AustLit logo
image of person or book cover 2030064684721314526.jpg
form y separately published work icon The Tower single work   film/TV  
Adaptation of The Tower Hal Porter , 1963 single work drama
Issue Details: First known date: 1965... 1965 The Tower
The material on this page is available to AustLit subscribers. If you are a subscriber or are from a subscribing organisation, please log in to gain full access. To explore options for subscribing to this unique teaching, research, and publishing resource for Australian culture and storytelling, please contact us or find out more.

AbstractHistoryArchive Description

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."

Source

Notes

  • Television play.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

    • c
      Australia,
      c
      :
      Australian Broadcasting Commission ,
      1965 .
      Extent: 75min.p.
      Series: y separately published work icon Wednesday Theatre Australia : Australian Broadcasting Commission , 1965-1969 7118326 1965 series - publisher

      An ABC anthology television series that played single-episode television programs from overseas, but also produced and promoted new Australian works.

      The individual works had no explicit thematic connection to one another, and the term 'theatre' was applied loosely: some instalments were adaptations of stage plays, but many appear to have been written directly as 'television plays'. The series also semi-regularly aired operas.

      In some instances, the productions were imported wholesale from other countries: 'Collect Your Hand Luggage' (aired 20 October 1965), for example, is a re-titled broadcast of ITV Television Playhouse episode 'Collect Your Hand Baggage' (originally aired in 1963).

      In other instances, the episodes are Australian productions of international works: 'Tartuffe' (aired 13 October 1965), for example, is an Australian production of the Moliere play, produced Henri Safran and with an Australian cast. These productions are only indexed individually on AustLit if there is a discernible Australian script-writer and/or localisation of the production.

      Wednesday Theatre followed a common pattern for anthology series on early Australian television, in that the Australian content rapidly dropped away and the series became primarily re-screenings of British productions: see also Stuart Wagstaff's World Playhouse.

      For a full listing of episodes and airdates, see under Film Details.

      Number in series: 1.17

Works about this Work

Forgotten Australian TV Plays : The Tower Stephen Vagg , 2021 single work essay
— Appears in: FilmInk , 22 June 2021;
60 Australian TV Plays of the 1950s & ‘60s Stephen Vagg , 2019 single work column
— Appears in: FilmInk , 18 February 2019;
Actors Tower Over Production John Howard , 1965 single work column
— Appears in: The Canberra Times , 30 April 1965; (p. 21)
Actors Tower Over Production John Howard , 1965 single work column
— Appears in: The Canberra Times , 30 April 1965; (p. 21)
60 Australian TV Plays of the 1950s & ‘60s Stephen Vagg , 2019 single work column
— Appears in: FilmInk , 18 February 2019;
Forgotten Australian TV Plays : The Tower Stephen Vagg , 2021 single work essay
— Appears in: FilmInk , 22 June 2021;
Last amended 19 Sep 2022 13:16:10
Settings:
  • Hobart, Southeast Tasmania, Tasmania,
  • 1850s
Newspapers:
    Powered by Trove
    X