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AbstractHistoryArchive Description
"The Tower takes place in 1850s Hobart, in the mansion of wealthy Sir Rodney de Havilland. Members of Sir Rodney’s household include his spinster sister Hester, his wheelchair-bound step-daughter Amy, his new 19 year-old-wife Selina, and creepy 14 year old son Edwin. Amy falls off the new tower being built on top of the house and signs point to it not being an accident. Was it suicide? Was she pushed? There are lots of twists and memorable characters (including a hunky ex-convict and dodgy maid), and the house is a wonderfully creepy setting in the style of Thornfield Hall or Manderley."
Adaptations
-
form
y
The Tower
( dir. Christopher Muir
)
Australia
:
Australian Broadcasting Commission
,
1965
7119714
1965
single work
film/TV
A faithful adaptation of Hal Porter's The Tower.
Synopsis of the original play:
"The Tower takes place in 1850s Hobart, in the mansion of wealthy Sir Rodney de Havilland. Members of Sir Rodney’s household include his spinster sister Hester, his wheelchair-bound step-daughter Amy, his new 19 year-old-wife Selina, and creepy 14 year old son Edwin. Amy falls off the new tower being built on top of the house and signs point to it not being an accident. Was it suicide? Was she pushed? There are lots of twists and memorable characters (including a hunky ex-convict and dodgy maid), and the house is a wonderfully creepy setting in the style of Thornfield Hall or Manderley."
Notes
-
An Arabic translation, titled 'Al burj' (1969) is listed in Index Translationum. This has not been traced.
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Other Formats
- Also braille, sound recording.
Works about this Work
-
Ten Old Australian Plays Worthy of Another Look
2023
single work
essay
— Appears in: FilmInk , 6 March 2023; -
Abominable Scripts : Hal Porter's Plays
2005
single work
criticism
— Appears in: JASAL , vol. 4 no. 2005; (p. 23-34) Rowe reads Porter's plays 'in order to talk about ethics and literature, arguing for a narrative model of ethical reflection that recognises the constitutive role of narrative (literary, social, personal) in ethical being '(Editorial p.8). -
y
Hal Porter : A Man of Many Parts
Milsons Point
:
Random House
,
1993
Z475586
1993
single work
biography
-
Hal Porter, 'The Tower' and the Quintessence of Porterism
1991
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Australian Literary Studies , vol. 15 no. 2 1991; (p. 162-172) -
Three Australian Plays : Introduction
1985
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Three Australian Plays 1985; (p. 9-23)
-
Barnstormer
1964
single work
review
— Appears in: The Bulletin , 28 March vol. 86 no. 4388 1964; (p. 44)
— Review of The Tower 1963 single work drama -
Black Comedy
1964
single work
review
— Appears in: The Bulletin , 4 July vol. 86 no. 4402 1964; (p. 44)
— Review of The Tower 1963 single work drama -
Abominable Scripts : Hal Porter's Plays
2005
single work
criticism
— Appears in: JASAL , vol. 4 no. 2005; (p. 23-34) Rowe reads Porter's plays 'in order to talk about ethics and literature, arguing for a narrative model of ethical reflection that recognises the constitutive role of narrative (literary, social, personal) in ethical being '(Editorial p.8). -
Repetition and Menace in Hal Porter's 'The Tower'
1973
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Australian Literary Studies , May vol. 6 no. 1 1973; (p. 36-45) -
Hal Porter, The Watcher
1964
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Southerly , vol. 24 no. 2 1964; (p. 92-103) -
Hal Porter, 'The Tower' and the Quintessence of Porterism
1991
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Australian Literary Studies , vol. 15 no. 2 1991; (p. 162-172) -
Three Australian Plays : Introduction
1985
single work
criticism
— Appears in: Three Australian Plays 1985; (p. 9-23)
- Hobart, Southeast Tasmania, Tasmania,
- 1850s
