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Opening titles from 1982
form y separately published work icon Stuart Wagstaff's World Playhouse series - publisher   film/TV  
Issue Details: First known date: 1977... 1977 Stuart Wagstaff's World Playhouse
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

An anthology television series, in which British-born actor Stuart Wagstaff (who worked extensively as an actor in Australia) introduced a weekly telemovie.

As the title suggests, the telemovies were drawn from overseas (primarily Great Britain, as the list below indicates), but also included Australian-written works: the inaugural episode, for example, was written by Colin Free.

The quantity of Australian content fell away as the series continued, until by 1979 there was essentially no Australian content, the only exception being 1980 airing of an adaptation of Thomas Keneally's Gossip from the Forest, but the adaptation itself had been produced for British television originally.

For its last three years, the program was a series of re-runs of British programs (with occasional American or Canadian episodes), with no local content.

The episodes are listed below in running order (including Australian-written episodes), but only the Australian-written works are indexed.

Notes

  • Contents indexed selectively.

  • List of episodes

    1977

    • Going Home (aired 5 May 1977) (inaugural episode)
    • The Breaking of Colonel Keyser (British) (aired 12 May 1977)
    • A Friend Indeed (British) (aired 19 May 1977)
    • Stocker's Copper (British) (aired 26 May 1977)
    • The General's Day (British ) (aired 9 June 1977)
    • They Don't Clap Losers (aired 23 June 1977)
    • The Skin Game (British) (aired 30 June 1977)
    • Kisses at Fifty (British) (aired 14 July 1977)
    • The Fox (British) (aired 4 August 1977)
    • In Sickness and in Health (British) (aired 18 August 1977)
    • The Kiss & Ride Ferry (aired 1 September 1977)
    • The Sun is God (British) (aired 8 September 1977)
    • The Last Rites (aired 15 September 1977)
    • The Evacuees (British) (aired 22 September 1977)
    • No Room for the Innocent (aired 7 October 1977)
    • Straight Enough (aired 13 October 1977)
    • Bar Mitzvah Boy (as Barmitzvah Boy) (British) (aired 20 October 1977)
    • End of Summer (aired 27 October 1977)
    • The Naked Civil Servant (British) (aired 3 November 1977)
    • Man and Boy (American) (aired 10 November 1977)
    • Blind Love (British) (aired 17 November 1977) (final episode for 1977)

    1978

    • The Geeks (aired on 23 March 1978) (episode one of 1978)
    • Rumpole of the Bailey (British) (aired 30 March 1978)
    • Moss (British) (aired 6 April 1978)
    • High Summer (British) (aired 13 April 1978)
    • Beyond Our Means (British) (aired 20 April 1978)
    • The Signalman (British) (aired 27 April 1978)
    • It's Only Rock 'n Roll (British) (aired 4 May 1978)
    • Schmoedipus (British) (aired 11 May 1978)
    • When Day Is Done (British) (aired 25 May 1978)
    • Wednesday Love (British) (aired 1 June 1978)
    • Teacher, Teacher (American) (aired 8 June 1978)
    • A Secret Place (British) (aired 22 June 1978)
    • Come Back, Little Sheba (American) (aired 10 August 1978)
    • Oy Vay Maria (British) (aired 17 August 1978)
    • A Woman in the House (aired on 24 August 1978)
    • The Lady of the Camellias (British) (aired in two parts on 31 August and 7 September 1978)
    • Ripkin (aired on 14 September 1978)
    • The Square [Root] of Three (British) (aired 21 September 1978)
    • A Choice of Evils (British) (aired 28 September 1978)
    • The Floater (British) (aired 5 October 1978)
    • Warm Feet, Warm Heart (British) (aired 12 October 1978)
    • Licking Hitler (British) (aired 19 October 1978)
    • The Company Man (British) (aired 26 October 1978)
    • Professional Foul (British) (aired 2 November 1978)
    • The Spongers (British) (aired 9 November 1978)
    • Bit Part (aired 16 November 1978) (final episode for 1978)

    Note: in 1979, the series moved from Thursday nights to Saturdays nights.

