Rope (Shell Presents)

"Rope" is a 1959 Australian TV play based on the play by Patrick Hamilton. It was part of Shell Presents.[1] It aired on 31 October 1959 in Melbourne,[2] and a tapped version aired on 15 November 1959 in Sydney.

"Rope"
Shell Presents episode
Advertisement from The Age, 29 Oct 1959
Episode no.Season 1
Episode 9
Directed byRod Kinnear
Teleplay byJohn Glennon
Original air date31 October 1959 (1959-10-31)
Running time70 mins

The play Rope had been filmed for Australian television by the ABC in 1957.[3]

Plot

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.[4] Sydney model Feil Wittman made her acting debut as Simone.[5]

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."[6]

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." [7]

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.[8]

References
  1. "Thrill Murder Drama for TV". The Age. 29 October 1959. p. 11.
  2. "Role in Rope for Glennon". The Age. 17 September 1959. p. 13.
  3. Vagg, Stephen (18 February 2019). "60 Australian TV Plays of the 1950s & '60s". Filmink.
  4. "I.V. HIGHLIGHTS". The Biz. New South Wales, Australia. 4 November 1959. p. 11. Retrieved 14 September 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. "Murder by Students". Sydney Morning Herald. 9 November 1959. p. 13.
  6. "Rope Cut for TV Showing". The Age. 24 September 1959. p. 13.
  7. "Rope-A Live Play On ATN". Sydney Morning Herald. 16 November 1959. p. 11.
  8. Janus (5 November 1959). "Rope Had Some Fine Features". The Age. p. 14.


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