Call Me a Liar
{{short description|1961 television film directed by William Sterling}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2019}}
{{Infobox television
| image = Call_Me_a_Liar.png
| image_upright =
| image_alt =
| caption = Advertisement from The Age 12 June 1961
| genre =
| creator =
| based_on = TV play by John Mortimer
| writer =
| screenplay =
| story =
| director = William Sterling
| starring =
| narrated =
| music =
| country = Australia
| language = English
| num_episodes =
| producer =
| editor =
| cinematography =
| runtime = 80 mins
| company = ABC
| budget =
| network = ABC
| released = {{Start date|1961|07|12|df=y}} (Melbourne, live){{cite news|newspaper=The Age|title=The Dance of the Lonely|date=6 July 1961|page=22}}
| released2 = {{Start date|1961|09|20|df=y}} (Sydney)
| released3 = {{Start date|1963|04|24|df=y}} (Brisbane){{cite magazine|title=Dreamer or Liar|page=13|date=19 April 1963}}
}}
Call Me a Liar is a 1961 Australian TV play.{{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}} It was shot in Melbourne in studio with some location work. It was Channel 2's 49th live play.{{cite news|title=Advertisement for Call Me a Liar|date=12 July 1961|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/122405537/?terms=%22john%2Bmortimer%22|page=13}}
Plot
Sammy Moles lives in a world of make believe. For his employer's benefit he invents a wife and child and for his fellow lodgers he lies about his past, background and job. He meets a German girl called Martha.{{cite news|newspaper=The Age|date=6 July 1961|page=31|title=TV Guide|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/122403987/?terms=%22john%2Bmortimer%22}}
Cast
- David Mitchell as Sammy Moles
- Jane Oehr as Martha
- Barbara Brandon as landlady
- Campbell Copelin as man on park bench
- Rose du Clos as lady boarder
- Ken Goodlet as Mr Pheeming
- Joe Jenkins as Dr Bowker
- James Lynch as solitary drinker
- Stewart Weller as street musician
- Ligia Monamis as Indian girl
- Nancy Cato and Peter Oliver as English couple
- Abdul Ghani as an African
- Ron Pinnell as father
- Reginald Newsom as businessman
- Cecile Glass as Finnish girl
- Margherita Kean as bar girl
- Shirley Young as mother
Production
It was based on a TV play by John Mortimer which had been performed in England in 1958.[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1668821/?ref_=nm_flmg_wr_83 1958 production] at IMDb It was also adapted for Australian radio in 1961. The play was filmed again for British TV in 1963.[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5423920/?ref_=nm_flmg_wr_58 1963 production] at IMDb
William Sterling gave the lead to Jane Oehr, a 19 year old second year university arts student who was relatively inexperienced as an actor. She had been in Macbeth and Night of the Ding Don. David Mitchell has been in both those productions as well, along with Who Killed Kovali?, Shadow of Heroes and The Astronauts.
Reception
The Sydney Morning Herald TV critic said the production "had the lightness of heart and the deftness of touch so necessary to such a whimsical part-comedy, part-sentimental drama."{{cite news|work=Sydney Morning Herald|title="Call Me A Liar" On Television|date=21 September 1961|page=21|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/121546938/?terms=%22jane%2Boehr%22}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|1784378}}
{{William Sterling}}
{{John Mortimer}}
Category:1961 television plays
Category:Australian television films
Category:1960s Australian television plays
Category:Films directed by William Sterling (director)
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