Luther (1964 film) explained

Genre:history
Based On:play Luther by John Osborne
Director:Christopher Muir
Starring:Terry Norris
Country:Australia
Language:English
Runtime:90 mins
Company:Australian Broadcasting Commission
Released:15 July 1964 (Melbourne)[1]
(Sydney)[2]
29 July 1964 (Brisbane)[3]

Luther is a 1964 TV play broadcast by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. It was adapted by Phillip Grenville Mann from the 1961 play by John Osborne.[4] It was directed in Melbourne by Christopher Muir and starred Terry Norris in the title role.

Premise

It is a biographical play about the life of Luther during the years of 1506–1530. The play shows his marriage and the interactions he had with the people in his life.

Cast

Production

Osborne's play was first performed in 1961. The play had a cast of 34 and was headlined by Norris, who that year had already been seen in Nude with Violin, The Sponge Room and The Physicists. Colin McEwan, who played a monk, was a radio personality, moving into acting.[5] [6] It was designed by Paul Cleveland.[7] It was the TV dramatic acting debut of singer Michael Cole.[3]

Reception

The Age said it was "baffling".[8] This review prompted a letter of response from Chris Muir.[9]

The Sydney Morning Herald called it "quite painfully cramped and distorted... Norris made Luther hardly credible... the play seemed to take place in the vacuum"[10]

The Canberra Times said "Christopher Muir's production, the best so far thisyear, was among the most successful of all local productions, at least since Ray Mcnnuir's departure. The first moments of the play, in particular, made spectacular television."[11]

Notes and References

  1. News: TV Guide. The Age. 9 July 1964. 31.
  2. News: Merry Go Round. Sydney Morning Herald. 19 July 1964. 90.
  3. TV Times. Enraged ex priest burned pope's order. 22 July 1964.
  4. News: Luther play on A.B.C. 3 . . 38 . 10,905 . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 21 July 1964 . 10 December 2016 . 11 . National Library of Australia.
  5. News: The Age. TV Tackles Controversial Play About Martin Luther. 9 July 1964. 21.
  6. News: Sydney Morning Herald. Luther Lives Again. 13 July 1964. 8.
  7. News: The Age. TV Guide. 9 July 1964. 31.
  8. News: The Age. Teletopics. June 23, 1964. 13.
  9. News: The Age. 31 July 1964. 23. Luther Play Followed Version of Playwright. Christopher. Muir.
  10. News: Sydney Morning Herald. "Luther" a play for TV. 23 July 1964. 17.
  11. News: CRITIC No reason for cutting ABC's Luther . . 38 . 10,910 . Australian Capital Territory, Australia . 27 July 1964 . 14 February 2017 . 10 . National Library of Australia.