an opera version in 1962.
Scenes were shown on BBC TV in 1936. It was adapted properly for BBC TV in 1947 and again in 1964.
Production
The ABC wanted to make it in 1957 and budgeted it accordingly (below).
It was shot in Melbourne. It was a leaving certificate production for that year.
Director William Sterling said he wanted to adapt it for TV for a long time. "It has been a fascinating but difficult assignment," said Sterilng. "Owing to the absence of specific directions I have had to evolve my own production techniques".
Designer - Kevin Bartlett. Technical supervision - Les Bail. Lighting - Harry Myers.
Reception
The critic for the Sydney Morning Herald thought the production "went closer to justifying its two hours traffic... than anyone had a right to expect."
The Bulletin praised the acting but did not think the play was adapted particularly well for television. Two years later, reviewing Man for All Seasons,a different critic in the same magazine called the production "excellent".
Boys from a Christian boys college were allowed to watch it.
TV Times praised Roberts' "splendid performance".
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| The Bulletin 8 Sept 1962 p 32 |
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| The Age Supplement 2 August 1962 p 5 |
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| The Age 8 Aug 1962 p 25 |
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| SMH 17 Aug 1962 p 15 |
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| SMH 29 Aug 1962 p 17 |
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| The Age 8 Aug 1962 p 11 |
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| SMH 30 Aug 1960 p 7 |
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| The Age 2 Aug 1960p 31 |
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| The Age Supplement 2 Aug 1960 p 1 |
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| SMH TV Guide 20 Aug 1960 p 1 |
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| Vic TV Times |
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| NAA Paul O'Loughlin |
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