    1979

    • An Accident of Class and Sex (British) (aired 31 March 1979) (first episode for 1979)
    • Scoop (British) (aired 7 April 1979)
    • Wings of Song (British) (aired 14 April 1979)
    • A Matter of Choice (Canadian) (aired 21 April 1979)
    • Alphabetical Order (British) (aired 28 April 1979)
    • The Detective Waiting (British) (aired 5 May 1979)
    • Fallen Angels (British) (aired 12 May 1979)
    • Dreamspeaker (Canadian) (aired 19 May 1979)
    • Return Fare (British) (aired 26 May 1979)
    • Fairies (British) (aired 2 June 1979)
    • Donal and Sally (British) (aired 9 June 1979)
    • Another Day (British) (aired 16 June 1979)
    • Fearless Frank (British) (aired 23 June 1979)
    • Langrishe Go Down (British) (aired 30 June 1979)
    • Dinner at the Sporting Club (British) (aired 7 July 1979)
    • The Three Hostages (British) (aired 14 July 1979)

    1980

    • On Giant's Shoulders (British) (aired 8 March 1980)
    • Aren't We All (British) (aired 15 March 1980)
    • Print-out (British) (aired 22 March 1980)
    • She Fell Among Thieves (British) (aired 29 March 1980)
    • The Piano Player (British) (aired 12 April 1980)
    • Arnhem: The Story of an Escape (British/Dutch) (aired 19 April 1980)
    • Gossip from the Forest (aired 26 April 1980)
    • In the Bosom of the Country (British) (aired 3 May 1980)
    • The Fortune Hunters (British) (aired 10 May 1980)
    • Kathy Karuks is a Grizzly Bear (Canadian) (aired 17 May 1980)
    • Dame of Sark (British) (aired 24 May 1980)
    • The Professional (British) (aired 7 June 1980)
    • The Arcata Promise (British) (aired 14 June 1980)

    1981

    • The Knowledge (British) (aired 11 April 1981)
    • Village Wooing (British) (aired 18 April 1981)
    • Between the Covers (British) (aired 25 April 1981)
    • Wednesday's Child (British) (aired 2 May 1981)
    • Kate the Good Neighbour (British) (aired 9 May 1981)
    • In Praise of Love (British) (aired 16 May 1981)
    • Lindsey (British) (aired 23 May 1981)
    • Looking for Vicky (British) (aired 13 June 1981)
    • The Ragazza (British) (aired 27 June 1981)
    • Visitors for Anderson (British) (aired 25 July 1981)
    • The Marquise (British) (aired 8 August 1981)
    • Sheppey (British (aired 22 August 1981)
    • In Hiding (British) (aired 5 September 1981)
    • On Approval (British) (aired 12 September 1981)
    • The Executioner (British) (aired 19 September 1981)
    • Shadows on Our Skin (British) (aired 26 September 1981)
    • Jessie (British) (aired 3 October 1981)
    • Gentle Folk (British) (aired 17 October 1981)
    • My Dear Palestrina (British) (aired 24 October 1981)
    • The Flipside of Dominick Hide (British) (aired 31 October 1981)
    • Life for Christine (British) (aired 7 November 1981)
    • The Winter Ladies (British) (aired 14 November 1981)
    • Beloved Enemy (British: inspired by a Canadian novel) (aired 21 November 1981)
    • Caught on a Train (British) (aired 28 November 1981) (final episode for 1981)

    1982

    • Staying On (British) (aired 27 March 1982) (first episode for 1982)
    • The Concubine (British) (aired 3 April 1982)
    • The Reason of Things (British) (aired 10 April 1982)
    • Minor Complications (British) (aired 17 April 1982)
    • Eden End (British) (aired 24 April 1982)
    • You're All Right, How Am I? (British) (1 May 1982)
    • The Potting Shed (British) (aired 8 May 1982)
    • Pygmalion (British) (aired 15 May 1982)
    • A Voyage Round My Father (British) (aired 17 July 1982)
    • A Cotswold Death (British) (aired 24 July 1982)
    • Country (British) (aired 31 July 1982)
    • PQ17 (British) (aired 7 August 1982)
    • Rocky Marciano is Dead (British) (aired 14 August 1982) (final episode for 1982)

    Note: in 1983, the program moved days again, to Sunday.

