A Local Boy

A Local Boy is a 1964 Australian TV play produced in ABC's Gore Hill Studios in Sydney.[7] Australian TV drama was relatively rare at the time.[8]

A Local Boy
Directed byHenri Safran
Written byAlun Owen[1]
StarringJohn Meillon
Distributed byABC
Release date
21 October 1964 (Sydney)[2]
4 November 1964 (Melbourne)[3][4]
10 November 1965 (Brisbane)[5]
Running time
60 mins[6]
CountryAustralia
LanguageEnglish

The play featured reportedly the first near-nude scene on Australian television.[5]

Plot

In Wales a barrister, David Owen, attempts to become a member of Parliament. He comes up against the older member, Evan Lloyd.

Cast
  • John Meillon as David Owen[9]
  • June Thody as Prue Owen
  • John Grey as Albert, the barman
  • John Huson as Gerran Jones, a political agent
  • Tom Farley as Evan Lloyd
  • Ethel Lang as Mrs. Williams.

Production

It was Meillon's first television play since he returned from England after five years to appear in Rattle of a Simple Man.[10] He went on to appear in The Recruiting Officer for the ABC soon afterwards.[11] Thoday was an Adelaide actor who had returned to Australia after five years in England.[5]

The near-nude scene came when the character of Prue Owen tried to entice her husband back into bed. The camera focused on her bare back for a few seconds. "The scene is not designed for sensationalism," said director Henri Safran. "It wasn't put in there to shock the public. It is a very delicate scene and was handled tastefully. The play called for the scene and it was handled tastefully."[5]

"The scene was very well handled," said Thody. "There was nothing ansty about it."[5]

Reception

The Australian Woman's Weekly said they were "pleasantly surprised" by the quality.[12]

The Canberra Times said "it was such a surprise this week to see a locally produced play that was worthy of the talents of the cast that I can not remember when it last happened."[13]

The Sydney Morning Herald said it was made with "outstandingly high polish".[14]

See also
  • List of television plays broadcast on Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1960s)

References
  1. "Pre-selection battle on radio". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 31 July 1964. p. 9. Retrieved 23 January 2020 – via Trove.
  2. "John Meillon to star". Sydney Morning Herald. 12 October 1964. p. 13.
  3. "On the Way Up". The Age. 29 October 1964. p. 31.
  4. "TV Guide". The Age. 29 October 1964. p. 26.
  5. "Near Nude Scene in ABC Play". TV Times. 3 November 1965. p. 3.
  6. "The Sydney Morning Herald from Sydney, New South Wales, Australia". TV Guide. 19 October 1964. p. 15.
  7. "MONDAY". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 19 October 1964. p. 18. Retrieved 23 January 2020 – via Trove.
  8. Vagg, Stephen (February 18, 2019). "60 Australian TV Plays of the 1950s & '60s". Filmink.
  9. "THE HAMMARSKJOLD DIARY First English translation". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 21 October 1964. p. 23. Retrieved 23 January 2020 – via Trove.
  10. "Dramas political setting". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 21 October 1964. p. 23. Retrieved 23 January 2020 – via Trove.
  11. "Convicts acted comedy in 1789". The Australian Women's Weekly. Australia. 23 December 1964. p. 18. Retrieved 23 January 2020 – via Trove.
  12. "EMDEN DRAMA RE-ENACTED". The Australian Women's Weekly. Australia. 4 November 1964. p. 15. Retrieved 23 January 2020 – via Trove.
  13. "Local Boy makes good television". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 23 October 1964. p. 15. Retrieved 23 January 2020 – via Trove.
  14. "'A Local Boy' on ABN 2". 22 October 1964. p. 9.


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