Antony and Cleopatra (1959 film): Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox television
{{Infobox television
| name = Antony and Cleopatra
| name = Antony and Cleopatra
| image =
| image = File:Anthony_and_Cleo_2.png
| image_upright =
| image_upright =
| image_alt =
| image_alt =
| caption =
| caption = Ad in The Age 17 Jun 1959
| creator =
| creator =
| based_on = play by [[William Shakespeare]]
| based_on = play by [[William Shakespeare]]
Line 21: Line 21:
| editor =
| editor =
| cinematography =
| cinematography =
| runtime = 125 mins<ref>{{Cite news|title=TV Guide|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/125949121/?terms=cleopatra|date=11 June 1959|newspaper=The Age|page=33}}</ref>
| runtime = 125 mins
| company = ABC
| company = ABC
| distributor = ABC
| distributor = ABC
| budget =
| budget =
| network = ABC
| network = ABC
| released = 17 June 1959 (Melbourne) (live)<ref name="age">{{cite news|newspaper=The Age|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=MDQ-9Oe3GGUC&dat=19590423&printsec=frontpage&hl=en||title=Shakespeare Dramas ABC TV Project|date=April 23, 1959|page=12}}</ref><br>8 July 1959 (Sydney, taped)
| released = 17 June 1959 (Melbourne) (live)<ref name="age">{{cite news|newspaper=The Age|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=MDQ-9Oe3GGUC&dat=19590423&printsec=frontpage&hl=en||title=Shakespeare Dramas ABC TV Project|date=April 23, 1959|page=12}}</ref><br>8 July 1959 (Sydney, taped)<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|title=TV Guide|date=6 July 1959|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/121552783/?terms=cleopatra}}</ref>
| website =
| website =
}}
}}
'''''Antony and Cleopatra''''' is a 1959 Australian television play based on [[Antony and Cleopatra|the play]] by [[William Shakespeare]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article44523351 |title=A BIG NEW DEAL FOR COLOR TV |newspaper=[[The Australian Women's Weekly]] |volume=27 |issue=7 |date=22 July 1959 |accessdate=21 May 2016 |page=50 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Australian TV drama was relatively rare at the time.<ref name="Vagg">{{cite magazine|first=Stephen|last=Vagg|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/60-australian-tv-plays-1950s-60s/|magazine=Filmink|title=60 Australian TV Plays of the 1950s & ‘60s|date=February 18, 2019}}</ref>
'''''Antony and Cleopatra''''' is a 1959 Australian television play based on [[Antony and Cleopatra|the play]] by [[William Shakespeare]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article44523351 |title=A BIG NEW DEAL FOR COLOR TV |newspaper=[[The Australian Women's Weekly]] |volume=27 |issue=7 |date=22 July 1959 |accessdate=21 May 2016 |page=50 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Australian TV drama was relatively rare at the time.<ref name="Vagg">{{cite magazine|first=Stephen|last=Vagg|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/60-australian-tv-plays-1950s-60s/|magazine=Filmink|title=60 Australian TV Plays of the 1950s & ‘60s|date=February 18, 2019}}</ref>


It was broadcast live in Melbourne then recorded and screened in Sydney. The ABC also broadcast a production of ''[[Hamlet (1959 film)|Hamlet]]'' at the same time, which was broadcast live in Sydney then recorded and screened in Melbourne.<ref>{{cite news|title=Two Productions of Shakespeare|date=15 June 1959|page=17|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref> Australian TV drama was relatively rare at the time.<ref name="Vagg"/>
It was broadcast live in Melbourne then recorded and screened in Sydney. The ABC also broadcast a production of ''[[Hamlet (1959 film)|Hamlet]]'' at the same time, which was broadcast live in Sydney then recorded and screened in Melbourne.<ref>{{cite news|title=Two Productions of Shakespeare|date=15 June 1959|page=17|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/121454107/?terms=cleopatra}}</ref> It was the ABC's first live Shakespeare.<ref>{{cite news|date=6 June 1959|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/125946884/?terms=cleopatra|newspaper=The Age|page=7|title=Shakesperean play on TV}}</ref>
Australian TV drama was relatively rare at the time.<ref name="Vagg"/>


