''The Angry General'' is a 1964 Australian television play written by Australian author Allan Trevor.
Premise
The play is set in London in the present day. Former wartime minister, Lord Athol Medway, publishes his memoirs attacking the leadership of Major-General Forbes Barrington-Hunt in the war during a disastrous commando raid. Barrington-Hunt sets out to clear his name.
Cast
*
Raymond Westwell
Raymond Westwell (6 January 1919 – 23 November 1982) was a British actor and director who worked for many years in Australia. He made his Australian TV debut in ''The Angry General''. He worked as a director of theatre, notably ''Camelot''.
Sel ...
as Major-General Forbes Barrington-Hunt
*
Edward Howell as Lord Athol Medway
*
Williams Lloyd as Sir Geoffrey Bryson
*
Norman Kaye
Norman James Kaye (17 January 1927 – 28 May 2007) was an Australian actor and musician. He was best known for his roles in the films of director Paul Cox.
Early life and education
Kaye was born in Melbourne and won a scholarship to study at ...
as Major Derek Barrington-Hunt
*
Joan Letch as Jane Barrington-Hunt
*
Dorothy Bradley as Elizabeth Barrington-Hunt
*
Joan MacArthur as Miriam Barrington-Hunt
*
Campbell Copelin
Campbell Copelin (1901–1988) was an English actor, who moved to Australia in the 1920s and worked extensively in film, theatre, radio and television. He had a notable association with J.C. Williamson Ltd and frequently collaborated with F. W. ...
as Gen George Chaesling
*
Douglas Kelly as Dobson
*
Kenrick Hudson as Dickie
*
Raymond O'Reilly as Hodge
*
Neville Thurgood as Benbow
*
Christine Calcutt
Christine may refer to:
People
* Christine (name), a female given name
Film
* ''Christine'' (1958 film), based on Schnitzler's play ''Liebelei''
* ''Christine'' (1983 film), based on King's novel of the same name
* ''Christine'' (1987 fil ...
as sister
Production
It was one of 20 TV plays produced by the ABC in 1964 (and one of only three Australian scripts). It was the first one that year to originate in Melbourne.
It was a play by Australian actor and author Allan Trevor and was produced in Melbourne. Trevor called the play "a study in motives — the motives that make people accept what is not right to achieve their own ends." He said the plot was "based very loosely on the case history of one of the numerous generals 'bowlerhatted' for no apparent reason during World War II." Trevor added that "It has as a leading character a 62 year old man still vital enough to dominate a television play. Dramatic events do not all happen to the young, clean cut chaps with wavy hair who turn up so often."
It was the Australian TV debut of
Raymond Westwell
Raymond Westwell (6 January 1919 – 23 November 1982) was a British actor and director who worked for many years in Australia. He made his Australian TV debut in ''The Angry General''. He worked as a director of theatre, notably ''Camelot''.
Sel ...
. He had only acted once before in Australia, in a stage production of ''Ross'', but worked as a director of theatre, notably ''Camelot''. He said he accepted the role "because he was getting a bit rusty as far as acting was concerned. This will help keep me fresh and flexible."
His wife Joan MacArthur had a role playing the wife of Westwell's character.
Reception
The TV critic for ''
The Sydney Morning Herald
''The Sydney Morning Herald'' (''SMH'') is a daily compact newspaper published in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, and owned by Nine. Founded in 1831 as the ''Sydney Herald'', the ''Herald'' is the oldest continuously published newspaper ...
'' thought that despite "a liberal sprinkling of cliches and a pattern of stilted patches in its dialogue" the play "maintained a high degree of tension... Two major merits distinguished it. One was the originality of its theme, and the other a consistently capable standard of acting."
References
External links
*
Australian drama television films
1964 television plays
1964 drama films
{{Australia-tv-film-stub