Funnel Web
{{Short description|1962 drama television play directed by Bill Bain}}
{{Infobox television
| image =
| image_upright =
| image_alt =
| caption =
| creator =
| based_on = play by Philip Grenville Mann
| writer = Philip Grenville Mann
| screenplay =
| story =
| director = Bill Bain
| producer = John Garton
| starring =
| narrated =
| music =
| country = Australia
| language = English
| num_episodes =
| editor =
| cinematography =
| runtime = 60 mins{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/122324906/?terms=%22funnel%20web%22&match=1|title=TV Guide|newspaper=The Age|date=24 May 1962|page=33}}
| company = ABC
| budget =
| network = ABC
| released = {{Start date|1962|04|25|df=y}} (Sydney, live){{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/121510536/?terms=%22funnel%20web%22&match=1|date=25 April 1962|title=TV Guide|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|page=15}}
| released2 = {{Start date|1962|05|30|df=y}}(Melbourne, taped)
| released3 = {{Start date|1962|10|30|df=y}} (Brisbane){{cite magazine|magazine=TV Times|title=A Venomous Spider|date=25 October 1962|page=23}}
}}
Funnel Web is a 1962 Australian TV play starring Grant Taylor and written by Phillip Grenville Mann. It screened on the ABC and was a suspense drama.{{cite news|title=TV Guide|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/121509477/?terms=%22grenville%20mann%22&match=1|date=23 April 1962|page=15}}
Plot
A Canadian woman, Nina, is searching for her husband, Max Godfrey, who deserted her years ago. She finds him living in Sydney. Max has also defrauded his business partner. He decides to take steps to get rid of both his ex-wife and former business partner.
Cast
- Grant Taylor as Max Godfrey
- Diana Davidson as Nina Godfrey
- Wendy Playfair as Nina Godfrey
- Alastair Duncan as Paul Charlton
- Phillipa Baker as Marion Westlake
- Mary Mackay as Miss Wetherby
- Stewart Ginn as Dt Sgt Lundy
- Ken Hacker as Gleeson
- Philippa Baker
1956 British TV version
It was based on a story by Phillip Grenville Mann. He originally wrote it as a 30-minute TV play for British TV called "Dead or Alive". This aired in 1956 as part of the anthology series Theatre Royal, hosted by Lilli Palmer. The episode starred Australian actor Ron Randell and was directed by Don Chaffey, who would later work in Australia.[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1061429/?ref_=nm_flmg_wr_9 Dead or Alive 1956 TV show] at IMDb Other actors included Ralph Michael, Patricia Driscoll, Lloyd Lamble and John Miller.
Mann expanded the story into a full length stage play, which was performed in Britain.
Development
Mann adapted the story for Australian TV.{{cite news|newspaper=The Age|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1300&dat=19620524&id=K7JVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=G6wDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7114,3704915|title=Viewers to See Drama in Its Third Form|date=24 May 1962|page=13}} According to Filmink "A lot of TV plays around this time sound as though they were inspired by Dial M for Murder, which started as a TV play, i.e. tales of murder among the monied classes."
{{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}}{{cite magazine|magazine=Filmink|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/forgotten-australian-tv-plays-the-big-killing/|title=Forgotten Australian TV Plays: The Big Killing|first=Stephen|last= Vagg|date=April 27, 2021|access-date=August 12, 2024}}
It was the last in a series of live TV plays by Australian authors on the ABC which had been announced in March 1962.{{Cite news|title=Young Star's Work|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|date=12 March 1962|page=13}} The others were:
Production
It was Grant Taylor's second TV performance following Jenny and was shot in Sydney.{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article104258888 |title=Live Drama On Wednesday. |newspaper=The Canberra Times |date=11 February 1963 |accessdate=15 March 2015 |page=20 |via=National Library of Australia}} The set, including two office interiors and a beach house at Avalon, was designed by Francesca Crespi. Technical supervisor John Garton was a veteran of many ABC plays and operas. Director Bill Bain said "the play is an excellent vehicle for actors and producer, being slick, tight and dynamic."
Reception
The Sydney Morning Herald praised "the meticulously chic settings designed by Francesca Crespi (a beach house at Avalon and a Sydney office interior) and the easy-limbed, masterful portrayal of the villain by Grant Taylor".{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1301&dat=19620426&id=EX5WAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9uUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5526,6215957|title=Thriller Play on Channel 2|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|date= 26 April 1962|access-date=15 March 2015|page=7}}
See also
External links
- [http://colsearch.nfsa.gov.au/nfsa/search/display/display.w3p;adv=;group=;groupequals=;holdingType=;page=2;parentid=;query=funnel%20WEB;querytype=;rec=9;resCount=10 Funnel Web] at National Film and Sound Archive
- [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4055554/ Funnel Web] at IMDb