The Governess (1958 film)
| Industry | Broadcasting, Television production |
|---|---|
| Founded | July 1, 1929 |
| Headquarters | Sydney , Australia |
Area served | Australia |
| Products | Television dramas, live television plays |
| Website | www |
The Governess is a television drama from 1958 aired by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. This production is an adaptation of a Patrick Hamilton play, which had earlier been presented on Australian radio. The director, William Sterling—who also helmed the 1958 adaptation of Hamilton's Gaslight—was responsible for bringing this and several other Hamilton works to Australian television.
Plot
Set in the Victorian era, the story follows a governess who becomes the subject of doubt after the family's infant son goes missing.
Cast
- Patricia Kennedy portraying the governess
- Carole Potter as Ellen Drew, the household's daughter
- Brian James
- John Morgan
- Mary Disney
- Sydney Conabere
- Lesley Pope
- Muriel Hearne
- Nevil Thurgood
- Charmain Jacka
Production
This play initiated a sequence of live drama broadcasts on ABV-2, scheduled every two weeks on Sunday evenings. The series alternated between live performances from Melbourne and telerecorded productions from Sydney. This programming strategy was developed in response to audience dissatisfaction with repetitive "old American and British films." Ewart Chapple, the Victorian ABC manager, expressed strong belief in local performers' ability to produce entertainment meeting international standards.
Following this, other productions included titles such as The Last Call, The Rose without a Thorn, The Lark, Citizen of Westminster, and Enemy of the People. Marketing efforts emphasized the network’s commitment to promoting domestic talent and encouraged viewers to engage with these broadcasts.
The Governess also marked the first television appearance of Carole Potter, who was only 15 years old and still attending school at the time.
See also
External links
- Australian television plays
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation original programming
- Australian English-language television shows
- Australian live television shows
- Black-and-white Australian television shows
- 1958 Australian television plays
- Television plays directed by William Sterling (director)
- Television shows based on works by Patrick Hamilton