A Piece of Ribbon
| Company type | Television drama |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television production |
| Founded | 1963 |
| Founder | Christopher Muir (director) |
| Headquarters | Melbourne , Australia |
| Products | Television drama |
A Piece of Ribbon is a 1963 Australian television drama directed by Christopher Muir and produced in Melbourne. Adapted from an English TV play authored by Leslie Thomas and previously aired by the BBC, it remains unique as the sole Australian TV drama portraying events during the Malayan Emergency. Beach sequences were captured on location at Beaumaris, Victoria.
Plot
Set against the backdrop of the Malayan Emergency, the story follows British troops taking respite at a Malay Beach Club House. Among them, several men become infatuated with Marianna de Souza, a Eurasian woman who is meeting her boyfriend, Corporal Cutliffe. The narrative intensifies when Marianna is discovered murdered; however, the inquiry is interrupted when the unit is ordered out on patrol under Sergeant Wiley’s command.
Cast
- Neville Thurgood as Sgt Wiley
- Jeffrey Hodgson
- Heather Leembruggen as Marianna de Souza
- Geoffrey Hodgson as Corporal Cutliffe
- George Whaley
- Roly Barlee
- Terry Beattie
- Kurt Beimel
- Robin Farquhar
- Joseph Gentile
- Charles Haggith
- Max Horder
- Paul Karo
- Dennis Miller
- Alwyn Owen
- Joseph Szabo
- Christine Veld
Production
Featuring a cast of 25 performers, including five models affiliated with the Mannequin and Models Guild, filming took place at Beaumaris beach. Heather Leembruggen, originally from Sri Lanka, held a prominent role. The production’s set design was crafted by Kevin Bartlett.
Reception
The Bulletin commended the ensemble for their convincing portrayals of British soldiers. Meanwhile, Filmink regarded the play as "a very good production."