"Long Distance" is a 1961 Australian television film. It was based on a 1948 American radio play, and retained the U.S. setting. It was among the first local drama productions by station

HSV-7 HSV is a television station in Melbourne, Australia. It is part of the Seven Network, one of the three main commercial television networks in Australia, its first and oldest station. It launched in time for the 1956 Summer Olympic Games in Melb ...

, and aired in a 30-minute time-slot. It was telecast on 8 June. An excerpt from it appeared in a 2006 documentary called ''Studio One'', suggesting ''Long Distance'' still exists despite the wiping of the era. The film was produced by British producer

Peter Cotes Peter Cotes (19 March 1912 – 10 November 1998) was an English director, producer, actor, writer and production manager. Cotes was born as Sydney Boulting in Maidenhead, Berkshire. His brothers John and Roy Boulting became noted film makers. ...

and starred his wife, Joan Miller. It was recorded in March 1961 but its air date was pushed back to 8 June 1961, due to a talk by the Prime Minister. It was the only one of Cotes' Australian productions to air while he was in Australia; the others were not screened until the following year.

Premise

A woman's husband is to be executed. After finding proof that he is innocent, his wife tries to contact the judge, but only has 30 minutes to do so.

Cast

*Joan Miller as Anne Jacks *Mary Disney as chief telephone operator *Letty Craydon as Mrs Maclean *Ken Goodlet as warden *Pat Hackett as first operator *Olive Jan as second operator *

Bunney Brooke Dorothy Cronin (9 January 1920 – 2 April 2000), professionally known as Bunney Brooke, was an Australian actress, creator, producer, director, designer, playwright and casting agent, best known for her being one of the early faces of Aust ...

as Golden Gate operator *Ken Warne as room clerk *Elizabeth Goodman as San Francisco operator *Margaret Browne as Chicago operator *Diana Bell as information operator *Peter Aanensen as barman *

Don Crosby George Wallace Donald Crosby, Order of Australia, OAM (29 October 1924 – 3 December 1985) was an Australians, Australian actor of radio, stage, television and film, radio producer, stage manager, airman and trade unionist. Early life The fift ...

as Mr Anderson *Kendrick Hudson as Judge Maclean *

Ron Shand Ronald Ernest McMurtry (3 February 1906, Carlton, Melbourne, Australia – 8 August 1993, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia), professionally known as Ron Shand and earlier in his career billed as Ronnie McMurtry, was an Australian actor and ...

as porter

Production

Cotes arrived in Australia in March 1961. It was the first of four productions he made in Australia, the others being ''Suspect'', ''Candide'' and ''

Shadow of the Vine "Shadow of the Vine" is a 1962 Australian television play adapted from a 1949 play by Beverly Nichols. It was originally made for HSV-7 then presented as part of the '' General Motors Hour'' It was produced by Peter Cotes, who made four TV produc ...

''. He said he would have made more but for the credit freeze. Overseas versions of ''Long Distance'' had previously been seen on Australian TV. Cotes said his main reason for making ''Long Distance'' was to introduce Miller, his Canadian-born wife, to Australian audiences. Miller had previously appeared in a production of the play for British TV. Cotes was in Australia until September 1961 to set up the HSV Drama Department. There was a cast of fifteen. Rehearsals started 8 May 1961 and it was taped on 18 May 1961. It was filmed in two of HSV-7's studios in Dorcas Street, connected by a central control room. It ran for 30 minutes. The next shows made, ''Shadow of the Vine'' and ''Candida'' ran for 90 minutes.

Reception

''The Age'' newspaper, in the section ''Teletopics'', said that "Joan Miller gave a most moving portrayal" and that the show "lived up to expectation".

References

External links