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Luther (1964 film)

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Luther
Genrehistory
Based onplay Luther by John Osborne
Written byPhillip Grenville Mann
Directed byChristopher Muir
StarringTerry Norris
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
Production
Running time90 mins
Production companyAustralian Broadcasting Commission
Original release
Release15 July 1964 (Melbourne)[1]
22 July 1964 (1964-07-22) (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

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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.[4]

Cast

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Production

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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

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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 this year, 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]

References

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