Australian TV Plays: The Late Edwina Black (16 Sept 1964)

Based on an oft-filmed British play. 60 mins.

Premise

At Amberwood, a country estate not far from London, Edwina Black is about to be buried. Her husband Gregory is about to leave on holiday with his spinster lover Linda, an assistant for Edwina. There is also an elderly housekeeper Ellen.

Inspector Grey arrives. The doctor who attended Edwina refuses to sign the death certificate. It turns out Edwina died of arsenic.

Linda and Gregory both come to suspect each other of killing Edwina (both are beneficiaries under her will). Ellen is also a suspect.

It turns out Edwina committed suicide. But the suspicion has destroyed the love between Linda and Gregory.

Cast

Anne Haddy as Linda Graham
Ron Haddrick as Gregory Black
Ethel Gabriel as Ellen,
John Grey as Inspector Martin of Scotland Yard

Original play

It was based on a play by William Morum and William Dinner. I've listened to a version. It's a lot of fun, suspenseful as you don't know who did it. Lacks a pow finish.

Other productions

The play had been performed numerous times on stage in Australia and had been adapted for radio on several occasions, in 1959 and in 1960.

The play had also been turned into a British film in 1951.

It was adapted for the BBC on TV in 1949 and on radio in 1950. It was filmed for British TV again in 1956 in England, in 1956 in America, and in 1965.

It was filmed for Canadian TV in 1956.

Here is a 1946 British radio broadcast.

Production

It was shot in Sydney. Noel Robinson directed.Ken Hannam directed.

ABC designer Jack Montgomery found two 70 year old dresses in a house in Ashfield.

Reception

The Canberra Times said "everyone involved was at the peak of their form, from the anonymous member of the Drama department responsible for selecting such a completely worthless and unimportant murder mystery, up to the producer, designer and splendid cast who were able to make of it an enjoyable, if thoroughly unmemorable, hour of viewing."