    1983

    • Arms and the Man (British) (aired 17 July 1983) (first episode for 1983)
    • The Breadwinner (British) (aired 24 July 1983)
    • Life after Death (British) (aired 31 July 1983)
    • Getting Even (American) (aired 7 August 1983)
    • The Rise of Minna Nordstrom (British) (first aired [August] 1983. Aired as repeat on 4 September 1983)
    • Where's the Key? (British) (aired 4 September 1983)
    • A Sudden Wrench (British) (aired 11 September 1983)
    • Who Am I This Time? (American) (aired 18 September 1983)
    • You Don't Have to Walk to Fly (British) (aired 25 September 1983)
    • Little Eyolf (British) (aired 2 October 1983)
    • Grand Duo (British) (9 October 1983) (final episode)

Includes

form y separately published work icon The Last Rites Colin Free , Australia : Australian Broadcasting Commission , 1975 6973832 1975 single work film/TV crime thriller

'Industrialist Eric Cordett arranges a director's meeting at his country house 400 miles out of Sydney. It is seven years since his wife, Viola, was kidnapped from the house and Cordett hasn't been there since.'

Source: Screen Australia. (Sighted: 30/1/2014)

 Australia : Australian Broadcasting Commission , 1975
form y separately published work icon End of Summer Cliff Green , Melbourne : ABC Television , 1977 Z1855101 1977 single work film/TV
— Appears in: Four Scripts 1978; (p. 161-213)

'A story of rural hardship based around a sheep property that is owned and run by Paul and Betty Graham and Tom, a farmhand who has been with the family property for 17 years.'

Source:

[TV guide], Canberra Times, 21 October 1977, p.26. (View via Trove.)

 Melbourne : ABC Television , 1977
form y separately published work icon Going Home Colin Free , Australia : Australian Broadcasting Commission , 1977 6994150 1977 single work film/TV

'In 'Going Home' Miles Newton, a happily married successful businessman, leaving the office on this 40th birthday, catches a hint from his secretary that his wife may have plans for a surprise celebration. He drives home, but outside the brightly lit house, where the familiar circle of friends and family are concealed, waiting to explode with the inevitable greetings and happy jibes, he impulsively turns the car around.

Miles heads through the night to the country town in which he grew up, seeking to renew contact with those who were part of his youth — and perhaps, through them, with his youth itself.

A chance encounter with a young girl, hitchiking [sic], threatens to wreck not only his nostalgic homegoing, but also his relationship with his wife and children.'

Source:

'Wagstaff Playhouse', Canberra Times, 29 April 1977, p.19. View via Trove.

 Australia : Australian Broadcasting Commission , 1977
form y separately published work icon They Don't Clap Losers John Power , Australia : Australian Broadcasting Commission , 1977 6994622 1977 single work film/TV

'A minor case of vandalism brings two lonely people together. Single parents Martin and Kay meet when their sons Joe and Stephen appear in the Children's Court on a delinquency charge. As their relationship deepens Martin tells Kay that he used to like being best in everything he did. But now, as a council worker in Sydney, living with his ageing mother, he has little ambition except for his greyhound which may win the money he needs to return to the country. Kay's marriage was a failure, breaking up shortly after her son was born.'

Source: Screen Australia. (Sighted: 5/2/2014)

 Australia : Australian Broadcasting Commission , 1977
form y separately published work icon The Kiss & Ride Ferry Australia : Australian Broadcasting Commission , 1977 6995083 1977 single work film/TV

'Colin Phillips is a Rose Bay business executive. Turning 40, he reviews his life with dissatisfaction and recalls his youthful ambition to be a writer.'

