"The Big Killing" is a 1965 Australian television film which aired on ABC. A murder drama aired in a 70-minute time-slot, it was produced in ABC's Sydney studios.[5] Producer was James Upshaw, whose previous works had included variety series The Lorrae Desmond Show.[6][7]
Peter Ashbury is a young man who lives on Palm Beach, Sydney, with an expensive wife Mary and house he cannot afford. Their neighbours and close friends are Liz and Charles Barcher. He makes a £25,000 bet to murder Liz, the wife of the wealthy Charles. When the wife dies, blame attaches to Peter and then to his wife Mary.
It was based on a West End stage play. Ian McKellen appeared in a 1962 production and called it "Another miserably- written "comedy thriller", which made the cast laugh more than the audience and which thrilled no-one."[9]
The ABC bought the rights and it was adapted to be set in Australia.[10]
The play marked a return to acting by Roger Climpson after an eight-year absence, during which time he had established himself as a newsreader.[11][12] He had left Channel Nine 18 months previously and been making documentaries since.[3]
Reception
The Canberra Times called the script "two steps backward" and said that "unfortunately the producer James Upshaw who is capable of better, much better things, seemed to have taken his cue from the script rather than the high-powered talent he wastefully cast".[13]
The Sydney Morning Herald said it "made good television viewing."[14]
Another critic for the same paper said it was "like a burst of fireworks... brilliantly acted... must surely rate as THE play so far this year" adding writer Mackie "threw in more angles and red herrings than a Perry Mason episode" and "managed to keep the plot going at a rattling pace until its last moments."[15]
killing, wednesday, theatre, killing, 1965, australian, television, film, which, aired, murder, drama, aired, minute, time, slot, produced, sydney, studios, producer, james, upshaw, whose, previous, works, included, variety, series, lorrae, desmond, show, kill. The Big Killing is a 1965 Australian television film which aired on ABC A murder drama aired in a 70 minute time slot it was produced in ABC s Sydney studios 5 Producer was James Upshaw whose previous works had included variety series The Lorrae Desmond Show 6 7 The Big Killing Wednesday Theatre episodeEpisode no Season 1Episode 16Directed byJames UpshawTeleplay byNoel RobinsonBased onplay by Philip MackieOriginal air dates21 April 1965 Sydney Melbourne 1 2 28 April 1965 Brisbane 3 Running time70 mins 4 Episode chronology Previous Time and the Conways Next The Tower List of episodesIt aired as part of Wednesday Theatre Australian TV drama was relatively rare at the time 8 A search of their website shows that the National Archives of Australia hold a copy of this program with running time listing as 1 14 31 Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 Production 4 Reception 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksPlot EditPeter Ashbury is a young man who lives on Palm Beach Sydney with an expensive wife Mary and house he cannot afford Their neighbours and close friends are Liz and Charles Barcher He makes a 25 000 bet to murder Liz the wife of the wealthy Charles When the wife dies blame attaches to Peter and then to his wife Mary Cast EditRoger Climpson as Peter Ashbury June Thody as Mary Ashbury Nigel Lovell as Charles Barcher Benita Harvey as Liz Barcher Ron Haddrick as an honest neighbour Gavin Cole Stewart Ginn as Inspector Fowler Betty Dyson as Norah Tommy Dysart as Sgt BassetProduction EditIt was based on a West End stage play Ian McKellen appeared in a 1962 production and called it Another miserably written comedy thriller which made the cast laugh more than the audience and which thrilled no one 9 The ABC bought the rights and it was adapted to be set in Australia 10 The play marked a return to acting by Roger Climpson after an eight year absence during which time he had established himself as a newsreader 11 12 He had left Channel Nine 18 months previously and been making documentaries since 3 Reception EditThe Canberra Times called the script two steps backward and said that unfortunately the producer James Upshaw who is capable of better much better things seemed to have taken his cue from the script rather than the high powered talent he wastefully cast 13 The Sydney Morning Herald said it made good television viewing 14 Another critic for the same paper said it was like a burst of fireworks brilliantly acted must surely rate as THE play so far this year adding writer Mackie threw in more angles and red herrings than a Perry Mason episode and managed to keep the plot going at a rattling pace until its last moments 15 See also EditList of live television plays broadcast on Australian Broadcasting Corporation 1950s References Edit TV Guide The Age 15 April 1965 p 24 TV Guide Sydney Morning Herald 19 April 1965 p 22 a b Newsman in Murder Play TV Times 21 April 1965 p 6 WEDNESDAY The Canberra Times Vol 39 no 11 133 19 April 1965 p 15 Retrieved 20 March 2017 via National Library of Australia Wednesday theatre Canberra Times Act 1926 1995 20 April 1965 p 13 Wednesday theatre The Canberra Times 20 April 1965 p 13 Retrieved 25 July 2015 via National Library of Australia Palm Beach Set Mystery Drama The Age 15 April 1965 p 23 Vagg Stephen 18 February 2019 60 Australian TV Plays of the 1950s amp 60s Filmink The Big Killing Ian McKellen official home page Marshall Valda 2 May 1965 Cilla Black to head names in spectacular Sydney Morning Herald p 96 Newsreader Now Actor Sydney Morning Herald 12 April 1965 p 12 Role in TV Play Sydney Morning Herald 18 April 1965 p 61 Dead before it started The Canberra Times Australian Capital Territory Australia 23 April 1965 p 15 Retrieved 4 February 2020 via Trove The Big Killing Sydney Morning Herald 22 April 1965 p 11 Marshall Valda 25 April 1965 Thriller Scored Sydney Morning Herald p 75 External links Edit The Big Killing at IMDb This article about a television episode is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Big Killing Wednesday Theatre amp oldid 1120977452, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
