Love from a Stranger (1947 TV play)
Encyclopedia
Love from a Stranger is the name of two live
BBC Television
plays directed by George More O'Ferrall. The plays are based on the 1936 stage play
of the same name by Frank Vosper
. In turn, the play was based on the short story Philomel Cottage, written by Agatha Christie
.
The plays were only broadcast in the London
area as this was the only part of the UK that could receive television transmissions at this time. None of these transmissions were recorded for future viewing as television recording equipment had not been invented.
The 1947 version of the Vosper's play was transmitted on Sunday, May 25 1947
, just as the first, live from Alexandra Palace, at 8.45pm in a seventy-five minute broadcast. The stars of this version were Joy Harrington and Henry Oscar
. The play was broadcast again two days later when the cast and crew repeated their Sunday performance at 3.00pm on Tuesday, May 27. Three days later BBC Radio broadcast Three Blind Mice
which was later turned into a short story and in 1952 opened as The Mousetrap
, the longest-running play in stage history.
Director/Producer: George More O'Ferrall
Cast:
Live television
Live television refers to a television production broadcast in real-time, as events happen, in the present. From the early days of television until about 1958, live television was used heavily, except for filmed shows such as I Love Lucy and Gunsmoke. Video tape did not exist until 1957...
BBC Television
BBC television drama
BBC television dramas have been produced and broadcast since even before the public service company had an officially established television broadcasting network in the United Kingdom...
plays directed by George More O'Ferrall. The plays are based on the 1936 stage play
Love from a Stranger (play)
Love from a Stranger is a 1936 play based on Philomel Cottage, a 1924 short story by British mystery writer Agatha Christie.-Background:...
of the same name by Frank Vosper
Frank Vosper
Frank Vosper was a British actor and playwright.-Stage:Vosper made his stage debut in 1919 and was best known for playing urbane villains....
. In turn, the play was based on the short story Philomel Cottage, written by Agatha Christie
Agatha Christie
Dame Agatha Christie DBE was a British crime writer of novels, short stories, and plays. She also wrote romances under the name Mary Westmacott, but she is best remembered for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections , and her successful West End plays.According to...
.
The plays were only broadcast in the London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
area as this was the only part of the UK that could receive television transmissions at this time. None of these transmissions were recorded for future viewing as television recording equipment had not been invented.
The 1947 version of the Vosper's play was transmitted on Sunday, May 25 1947
1947 in television
The year 1947 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1947.-Events:*January 3 – Proceedings of the U.S...
, just as the first, live from Alexandra Palace, at 8.45pm in a seventy-five minute broadcast. The stars of this version were Joy Harrington and Henry Oscar
Henry Oscar
Henry Oscar was an English stage and film actor.Born as Henry Wale, he changed his name and began acting in 1911 and appeared in a wide range of films, including Alfred Hitchcock's The Man Who Knew Too Much , Fire Over England , The Four Feathers , Hatter's Castle ,...
. The play was broadcast again two days later when the cast and crew repeated their Sunday performance at 3.00pm on Tuesday, May 27. Three days later BBC Radio broadcast Three Blind Mice
Three Blind Mice (radio play and short story)
Three Blind Mice is the name of a half-hour radio play written by Agatha Christie and broadcast on the BBC Light Programme at 8.00pm on Friday May 30, 1947....
which was later turned into a short story and in 1952 opened as The Mousetrap
The Mousetrap
The Mousetrap is a murder mystery play by Agatha Christie. The Mousetrap opened in the West End of London in 1952, and has been running continuously since then. It has the longest initial run of any play in history, with over 24,500 performances so far. It is the longest running show of the modern...
, the longest-running play in stage history.
Director/Producer: George More O'Ferrall
Cast:
- Joy Harrington played Cecily Harrington
- Henry Oscar played Bruce Lovell
- Arthur WontnerArthur WontnerArthur Wontner was a British actor best known for playing Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's master detective Sherlock Holmes in five films from 1931 to 1937...
played Dr Gribble - Elizabeth Kirkby played Mavis Wilson
- William Roderick played Nigel Lawrence
- Edna Morris played Louise Garrard
- Sam Lysons played Hodgson, the gardener
External links
- BFI | Film & TV Database | LOVE FROM A STRANGER (1947) British Film Institute entry for 1947 transmission
- Love from a Stranger (TV 1947) - IMDb Internet Movie Database entry for 1947 transmission.