A Canadian woman, Nina, is searching for her husband, Max Godfrey, who deserted her years ago. She finds him living in Sydney. Max has also defrauded his business partner. He decides to take steps to get rid of both his ex-wife and former business partner.
It was based on a story by Phillip Grenville Mann. He originally wrote it as a 30-minute TV play for British TV called "Dead or Alive". This aired in 1956 as part of the anthology series Theatre Royal, hosted by Lilli Palmer. The episode starred Australian actor Ron Randell and was directed by Don Chaffey, who would later work in Australia.[6] Other actors included Ralph Michael, Patricia Driscoll, Lloyd Lamble and John Miller.
Mann expanded the story into a full length stage play, which was performed in Britain.
Development
Mann adapted the story for Australian TV.[2] According to Filmink "A lot of TV plays around this time sound as though they were inspired by Dial M for Murder, which started as a TV play, i.e. tales of murder among the monied classes." [7]
It was the last in a series of live TV plays by Australian authors on the ABC which had been announced in March 1962.[2][8] The others were:
It was Grant Taylor's second TV performance following Jenny and was shot in Sydney.[10] The set, including two office interiors and a beach house at Avalon, was designed by Francesca Crespi. Technical supervisor John Garton was a veteran of many ABC plays and operas. Director Bill Bain said "the play is an excellent vehicle for actors and producer, being slick, tight and dynamic."[3]
Reception
The Sydney Morning Herald praised "the meticulously chic settings designed by Francesca Crespi (a beach house at Avalon and a Sydney office interior) and the easy-limbed, masterful portrayal of the villain by Grant Taylor".[11]
^Vagg, Stephen (February 18, 2019). "60 Australian TV Plays of the 1950s & '60s". Filmink.
^"Young Star's Work". Sydney Morning Herald. 12 March 1962. p. 13.
^"Drama Go Ahead with Six Australians with Ideas". The Age. 1 March 1962. p. 12.
^"Live Drama On Wednesday". The Canberra Times. 11 February 1963. p. 20. Retrieved 15 March 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Thriller Play on Channel 2". Sydney Morning Herald. 26 April 1962. p. 7. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
February 13, 2023
funnel, 1962, australian, play, starring, grant, taylor, written, phillip, grenville, mann, screened, suspense, drama, based, onplay, philip, grenville, mannwritten, byphilip, grenville, manndirected, bybill, baincountry, originaustraliaoriginal, languageengli. Funnel Web is a 1962 Australian TV play starring Grant Taylor and written by Phillip Grenville Mann It screened on the ABC and was a suspense drama 5 Funnel WebBased onplay by Philip Grenville MannWritten byPhilip Grenville MannDirected byBill BainCountry of originAustraliaOriginal languageEnglishProductionProducerJohn GartonRunning time60 mins 4 Production companyABCDistributorABCReleaseOriginal networkABCOriginal release25 April 1962 1962 04 25 Sydney live 1 30 May 1962 1962 05 30 Melbourne taped 2 30 October 1962 1962 10 30 Brisbane 3 Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 1956 British TV version 4 Development 5 Production 6 Reception 7 See also 8 External links 9 ReferencesPlot EditA Canadian woman Nina is searching for her husband Max Godfrey who deserted her years ago She finds him living in Sydney Max has also defrauded his business partner He decides to take steps to get rid of both his ex wife and former business partner Cast EditGrant Taylor as Max Godfrey Diana Davidson as Nina Godfrey Wendy Playfair as Nina Godfrey Alastair Duncan as Paul Charlton Phillipa Baker as Marion Westlake Mary Mackay as Miss Wetherby Stewart Ginn as Dt Sgt Lundy Ken Hacker as Gleeson1956 British TV version EditIt was based on a story by Phillip Grenville Mann He originally wrote it as a 30 minute TV play for British TV called Dead or Alive This aired in 1956 as part of the anthology series Theatre Royal hosted by Lilli Palmer The episode starred Australian actor Ron Randell and was directed by Don Chaffey who would later work in Australia 6 Other actors included Ralph Michael Patricia Driscoll Lloyd Lamble and John Miller Mann expanded the story into a full length stage play which was performed in Britain Development EditMann adapted the story for Australian TV 2 According to Filmink A lot of TV plays around this time sound as though they were inspired by Dial M for Murder which started as a TV play i e tales of murder among the monied classes 7 It was the last in a series of live TV plays by Australian authors on the ABC which had been announced in March 1962 2 8 The others were Boy Round the Corner The House of Mancello The Teeth of the Wind The Hobby Horse Jenny 9 Production EditIt was Grant Taylor s second TV performance following Jenny and was shot in Sydney 10 The set including two office interiors and a beach house at Avalon was designed by Francesca Crespi Technical supervisor John Garton was a veteran of many ABC plays and operas Director Bill Bain said the play is an excellent vehicle for actors and producer being slick tight and dynamic 3 Reception EditThe Sydney Morning Herald praised the meticulously chic settings designed by Francesca Crespi a beach house at Avalon and a Sydney office interior and the easy limbed masterful portrayal of the villain by Grant Taylor 11 See also EditList of television plays broadcast on Australian Broadcasting Corporation 1960s External links EditFunnel Web at National Film and Sound Archive Funnel Web at IMDbReferences Edit TV Guide Sydney Morning Herald 25 April 1962 p 15 a b c Viewers to See Drama in Its Third Form The Age 24 May 1962 p 13 a b A Venomous Spider TV Times 25 October 1962 p 23 TV Guide The Age 24 May 1962 p 33 TV Guide Sydney Morning Herald 23 April 1962 p 15 Dead or Alive 1956 TV show at IMDb Vagg Stephen February 18 2019 60 Australian TV Plays of the 1950s amp 60s Filmink Young Star s Work Sydney Morning Herald 12 March 1962 p 13 Drama Go Ahead with Six Australians with Ideas The Age 1 March 1962 p 12 Live Drama On Wednesday The Canberra Times 11 February 1963 p 20 Retrieved 15 March 2015 via National Library of Australia Thriller Play on Channel 2 Sydney Morning Herald 26 April 1962 p 7 Retrieved 15 March 2015 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Funnel Web amp oldid 1089986025, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
