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Killer in Close Up

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Genre
  
Country of origin
  
Australia

No. of seasons
  
1

Producer
  
Christopher Muir

Written by
  
Original language(s)
  
English

Screenplay
  
Directed by
  
Christopher MuirWilliam Sterling

Production company
  
Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Killer in Close-Up was a blanket title covering four live television drama plays produced by the Australian Broadcasting Commission in 1957 and 1958. It could be seen as the first anthology series produced for Australian television.

Contents

Production of the plays was split equally between the Melbourne and Sydney ABC stations, with the first and fourth being produced in Sydney, the second and third in Melbourne. Each ran for 25 minutes. The plays were produced by Christopher Muir and Will Sterling.

The drama plays were based on real-life cases, dramatised for television by George F. Kerr. They were, in order:

  • “The Robert Wood Trial” (4/9/57)
  • “The Wallace Case” (20/11/57)
  • “The Rattenbury Case” (18/6/58)
  • “The Trial Of Madeleine Smith” (13/8/58)
  • In Melbourne, the play aired against Chesebrough-Ponds Playhouse on HSV-7 (which consisted selections from US anthology series) and Douglas Fairbanks Theatre (aka Douglas Fairbanks Jr Presents, a British-American anthology production) on GTV-9, and was broadcast at 8:30PM. In effect, viewers had a choice of three different half-hour self-contained dramas during that night.

    Plot

    Based on the 1907 Camden Town Murder, where Robert Wood was tried for the murder of a prostitute and was acquitted.

    Cast

  • Brian Anderson
  • Leonard Bullen
  • Production

    The first play used nine sets and twelve actors. The Sydney Morning Herald said its goal was "to show new techniques in Australian TV production and acting."

    It was broadcast "live" from Sydney, recorded and shown in Melbourne on 4 October 1957.

    Plot

    In 1931, William Herbert Wallace is accused of murdering his wife.

    Cast

  • Laurier Lange (aka Laurie Lange) as William Wallace
  • Noel Howlett as the judge
  • Brian James as the prosecutor
  • Norman Griffiths as the defence counsel
  • John Morgan
  • Robert Stevens
  • Campbell Copelin
  • Production

    The Wallace Case was directed by Christopher Muir in Melbourne. It was broadcast live on 20 November 1957. Muir used close ups extensively to build tension. George F. Kerr came down from Sydney to help with the production and acted asa narrator.

    "The Rattenbury Case"

    This episode aired on 18 June 1958 and was directed by Will Sterling.

    The episode The Rattenbury Case may be held by the National Archives of Australia (per a search of their website).

    Plot

    Francis Rattenbury, a famous architest, is murdered.

    Cast

  • Patricia Kennedy as Mrs Rattenbury
  • Edward Brayshaw as Stoner
  • John Morgan
  • Neil Fitzpatrick
  • James Haggart
  • Bettine Kauffmann
  • Laurie Lange
  • Brian Moll
  • Wyn Roberts
  • Nevil Thurgood
  • Production

    The show was shot live in Melbourne. It was the first TV performance from experienced actor Patricia Kennedy.

    Plot

    In 1857 Glasgow, a girl is tried for the murder of her lover. From the first meeting between the lovers to the final verdict in Edinburgh Court.

    Cast

  • Janette Craig as Madeleine Smith
  • Owen Weingott as Emile L'Angelier
  • Berys Marsh
  • Keith Jarvis
  • Gordon Glenwright
  • Keith Buckley
  • Mayne Lyondon
  • Edward Smith
  • Royston Marcus
  • Production

    The play was broadcast "live" from Sydney.

    References

    Killer in Close-Up Wikipedia


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