Raffles (radio Series)
''Raffles'' is a British radio programme including eighteen episodes that first aired on BBC Radio 4 from 1985 to 1992, and an additional radio play that aired in 1993 on the BBC World Service. The series was directed by Gordon House and was based on the A. J. Raffles stories (first published 1898–1909) by author E. W. Hornung. The series starred Jeremy Clyde as fictional gentleman thief A. J. Raffles, and Michael Cochrane as Raffles's companion Bunny Manders. ''Raffles'' is occasionally rebroadcast on radio by the BBC and has been released on home audio. Background and production The series was a BBC Radio 4 and BBC World Service co-production. The first two series were adapted from E. W. Hornung's stories by David Buck, and the last series was adapted by Olwen Wymark. The director was Gordon House, and the signature tune was composed by Jim Parker. Jeremy Clyde played A. J. Raffles, and Michael Cochrane played Bunny Manders. Henry Stamper played a major recurring ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Radio Drama
Radio drama (or audio drama, audio play, radio play, radio theatre, or audio theatre) is a dramatized, purely acoustic performance. With no visual component, radio drama depends on dialogue, music and sound effects to help the listener imagine the characters and story: "It is auditory in the physical dimension but equally powerful as a visual force in the psychological dimension." Radio drama includes plays specifically written for radio, docudrama, dramatized works of fiction, as well as plays originally written for the theatre, including musical theatre, and opera. Radio drama achieved widespread popularity within a decade of its initial development in the 1920s. By the 1940s, it was a leading international popular entertainment. With the advent of television in the 1950s radio drama began losing its audience. However, it remains popular in much of the world. Recordings of OTR (old-time radio) survive today in the audio archives of collectors, libraries and museums, as well ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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The Ides Of March (short Story)
"The Ides of March" (also published as "In the Chains of Crime") is a short story by E. W. Hornung, and the first appearance of the gentleman thief A. J. Raffles, and his companion and biographer, Bunny Manders. The story was first published in June 1898 by ''Cassell's Magazine''. The story was also included in the collection ''The Amateur Cracksman'', published by Methuen & Co. Ltd in London, and Charles Scribner's Sons in New York, both in 1899. Plot Part one "Bunny" Manders returns to the flat in the Albany where he just lost over two hundred pounds in a game of baccarat, earlier that evening. The famous cricketer A. J. Raffles, who lives there and who Bunny once fagged for at school, greets him. Bunny confesses to Raffles that he is hopelessly in debt. The checks he wrote for Raffles and the others are worthless. When Raffles does not express sympathy, Bunny tries to leave. Raffles detains him. Agitated, Bunny raises a pistol to his head to kill himself. However, Raffles u ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Michael Deacon (actor)
Michael Deacon (1933–2000) was a Scottish actor. His many stage appearances included roles for venues such as the Hampstead Theatre, Mercury Theatre, Colchester, Pentameters Theatre and the Finborough Theatre. In 1995, he played the title role in ''Who is Eddie Linden'' at The Old Red Lion in Islington. The play was adapted by William Tanner from Sebastian Barker's biography of poet and literary magazine editor Eddie Linden. Deacon was also a highly distinguished radio actor, particularly for the BBC. His BBC Radio work ranged from productions of major classics and important new works to the long-running soap opera ''The Archers'', in which he played the Vicar of Ambridge, Jerry Buckle. He also provided the voice of Gríma Wormtongue in the animated film ''The Lord of the Rings'' (1978) and can be heard in many roles in commercially available audio productions of Shakespeare plays. He also played many television roles and was in the film '' A Kind of Loving'' (1962), d ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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The Field Of Philippi
