They Were Big, They Were Blue, They Were Beautiful
| Company type | Television anthology series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television production |
| Founded | 1959 |
| Headquarters | Sydney , Australia |
| Products | Television plays |
They Were Big, They Were Blue, They Were Beautiful is an Australian live television drama that was broadcast on 27 June 1959 in Sydney and later on 8 August 1959 in Melbourne. This production was featured as part of Shell Presents, a monthly anthology series showcasing standalone plays aired from 1959 to 1960 on ATN-7 in Sydney and GTV-9 in Melbourne.
In contrast to the initial three Shell Presents episodes, which were all tragedies, this installment was a comedy and notably the first to be derived from an original Australian script. The Sydney audience experienced a live transmission attended by then-Governor General William Slim, while Melbourne viewers saw a recorded videotaped version.
Plot
Set against the backdrop of Sydney, the narrative centers on two men (Stewart Ginn and Kevin Brennan) who, upon their release from prison, inadvertently become entangled in a plot involving the abduction of a baby.
Cast
- Stewart Ginn
- Kevin Brennan
- June Salter portraying Ginn’s girlfriend
- Yvonne Banvard as the landlady
- Diana Davidson
- Gordon Glenwright
Production
The script, penned by Ross Napier, earned third place along with a £400 prize in the £3,000 Shell Australian TV drama competition.
The top award was granted to Robin Cornfield for his play about Victoria’s "Black Friday" bushfires titled "The Day Called Black." Paul Chidlow received second prize for his hospital murder mystery "The Bed by the Window." In the adaptation category, first prize went to Charles Phillips for his rendition of the Henry Lawson story "Send Around the Hat," second to Catherine Hamilton for adapting Emlyn Williams' The Druid's Rest, and third to James Downing for his take on Victorien Sardou's "The Black Pearl." Judges Harry Dearth, Royston Morley, and John McCallum remarked on the generally low quality of submissions.
After entering the competition, Napier reworked his play, describing it as "a light drama with a humorous element." Brett Porter, producer of Shell Presents, stressed a deliberate move away from mainly American scripts toward high-quality Australian dramas to better resonate with domestic audiences. He also emphasized initiatives aimed at nurturing Australian playwrights and acquainting them with the specific demands of television writing.
This production marked television debuts for both Stewart Ginn and Fifi Banvard, while Kevin Brennan returned following his praised performance in Johnny Belinda.
The presence of Australian Governor-General Sir William Slim during dress rehearsals highlighted the production’s significance.
The allocated budget for the play was £3,070.
Reception
A television critic from the Sydney Morning Herald pointed out that the main weakness lay in stretching approximately thirty minutes of content into a full hour, with director David Cahill’s straightforward camera work contributing to a sense of dullness; however, the cast effectively supported the script. The Sunday edition of the Sydney Morning Herald expressed some disappointment, noting that Ross Napier's skilled writing was undermined by overextending a single comedic premise. A reviewer from Woman's Weekly described the play as "embarrassingly bad to watch." Meanwhile, The Age dismissed it as "feeble, thin and unfunny," offering little to inspire enthusiasm. Reflecting back in 1992, June Salter referred to it as the worst play or production she had ever been involved with.
See also
References