Treason (1959 film)
| Company type | Public broadcaster |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television broadcasting |
| Founded | July 1, 1932 |
| Headquarters | Melbourne , Australia |
| Products | Television drama productions |
| Website | www |
Treason is a 1959 Australian live television drama broadcast on ABC that portrays the 20 July plot during the Second World War. It first aired in Melbourne on 16 December 1959, with a kinescope version subsequently shown in Sydney on 13 January 1960. The drama is an adaptation of a stage play by Welsh playwright Saunders Lewis, which had previously been adapted for BBC Sunday-Night Theatre.
Premise
The narrative takes place amid World War II and centers on German military officers who, convinced of their country's impending defeat, conspire to assassinate Adolf Hitler in hopes of negotiating peace with the Allied forces.
Colonel Hofacker shares his concerns about Germany’s future with General Albrecht and becomes involved in the assassination conspiracy alongside Generals von Stülpnagel and von Kluge. The scheme ultimately does not succeed. Although Albrecht suspects Hofacker's involvement, he offers Countess Else her freedom if she assists him in securing Hofacker’s release.
Cast
- Frank Thring as General Karl Albrecht, head of the German Secret Police
- Brian James portraying Colonel Caesar von Hofacker
- June Brunell as Countess Else von Dietlof, secretary to the Military Governor of France
- Frank Gatliff playing General Otto von Stülpnagel
- Edward Howell as Field-Marshal Günther von Kluge
- Wynn Roberts
- Edward Brayshaw
Production
In 1958, George F. Kerr authored a radio drama on this subject that aired on ABC. Saunders Lewis originally penned the play in Welsh in 1958, which was later translated into English for the 1959 British television adaptation.
The live production was staged at ABC’s Melbourne studios. Director William Sterling characterized it as "a psychological exploration rather than an action-driven play," making it especially suitable for television close-up shots.
Authentic German insignia and the Graf Spee's flag were supplied by Melbourne’s Military Collectors' Club. Sequences set in an upscale French hotel were pre-recorded at a hotel in Melbourne. This production marked Frank Thring’s first appearance in an Australian television play.
Reception
The Age acclaimed the drama as "among the very few high-quality productions presented on Australian television." The Sunday edition of the Sydney Morning Herald commended Thring’s "powerful portrayal," complemented by Howell’s nuanced performance.
The daily Sydney Morning Herald described the play as "stylish and impactful," emphasizing the distinct personalities of the four principal male characters. According to Filmink, Thring embodies a compelling Nazi antagonist—intense, intelligent, and charismatic—while Brian James also garnered praise for his role.
See also
- Blue Murder – Another ABC TV drama from 1959
- Misery Me – An additional ABC TV drama from 1959
- List of live television plays broadcast on Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1950s)
References