Call Me a Liar explained

Based On:TV play by John Mortimer
Director:William Sterling
Country:Australia
Language:English
Runtime:80 mins
Company:ABC
Network:ABC
Released: (Melbourne, live)[1]
Released2: (Sydney)
Released3: (Brisbane)[2]

Call Me a Liar is a 1961 Australian TV play.[3] It was shot in Melbourne in studio with some location work. It was Channel 2's 49th live play.[4]

Plot

Sammy Moles lives in a world of make believe. For his employer's benefit he invents a wife and child and for his fellow lodgers he lies about his past, background and job. He meets a German girl called Martha.[5]

Cast

Production

It was based on a TV play by John Mortimer which had been performed in England in 1958.[6] It was also adapted for Australian radio in 1961. The play was filmed again for British TV in 1963.[7]

William Sterling gave the lead to Jane Oehr, a 19 year old second year university arts student who was relatively inexperienced as an actor. She had been in Macbeth and Night of the Ding Don. David Mitchell has been in both those productions as well, along with Who Killed Kovali?, Shadow of Heroes and The Astronauts.[1]

Reception

The Sydney Morning Herald TV critic said the production "had the lightness of heart and the deftness of touch so necessary to such a whimsical part-comedy, part-sentimental drama."[8]

Notes and References

  1. News: The Age. The Dance of the Lonely. 6 July 1961. 22.
  2. Dreamer or Liar. 13. 19 April 1963.
  3. Stephen. Vagg. 60 Australian TV Plays of the 1950s & '60s. Filmink. February 18, 2019.
  4. News: Advertisement for Call Me a Liar. 12 July 1961. 13.
  5. News: The Age. 6 July 1961. 31. TV Guide.
  6. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1668821/?ref_=nm_flmg_wr_83 1958 production
  7. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5423920/?ref_=nm_flmg_wr_58 1963 production
  8. News: Sydney Morning Herald. "Call Me A Liar" On Television. 21 September 1961. 21.