Ring Out Wild Bells

Ring Out Wild Bells is a 1965 Australian television play which aired as part of Wednesday Theatre. It was based on a play by George Landen Dann. It was the third locally shot ABC drama after Vacancy in Vaughan Street and Dark Brown.[1]

This article is about a television play. For Tennyson's poem, see Ring Out, Wild Bells.

"Ring Out Wild Bells"
Wednesday Theatre episode
Episode no.Season 1
Directed byRobert Cubbage
Wilf Buckner
Teleplay byGeorge Landen Dann
Original air date11 November 1964 (Brisbane)[1]
10 February 1965 (Sydney, Canberra)[2][3]
July 1, 1965 (Melbourne)[4]
Running time50 mins[5]

Plot

Conflict emerges between a minister, Reverend Stephen Millcote, and race promoter Peter Lambert. Millcote is trying to conduct marriage services on Saturday afternoons while Lambert is running race meetings, complete with loudspeaker commentaries, from close by. Matters are complicated by the fact that Millcote's daughter is in love with Lambert's son.[6]

Cast
  • Edward Howell as Reverend Stephen Millcote
  • Belly Ross as Pamela Millcote, Millcote's sister and horse racing fan
  • James Stevens as Peter Lambert
  • Alistair Smart as John Lambert
  • Monica Smith as Judy Millcote
  • Gwen Wheeler as Alice Lambert
  • Beverly Bates as Beverly
  • Larry Pratt as announcer

Production

It was based on the 1958 play by George Landen Dann. It was Dann's first TV play produced although he had written a number of radio and stage plays. It aired in Melbourne the same week as another Brisbane shot play, The Quiet Season.[6]

It was filmed at the ABC's Brisbane studios in Toowong and broadcast in Brisbane.[7] All the cast were local Brisbane actors except for Edward Howell; this was his 45th TV play. Betty Ross was experienced in Brisbane theatre. Larry Pratt the ABC radio announcer provided his voice for the role of the race caller.[1]

Reception

The Sydney Morning Herald said "its dialogue consisted of a great deal of characterless and self consciously conventional prattle which reduced the play to the level of a soap opera domestic upheaval and gave the Brisbane cast of actors no chance of proving themselves. The standards were close to church hall dramatics and only in Edward Howell was it possible to recognise an authoritative actor who had succeeded in kindling the beginnings of a live part out of the cardboard figure of the vicar."[8]

See also

References
  1. "Oh those bells". TV Times. 4 November 1964. p. 12.
  2. "TODAYS TV". The Canberra Times. 39 (11, 076). Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 10 February 1965. p. 19. Retrieved 11 June 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. "TV Guide". Sydney Morning Herald. 8 February 1965. p. 13.
  4. "TV Guide". The Age. 24 June 1965. p. 26.
  5. "WEDNESDAY". The Canberra Times. 39 (11, 074). Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 8 February 1965. p. 14. Retrieved 20 March 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. "Two Australian Plays from Brisbane TV". The Age. 24 June 1965. p. 11.
  7. https://neomemoriatechnica.wordpress.com/tag/by-george-george-landen-dann-queensland-theatre-history-sunshine-coast-laboite-theatre/
  8. "Australian Comedy on Television". Sydney Morning Herald. 11 February 1965. p. 10.


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