==Cast==
==Cast==
Line 38: Line 40:
*[[Kevin Miles]] as Caesar
*[[Kevin Miles]] as Caesar
*Laurier Lange as Lepidus
*Laurier Lange as Lepidus
*Edward Howell as Agrippa
*[[Edward Howell (acor)|Edward Howell]] as Agrippa
*Judith Godden as Charmain
*Judith Godden as Charmain
*Paul Bacon as Alexas
*Paul Bacon as Alexas
Line 59: Line 61:
Arthur Chipper did the adaptation, which made a number of alterations from the play, including reducing the characters and opening it in Rome not Alexandria.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|date=6 June 1959|page=13|title=Second Presentation of Shakespeare}}</ref>
Arthur Chipper did the adaptation, which made a number of alterations from the play, including reducing the characters and opening it in Rome not Alexandria.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|date=6 June 1959|page=13|title=Second Presentation of Shakespeare}}</ref>


It was shot at ABC's studios in Rippon Lea. There were 15 speaking parts and six extras. The set was designed by Jon Peters. It was Keith Eden's first performance as a "straight" actor on TV - he was better known as a radio actor.<ref name="age"/> There were 31 scene changes.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Age|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=MDQ-9Oe3GGUC&dat=19590611&printsec=frontpage&hl=en|title=Shakespeare Test for TV Techniques|date=11 June 1959|page=12}}</ref> Keith Clarke did costumes.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Age|title=Producer Checks Costumes|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=MDQ-9Oe3GGUC&dat=19590611&printsec=frontpage&hl=en|date=11 June 1959|page=14}}</ref>
It was shot at ABC's studios in Rippon Lea. It used a cast of 24, 15 speaking parts, ten sets and 31 scenes. The set was designed by Jon Peters. It was Keith Eden's first performance as a "straight" actor on TV - he was better known as a radio actor.<ref name="age"/> There were 31 scene changes.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Age|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=MDQ-9Oe3GGUC&dat=19590611&printsec=frontpage&hl=en|title=Shakespeare Test for TV Techniques|date=11 June 1959|page=12}}</ref> Keith Clarke did costumes.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Age|title=Producer Checks Costumes|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=MDQ-9Oe3GGUC&dat=19590611&printsec=frontpage&hl=en|date=11 June 1959|page=14}}</ref>


==Reception==
==Reception==
The critic for ''The Age'' thought the play was "not for television."<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Age|title=Shakespeare Not for Television|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=MDQ-9Oe3GGUC&dat=19590625&printsec=frontpage&hl=en|date=25 June 1959|page=14|last=Janus}}</ref> Another critic for the same paper said it "was a gallant and praiseworthy attempt in the face of heavy odds" but did not think the play suitable for television although he liked the two lead performances.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Age|date=18 June 1959|page=3|title=Shakespeare in "Live" TV Shows}}</ref>
"Janus", the TV critic for ''The Age'' thought the play was "not for television."<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Age|title=Shakespeare Not for Television|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=MDQ-9Oe3GGUC&dat=19590625&printsec=frontpage&hl=en|date=25 June 1959|page=14|last=Janus}}</ref>
Another critic for the same paper said it "was a gallant and praiseworthy attempt in the face of heavy odds" but did not think the play suitable for television although he liked the two lead performances.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Age|date=18 June 1959|page=3|title=Shakespeare in "Live" TV Shows|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/125950709/?terms=cleopatra|lat=LJR}}</ref>


The ''[[Sydney Morning Herald]]'' critic wrote that:
The ''[[Sydney Morning Herald]]'' critic wrote that:
<blockquote>Not much of the pomp and poetry came through the rich texture of Shakespeare's language in the... production.. although as a straightforward account of love and war this Melbourne performance Was satisfactory enough. Two things helped to lower the temperature of the love and the language; first, Arthur Chipper's rearrangement of the first half of the play was quite skillful, but the cutting was on a political rather than on a passionate bias, and second, producer Christopher Muir'_s use of cameras and- lighting did little—except in a few scenes — to imaginatively underline the play's mood, atmosphere, and growing tensions.<ref>{{cite news|title=Live Antony and Cleopatra on TV|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|date=9 July 1959|page=6}}</ref></blockquote>
<blockquote>Not much of the pomp and poetry came through the rich texture of Shakespeare's language in the... production.. although as a straightforward account of love and war this Melbourne performance Was satisfactory enough. Two things helped to lower the temperature of the love and the language; first, Arthur Chipper's rearrangement of the first half of the play was quite skillful, but the cutting was on a political rather than on a passionate bias, and second, producer Christopher Muir'_s use of cameras and- lighting did little—except in a few scenes — to imaginatively underline the play's mood, atmosphere, and growing tensions.<ref>{{cite news|title=Live Antony and Cleopatra on TV|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|date=9 July 1959|page=6|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/121554398/?terms=cleopatra|last=J.M.}}</ref></blockquote>
The ''Bulletin'' also gave it a bad review.<ref>{{Citation
The ''Bulletin'' also gave it a bad review.<ref>{{Citation
| title=The bulletin
| title=The bulletin

