A Piece of Ribbon explained

Producer:Christopher Muir
Based On:play by Leslie Thomas
Starring:Elspeth Ballantyne, Dennis Miller
Company:Australian Broadcasting Commission
Network:ABC
Released: (Melbourne)
Released2: (Sydney)[1]
Runtime:60 mins[2]
Country:Australia
Language:English

A Piece of Ribbon is a 1963 Australian television play filmed. It was based on an English TV play by Leslie Thomas that had already been performed by the BBC.[3] [4]

It was filmed in Melbourne and was directed by Christopher Muir.[5] Beach scenes were shot in Beaumaris, Victoria.[6]

Although based on a British script it is the only Australian made television drama set during the Malayan Emergency.[7]

Plot

During the Malayan Emergency, British soldiers are having a break from jungle patrol at a Malay Beach Club House. Several of them are attracted to a Eurasian girl, Marianna de Souza, who is there to meet her boyfriend Corporal Cutliffe. He arranges to meet Marianna later at a beach.

Marianna is found murdered. Investigations into her death are cut short when the company is sent out on patrol under Sergeant Wiley.

Cast

Production

There was a cast of 25 including five models from the Mannequin and Models Guild. The producers shot scenes for the beach at Beaumauris. Heather Leembruggen was from Sri Lanka.[8] The set was designed by Kevin Bartlett.[9]

Reception

The Bulletin said the cast, "with one minor exception", were believable as British soldiers.

Filminkg called it "a very good production."[10]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: 15 July 1963. Sydney Morning Herald. Beach Scenes of Murder Play. 12.
  2. News: TV Guide. 22 July 1963. Sydney Morning Herald. 11.
  3. News: Murder Thriller On Channel 3 . . 37 . 10,596 . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 24 July 1963 . 22 May 2016 . 35 . National Library of Australia.
  4. Web site: Leslie Thomas obituary . 7 May 2014 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20220127011554/https://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/may/07/leslie-thomas . 27 January 2022 . live .
  5. Web site: The Age - Google News Archive Search.
  6. News: Beach Scenes in Melbourne. Sydney Morning Herald. 15 July 1963. 11.
  7. Filmink. 3 Forgotten Australian Television Plays. Stephen . Vagg. August 27, 2022.
  8. News: The Age. Malaya Provides Set for Beach Murder. 4 July 1963. 12.
  9. News: TV Guide. 4 July 1963. The Age. 31.
  10. Filmink. 3 Forgotten Australian Television Plays. Stephen. Vagg. 27 August 2022.