The First 400 Years | |
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![]() Ad in The Age 3 Oct 1964 | |
Written by | William Sterling |
Directed by | William Sterling |
Starring |
Keith Michell Googie Withers |
Country of origin | Australia |
Original language | English |
Production | |
Running time | Part 1 - 35 mins Part 2 - 35 mins |
Production company | ABC |
Original release | |
Release | 8 July 1964[1] | (Part 1 - Melbourne)
Release | 7 July 1964[2] | (Part 2 - Sydney),
Release | 7 October 1964 | (Part 2 - Melbourne)
The First 400 Years is a 1964 Australian television play. It was filmed in Adelaide. The stars were performing in the play around Australia for JC Williamsons. [3] [4]
It screened in two parts. [5]
A collection of scenes from the plays of William Shakespeare.
Part One was more comic consisting of: [6]
Part two was more serious consisting of:
The show was based on a play directed by Raymond Westwell for J.C. Williamsons. It premiered in Melbourne on 23 April 1964, the 400th anniversal of Shakespeare's birth. [7]
"What a profligate waste of costumes," wrote Column 8 in Sydney Morning Herald. [8]
It was rehearsed and filmed in one day and the ABC's studios in Adelaide. Sterling said "Fortunately the stage production was almost ideal for TV> I tried to place the cameras in such a way that there was very little adjustment of movement and although the studio was smaller than the stage acting area, the production transposed well." [9]
The Sunday Sydney Morning Herald reviewer said it "lit up the screen... these couple of superb artists in action. My only complaint is that 30 minutes was not long enough." [10]
One viewer called it "dull, flat and unprofitable." [11]