form y separately published work icon Shadow of a Pale Horse single work   film/TV   historical fiction   crime  
Issue Details: First known date: 1959... 1959 Shadow of a Pale Horse
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

A murder mystery set in Cobar, New South Wales, in the mid-nineteenth century.

It aired first in the UK as part of anthology series ITV Play of the Week, then in the US as part of anthology series The United States Steel Hour, then in Australia as part of anthology series General Motors Hour.

A contemporary review offers the following detailed synopsis:

'The story starts when one of the young men of the town of Cobar, western New South Wales, is found battered to death. A man called Jem was lying in a drunken stupor beside the body and the murder weapon, an iron bar, is found near the scene of the crime.

'Jem is immediately accused of the crime, but floods prevent his being sent to an established court for trial.

'Coldringer, an old German opal prospector, suggests to the townsfolk that they set up their own court and have the trial in the town.

'The locals agree that the best way of ensuring that Jem is given a fair trial is to make Rigger, the father of the murdered man, defend Jem, and let the prosecution be handed by Kirk, who was Jem's employer.

'Neither Rigger nor Kirk is happy with the townsfolks' decision, but they eventually agree to accept the court arrangements.'

Source: 'Murder Trial in a Bush Town', The Sydney Morning Herald, 12 September 1960, p.7

Notes

  • Television play.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

    • c
      United Kingdom (UK),
      c
      Western Europe, Europe,
      :
      ITV ,
      1959 .
      Extent: 60min.p.
      Series: form y separately published work icon ITV Play of the Week United Kingdom (UK) : ITV , 1955-1974 6392288 1955 series - publisher film/TV

      Anthology television series, airing a variety of discrete television films.

      Number in series: 4.49
    • c
      United States of America (USA),
      c
      Americas,
      :
      CBS ,
      1960 .
      Extent: 60min.p.
      Description: Black-and-white
      Series: form y separately published work icon The United State Steel Hour US Steel Hour United States of America (USA) : American Broadcasting Corporation CBS , 1953-1963 6455605 1953 series - publisher film/TV

      American anthology television series.

      Number in series: 7.23

Works about this Work

Forgotten Australian Television Plays : Shadow of a Pale Horse Stephen Vagg , 2023 single work essay
— Appears in: FilmInk , 13 September 2023;
60 Australian TV Plays of the 1950s & ‘60s Stephen Vagg , 2019 single work column
— Appears in: FilmInk , 18 February 2019;
Murder Trial in a Bush Town 1960 single work column
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 12 September 1960; (p. 7)
Murder Trial in a Bush Town 1960 single work column
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 12 September 1960; (p. 7)
60 Australian TV Plays of the 1950s & ‘60s Stephen Vagg , 2019 single work column
— Appears in: FilmInk , 18 February 2019;
Forgotten Australian Television Plays : Shadow of a Pale Horse Stephen Vagg , 2023 single work essay
— Appears in: FilmInk , 13 September 2023;
Last amended 25 Nov 2014 12:45:07
Settings:
  • Cobar, Nyngan - Cobar area, Far West NSW, New South Wales,
  • 1850s
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