"The Field of Philippi" is a short story by E. W. Hornung, and features the gentleman thief A. J. Raffles, and his companion and biographer, Bunny Manders. The story was published in April 1905 by ''Collier's Weekly'' in New York and in May 1905 by ''Pall Mall Magazine'' in London. The story was also included as the fifth story in the collection '' A Thief in the Night'', published by Chatto & Windus in London, and Charles Scribner's Sons in New York, both in 1905. Plot Raffles decides to play in the Old Boys' Match, as part of their old school's annual Founder's Day celebrations. He has also been invited by the new headmaster to attend a debate over whether to mark the two-hundredth anniversary of their school with a new statue of the school's founder. Along the way, Raffles and Bunny meet Nasmyth at a station. Nasmyth was head of the student body the same year Raffles was captain of the cricket team. He argues to Raffles his stance against the new statue. Raffles, however, will ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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The Criminologists' Club
"The Criminologists' Club" is a short story by E. W. Hornung, and features the gentleman thief A. J. Raffles, and his companion and biographer, Bunny Manders. The story was published in March 1905 by ''Collier's Weekly'' in New York, and in April 1905 by ''Pall Mall Magazine'' in London. It was also included as the fourth story in the collection '' A Thief in the Night'', published by Chatto & Windus in London, and Charles Scribner's Sons in New York, both in 1905. Plot Raffles, who has lately been visiting Bunny very often, tells Bunny about a small society of four crime experts, who call themselves the Criminologists. They take an interest in a number of crimes, especially the series of London society robberies. Raffles and Bunny are invited to join them dinner at the house of club president Lord Thornaby, ostensibly to discuss the potential of crime in sport (such as gambling and throwing matches), as Raffles is a well-known cricketer. However, on the night of the dinner, Bun ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Laurence Payne
Laurence Stanley Payne (5 June 1919 – 23 February 2009) was an English actor and novelist. Early life Payne was born in London. His father died when he was three years old, and he and his elder brother and sister were brought up by their mother, a Wesleyan Methodist in Wood Green, London. He attended Belmont School and Tottenham Grammar School, leaving at 16 to take a clerical job. After training at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School in 1939, he was exempted from war service as a conscientious objector on condition that he went on tour with the Old Vic during the war. Career Actor Payne made his professional debut at the Old Vic theatre in 1939 and remained with the company for several years. He then performed at the Chanticleer and Arts theatres in London, also directing and broadcasting for the first times during this period. At Stratford-on-Avon he played, among other parts, Romeo in Peter Brook's 1947 production. After more work at London theatres, he played l ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Christopher Benjamin (actor)
Christopher Benjamin (born 27 December 1934) is an English actor with many stage and television credits since the 1960s. His television roles include three appearances in ''Doctor Who'', portraying Sir Keith Gold in ''Inferno'' (1970), Henry Gordon Jago in '' The Talons of Weng-Chiang'' (1977) and Colonel Hugh Curbishley in ''The Unicorn and the Wasp'' (2008). He also provided the voice of Rowf in the animated film ''The Plague Dogs'' (1982). Early life Benjamin was born in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, England. Career He is well known for his roles in some of the UK's biggest cult television programmes. This included playing the same character ("Potter") in two Patrick McGoohan dramas, ''Danger Man'' and ''The Prisoner'', fuelling speculation that they are possibly linked. He played the Old Man (boss of Philip Roath) in the Thames Television comedy by Peter Tilbury, '' It Takes a Worried Man'' (1981). He was also an occasional guest star in '' The Avengers'' and ''Doctor Who'', ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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The Rest Cure (short Story)
"The Rest Cure" is a short story by E. W. Hornung, and features the gentleman thief A. J. Raffles, and his companion and biographer, Bunny Manders. The story was published in February 1905 by ''Collier's Weekly'' in New York and in March 1905 by ''Pall Mall Magazine'' in London. The story was also included as the third story in the collection '' A Thief in the Night'', published by Chatto & Windus in London, and Charles Scribner's Sons in New York, both in 1905. Plot Bunny is short of funds, but is unable to find Raffles anywhere, until a tramp outside the Albany gives Bunny a message from Raffles arranging a rendezvous at Holland Park at night. At Holland Park, Bunny is approached by the tramp again, who is Raffles in disguise. To avoid Inspector Mackenzie, Raffles has grown a beard and taken the house of a prison warden, Colonel Crutchley, who is in Switzerland with his wife. At the house, Raffles is taking his own version of the Rest Cure: he is keeping no servants, running af ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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The Chest Of Silver