Source:

[TV guide], Canberra Times, 26 August 1977, p.28. (View via Trove.)

 Australia : Australian Broadcasting Commission , 1977
form y separately published work icon No Room for the Innocent Sonia Borg , Australia : Australian Broadcasting Commission , 1977 6995366 1977 single work film/TV

'A Catholic country woman, Alice Fisher, comes to the city with her husband and children after the failure of their farm. Alice is confused and torn between Catholicism and contraception in a difficult economic situation. Another child is not welcome just now.'

Source: Screen Australia. (Sighted: 5/2/2014)

 Australia : Australian Broadcasting Commission , 1977
form y separately published work icon Straight Enough Ted Roberts , Australia : Australian Broadcasting Commission , 1977 6995481 1977 single work film/TV crime

'Set in the Rocks, Sydney. Trevor and Marie are expecting their first child and are doing up Dad's house with the hope of eventually moving in. Chris and Eddie are two amateur criminals who steal a truck, forklift, boxes of salmon and a safe. They weave Trevor into their schemes as they go, with the result that it is Trevor who is eventually caught for the crimes.'

Source: Screen Australia. (Sighted: 5/2/2014)

 Australia : Australian Broadcasting Commission , 1977
form y separately published work icon Ripkin Colin Free , Australia : Australian Broadcasting Commission , 1978 6994040 1978 single work film/TV thriller

'An industrial chemist, involved in high security research, suspects his wife of infidelity. But she also has her suspicions. In devious attempts to outwit each other, and gain the upper hand, they discover the shocking and unexpected truth–leading them into a nightmare that changes their lives.'

Source: Screen Australia. (Sighted: 5/2/2014)

 Australia : Australian Broadcasting Commission , 1978
form y separately published work icon The Geeks Colin Free , Australia : Australian Broadcasting Commission , 1978 6996286 1978 single work film/TV

'Lee and Martin, Vinnie and Tina are next-door neighbours and the best of friends until Lee decides she and Martin should tell their spouses about their affair. Lee believes it will bring them closer together — she is mistaken.'

Source:

[TV guide], Canberra Times, 17 March 1978, p.24. (Read via Trove.)

 Australia : Australian Broadcasting Commission , 1978
form y separately published work icon A Woman in the House Luis Bayonas , Australia : Australian Broadcasting Commission , 1978 6996559 1978 single work film/TV

'Barry Allen is a successful TV and film actor, but the cool confident hero of the screen is a subservient husband at home.'

Source:

[TV guide], The Canberra Times, 18 August 1978, p.26. (Read via Trove.)

 Australia : Australian Broadcasting Commission , 1978
form y separately published work icon Bit Part Colin Free , Australia : Australian Broadcasting Commission , 1978 6997381 1978 single work film/TV

'Tommy Trainer is an aspiring actor, and has been for most of his life. Struggling to support himself, he plays the club circuits and accepts the bit parts while he waits for the big breakthrough. When his chance finally comes to play opposite one of England's top actors, Tommy's life takes a turn that is more real and dramatic than any script.'

Source: Screen Australia. (Sighted: 5/2/2014)

 Australia : Australian Broadcasting Commission , 1978
form y separately published work icon Gossip from the Forest Thomas Keneally , United Kingdom (UK) : Granada , 1979 Z547228 1979 single work film/TV

Gossip from the Forest is a concentrated fictional account of the peace talks that took place in Compiegne Forest in November 1918. The story focuses on the highest-ranking German negotiator, liberal pacifist Mattias Erzberger. According to the New York Times Book Review's Paul Fussell, the novel version 'is a study of the profoundly civilian and pacific sensibility beleaguered by crude power.... it is absorbing, and as history it achieves the kind of significance earned only by sympathy acting on deep knowledge.'

The film, which screened on the 29 July 1979, was part of a British television series called Screenplay, a series of discrete films by British script-writers.

 United Kingdom (UK) : Granada , 1979

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

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Last amended 6 Feb 2014 10:04:46
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