The Scent of Fear
| Industry | Television broadcasting and production |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Sydney , Australia |
| Products | Television dramas, including The Scent of Fear (1960) |
The Scent of Fear is a television drama penned by Ted Willis, originally created for the British anthology series Armchair Theatre. This work is an adaptation of Mary Higgins Clark's narrative "Stowaway," which is said to be inspired by an actual incident from 1949. Additionally, the play was produced for Australian television in 1960.
Plot
A young man fleeing from an Iron Curtain nation conceals himself aboard a flight headed to the UK to evade law enforcement. An air hostess uncovers his presence and takes on the responsibility of hiding him from the authorities.
1959 British TV Version
The initial production was undertaken by ABC Weekend TV for the British ITV channel in 1959, with direction by John Llewellyn Moxey.
Cast
- Anthony Quayle portraying Colonel Kralik
- Lorenza Colville as Eva Kralik
- Frederick Schiller in the role of Neumann
- Alexis Chesnakov playing Pechka
- Neil McCallum as Karl Schling
- Dorothy Tutin cast as Joan Bridey
- John Carson in the role of Tom Brook
- Barrie Cookson as Harry Mylner
- Jack Stewart playing Dusty Fraser
- Jacqueline Ellis as Peggy Court
- Carl Duering portraying Sten
- Wolfe Morris as Mueller
- David Ritch in the role of Brandt
- Walter Gotell as the First Policeman
- Jan Conrad as the Second Policeman
1960 Australian TV Version
Under the direction of James Upshaw, this Australian adaptation was broadcast live on ABC's Sydney station and recorded via kinescope for airing on other ABC outlets. It stands as one of the early thriller productions in Australian television, illustrating the medium’s growth at that time.
Cast
- Max Meldrum in the role of the young fugitive
- Eric Reiman portraying Colonel Kralik
- Diana Perryman as Joan Bridey, the air hostess
- Owen Weingott as Sten, who is the undercover Communist chief of police
- Deryck Barnes
- Brian Anderson
- Colin Croft
- Noni Rathesay
- Carlotta Kalmar
- Leonard Teale
- George Roubiceck
- Kenneth Hacker
- Custl Korner
- Peter Williams
- Tony Standen
- Barry Davies
- Felix Martin
- John Bell
- Val Zika
Production
The filming took place at ABC’s studios in Sydney, with exterior scenes shot at Sydney’s Kingsford Smith airport. Diana Perryman featured prominently in a key role.
Reception
The Sydney Morning Herald provided a review with mixed sentiments but highlighted Max Meldrum’s portrayal as a "superbly terrified fugitive" and commended Owen Weingott’s performance as "excellent" in his depiction of Sten, the covert communist secret police leader.
US Screening
In 1961, CBS acquired rights to broadcast this play in the United States, pairing it with another Australian production, Outpost, thereby extending its international exposure.
See also
- List of live television plays broadcast on Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1950s)
- List of television plays broadcast on Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1960s)
References