"The Big Killing" is a 1965 Australian television film which aired on ABC. A murder drama aired in a 70-minute time-slot, it was produced in ABC's Sydney studios. Producer was James Upshaw, whose previous works had included variety series ''

The Lorrae Desmond Show ''The Lorrae Desmond Show'' was an early black and white, Australian television music and variety show, produced by James Upshaw which aired from 1960 to 1964 on the ABC hosted by singer and entertainer Lorrae Desmond, later best known for her ...

''. It aired as part of ''

Wednesday Theatre ''Wednesday Theatre'' is a 1960s Australian anthology show which aired on the ABC. Many of the episodes were imported from the BBC. However a number of episodes were made locally. Episodes 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 Wednesday Theatre ...

'' on 21 April 1965 in Sydney and Melbourne, and on 28 April 1965 in Brisbane. Australian TV drama was relatively rare at the time. A search of their website shows that the National Archives of Australia hold a copy of this program, with running time listing as 1:14:31.

Plot

Peter Ashbury is a young man who lives on Palm Beach, Sydney, with an expensive wife Mary and house he cannot afford. Their neighbours and close friends are Liz and Charles Barcher. He makes a £25,000 bet to murder Liz, the wife of the wealthy Charles. When the wife dies, blame attaches to Peter and then to his wife Mary.

Cast

Roger Climpson Roger Climpson (born 18 October 1932) is an English-born Australian retired media personality who served a lengthy career in both radio and television, as a journalist, announcer, newsreader and presenter. He is best known for his time at ''S ...

as Peter Ashbury *June Thody as Mary Ashbury *

Nigel Lovell Nigel Tasman Lovell (27 January 1916 – 13 December 2001) was an Australian stage, radio, film and television actor, and producer of opera and both stage and radio drama. History Lovell was born in Sydney, a son of Tasman Lovell, Professor of ...

as Charles Barcher *Benita Harvey as Liz Barcher *

Ron Haddrick Ronald Norman Haddrick (9 April 1929 – 11 February 2020) was an Australian actor, cricketer, narrator and presenter. In 2012, he received the Actors Equity Lifetime Achievement Award for his long and distinguished career in media, spanning s ...

as an honest neighbour Gavin Cole *

Stewart Ginn Stewart Ginn (born 2 June 1949) is an Australian professional golfer. Early life Ginn was born in Melbourne. He grew up behind the twelfth green of the Royal Melbourne Golf Club. Early in his life "he used to caddy at Royal Melbourne." He t ...

as Inspector Fowler *Betty Dyson as Norah *

Tommy Dysart Thomas Gibson Dysart (24 December 1935 – 7 June 2022) was a Scottish-born Australian actor, known for his appearances on television dramas and comedies and in character roles in films and miniseries. Early career Dysart graduated from NIDA ...

as Sgt Basset

Production

It was based on a West End stage play. Ian McKellen appeared in a 1962 production and called it "Another miserably- written "comedy thriller", which made the cast laugh more than the audience and which thrilled no-one." The ABC bought the rights and it was adapted to be set in Australia. The play marked a return to acting by Roger Climpson after an eight-year absence, during which time he had established himself as a newsreader. He had left Channel Nine 18 months previously and been making documentaries since.

Reception

The Canberra Times called the script "two steps backward" and said that "unfortunately the producer James Upshaw who is capable of better, much better things, seemed to have taken his cue from the script rather than the high-powered talent he wastefully cast". The ''Sydney Morning Herald'' said it "made good television viewing." Another critic for the same paper said it was "like a burst of fireworks... brilliantly acted... must surely rate as THE play so far this year" adding writer Mackie "threw in more angles and red herrings than a Perry Mason episode" and "managed to keep the plot going at a rattling pace until its last moments."

References

External links