Other People's Houses
| Industry | Television drama anthology series |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1959 |
| Headquarters | Sydney , Australia |
Other People's Houses represents the second installment of the 1959 Australian television drama anthology series Shell Presents. Adapted from a play authored by Tad Mosel, this episode featured Diana Perryman in a leading role and was helmed by director David Cahill. It was broadcast on 2 May 1959 in Sydney and subsequently on 3 October 1959 in Melbourne.
Prior to this Australian production, the script had been adapted for American television on Goodyear Playhouse, starring Rod Steiger and Eileen Heckart.
Plot
The story centers on an elderly gentleman (portrayed by Lou Vernon) who resides with his married daughter and her spouse, both of whom harbor resentment towards him. To prevent his admission into a retirement facility, his eldest daughter, Inez, moves into their home.
Cast
- Lou Vernon as the elderly man
- Diana Perryman portraying Inez, the eldest daughter
- Coralie Neville as the married daughter
- Deryck Barnes in the role of Ralph, her husband
- Fred Powell as a police officer
Production
ATN-7 originally intended to produce Children of the Sun by Morris West as the second episode of Shell Presents, but ultimately substituted it with Other People's Houses. Rehearsals commenced in April 1959, marking Coralie Neville’s inaugural television appearance.
Filming occurred at ATN-7’s studio located in Epping, Sydney, where a complete interior set replicating a "typical American middle-class home" was constructed to support the intimate family narrative. Producer Brett Porter and director David Cahill dedicated a week to preparing the shoot. The cast engaged in three weeks of rehearsals, which included two hours of dress rehearsals and two complete run-throughs on the day of performance.
Operations manager Vernon Best highlighted the necessity of authentic American-style decor to ensure credibility. Cast member Coralie Neville commended the play’s authenticity, emphasizing their approach to inhabit their characters rather than merely perform them.
Reception
According to a representative from ATN Channel 7, phone lines were overwhelmed with congratulatory calls from viewers across Sydney immediately following the broadcast.
The television critic for the Sydney Morning Herald acknowledged that while direction and acting demonstrated technical skill and the production proceeded without incident, it did not delve deeply into the emotional complexities of the domestic scenario depicted. The set design was characterized as straightforward yet effective.