Revision as of 06:34, 25 October 2020

Antony and Cleopatra
Ad in The Age 17 Jun 1959
Based onplay by William Shakespeare
Written byArthur Chipper
Directed byChristopher Muir
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
Production
Running time125 mins[3]
Production companyABC
Original release
NetworkABC
Release17 June 1959 (Melbourne) (live)[1]
8 July 1959 (Sydney, taped)[2]

Antony and Cleopatra is a 1959 Australian television play based on the play by William Shakespeare.[4] Australian TV drama was relatively rare at the time.[5]

It was broadcast live in Melbourne then recorded and screened in Sydney. The ABC also broadcast a production of Hamlet at the same time, which was broadcast live in Sydney then recorded and screened in Melbourne.[6] It was the ABC's first live Shakespeare.[7]

Australian TV drama was relatively rare at the time.[5]

Cast

  • Bettie Kauffman as Cleopatra
  • Keith Eden as Antony
  • Kevin Miles as Caesar
  • Laurier Lange as Lepidus
  • Edward Howell as Agrippa
  • Judith Godden as Charmain
  • Paul Bacon as Alexas
  • Beverly Dunn as Octavia
  • Frank Gatliff as Pompey
  • John Morgan as Menas
  • Keith Hudson as Eros
  • Alan Tobin as Procuecius
  • Colin Eaton as Soothsayer
  • Philip Stainton as Clown
  • Hugh McDermott as first messenger
  • George Ogilvie as second messenger
  • Alan Hopgood as first soldier
  • Alan Morley as second soldier
  • Ken Goodlet as Enobarus
  • Soula Paulay, R de Winter, Antonio Rodrigues and Albert la Guerre as Cleopatra's attendants
  • Nevil Thurgood, John Godfrey and Peter Diess as soldiers

Production

Arthur Chipper did the adaptation, which made a number of alterations from the play, including reducing the characters and opening it in Rome not Alexandria.[8]

It was shot at ABC's studios in Rippon Lea. It used a cast of 24, 15 speaking parts, ten sets and 31 scenes. The set was designed by Jon Peters. It was Keith Eden's first performance as a "straight" actor on TV - he was better known as a radio actor.[1] There were 31 scene changes.[9] Keith Clarke did costumes.[10]

Reception

"Janus", the TV critic for The Age thought the play was "not for television."[11]

Another critic for the same paper said it "was a gallant and praiseworthy attempt in the face of heavy odds" but did not think the play suitable for television although he liked the two lead performances.[12]

The Sydney Morning Herald critic wrote that:

Not much of the pomp and poetry came through the rich texture of Shakespeare's language in the... production.. although as a straightforward account of love and war this Melbourne performance Was satisfactory enough. Two things helped to lower the temperature of the love and the language; first, Arthur Chipper's rearrangement of the first half of the play was quite skillful, but the cutting was on a political rather than on a passionate bias, and second, producer Christopher Muir'_s use of cameras and- lighting did little—except in a few scenes — to imaginatively underline the play's mood, atmosphere, and growing tensions.[13]

The Bulletin also gave it a bad review.[14]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Shakespeare Dramas ABC TV Project". The Age. 23 April 1959. p. 12. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  2. ^ "TV Guide". Sydney Morning Herald. 6 July 1959.
  3. ^ "TV Guide". The Age. 11 June 1959. p. 33.
  4. ^ "A BIG NEW DEAL FOR COLOR TV". The Australian Women's Weekly. Vol. 27, no. 7. 22 July 1959. p. 50. Retrieved 21 May 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ a b Vagg, Stephen (18 February 2019). "60 Australian TV Plays of the 1950s & '60s". Filmink.
  6. ^ "Two Productions of Shakespeare". Sydney Morning Herald. 15 June 1959. p. 17.
  7. ^ "Shakesperean play on TV". The Age. 6 June 1959. p. 7.
  8. ^ "Second Presentation of Shakespeare". Sydney Morning Herald. 6 June 1959. p. 13.
  9. ^ "Shakespeare Test for TV Techniques". The Age. 11 June 1959. p. 12.
  10. ^ "Producer Checks Costumes". The Age. 11 June 1959. p. 14.
  11. ^ Janus (25 June 1959). "Shakespeare Not for Television". The Age. p. 14.
  12. ^ "Shakespeare in "Live" TV Shows". The Age. 18 June 1959. p. 3. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |lat= ignored (help)
  13. ^ J.M. (9 July 1959). "Live Antony and Cleopatra on TV". Sydney Morning Herald. p. 6.
  14. ^ The bulletin, John Haynes and J.F. Archibald, 1880, retrieved 23 March 2019


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