The Lady from the Sea (1961 film)

The Lady from the Sea

Company type	Television drama production
Industry	Television, Drama
Founded	1961
Headquarters	Melbourne , Australia
Products	Television drama adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's play

The Lady from the Sea is a standalone Australian drama television production from 1961, broadcast on ABC. This 75-minute program was adapted from the 1888 theatrical work by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. It was performed live in Melbourne on 4 October 1961 and subsequently recorded for airing in Sydney. It remains uncertain whether it was shown in other Australian metropolitan areas. A version with a duration of 1:23:12 may be preserved by the National Archives.

During this period, Australian television drama productions were relatively uncommon.

Plot

Eldsa, a married woman, continues to harbor feelings for a former lover believed to have drowned. Her husband suspects that another man might have been her previous partner. A young man suffering from consumption shows interest in Eldsa but is actually attracted to her daughter. The presumed drowned lover unexpectedly returns from the sea.

Cast

• Lynne Flanagan portraying Eldsa
• Edward Howell as Dr Wangel
• Carole Potter in the role of Bolette
• Eva Freitag as Hilde
• Roland Redshaw playing Arnholm
• David Mitchell as Lyngstrand
• Wynn Roberts as the stranger
• Campbell Copelin as Ballested
• Nancy Cato
• Edward Brayshaw

Production

This television adaptation followed an earlier Australian radio performance in February 1959. It featured the first television appearances of Lynne Flanagan and 14-year-old Eva Freitag.

Reception

The TV critic from Australian Woman's Weekly criticized the production for its overabundance of sea-themed dialogue and ineffective special effects, describing the overall presentation as surreal and lacking credibility.