"The Chest of Silver" is a short story by E. W. Hornung, and features the gentleman thief A. J. Raffles, and his companion and biographer, Bunny Manders. The story was published in January 1905 by ''Collier's Weekly'' in New York, and in February 1905 by ''Pall Mall Magazine'' in London. It was also included as the second story in the collection '' A Thief in the Night'', published by Chatto & Windus in London, and Charles Scribner's Sons in New York, both in 1905. Plot Bunny visits the Albany to find Raffles packing his large pieces of silver into an enormous chest. Bunny assumes that Raffles is fleeing from Crawshay, the prince of thieves and their rival. Raffles doesn't deny it. He adds that Inspector Mackenzie suspects him, and Raffles wants to give him a chance to search his rooms. Therefore, he is leaving to Scotland. As an excuse for his absence, Raffles is having new paint, electric light, and a telephone added. Meanwhile, Bunny must take the chest to his own bank. Raff ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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The Return Match
"The Return Match" is a short story by E. W. Hornung, and features the gentleman thief A. J. Raffles, and his companion and biographer, Bunny Manders. The story was first published in October 1898 by ''Cassell's Magazine''. The story was also included as the seventh story in the collection ''The Amateur Cracksman'', published by Methuen & Co. Ltd in London, and Charles Scribner's Sons in New York, both in 1899. Plot Raffles brings Bunny to his Albany rooms. Raffles says the famous thief whom Raffles outsmarted during the affair of Lady Melrose's necklace, named Crawshay, was imprisoned at Dartmoor but escaped yesterday. Raffles suspects that Crawshay is coming after him, to seek revenge against Raffles. Suddenly, Crawshay enters the room. Crawshay smoothly tells Raffles that Raffles must find a way to get Crawshay out of the country. Raffles acknowledges to Bunny that Crawshay is blackmailing them, but is genuinely excited to help the daring prison escapee get away. Raffles ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Wilful Murder (short Story)
"Wilful Murder" is a short story by E. W. Hornung, and features the gentleman thief A. J. Raffles, and his companion and biographer, Bunny Manders. The story was first published as the fifth part of the collection '' The Amateur Cracksman'', published by Methuen & Co. Ltd in London, and Charles Scribner's Sons in New York, both in 1899. This and "Le Premier Pas" were the two stories in the collection not published previously in magazine format. Plot Raffles and Bunny have just returned from Ireland, and Bunny anxiously waits in his rooms for Raffles to sell the emeralds they have stolen to Baird, a moneylender who is Raffles's fence. Raffles arrives, having sold the emeralds; however, Baird seems to have deduced that the disguised Raffles is actually a gentleman. Baird secretly followed Raffles back to his artist's studio, though Raffles has shaken him off. Raffles and Bunny leave to the Albany. On the way, in Bond Street, they pass by Jack Rutter, an unfortunate drunkard who B ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Nine Points Of The Law
"Nine Points of the Law" is a short story by E. W. Hornung, and features the gentleman thief A. J. Raffles, and his companion and biographer, Bunny Manders. The story was first published in September 1898 by ''Cassell's Magazine''. The story was also included as the six story in the collection '' The Amateur Cracksman'', published by Methuen & Co. Ltd in London, and Charles Scribner's Sons in New York, both in 1899. Plot Raffles shows Bunny a remarkable advertisement in ''The Daily Telegraph'' offering two thousand pounds for an unspecified task. Raffles has answered it under a false name. That moment, a replying telegram arrives, from a famously shady lawyer named Addenbrooke. Raffles takes Bunny to Addenbrooke's offices in Wellington Street, Strand. The lawyer meets them, but recognizes Raffles. Raffles insists that both he and Bunny are in need of money. Addenbrooke, now reluctant, informs them of the illicit job: to take back his client's priceless Velasquez painting, whi ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |