Love from a Stranger (TV)
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Love from a Stranger is the name of two live BBC Television plays based on the 1936 stage play of the same name by Frank Vosper. In turn, the play was based on the short story Philomel Cottage, written by Agatha Christie and published in issue 237 of the Grand Magazine in November 1924. The story was included in the collections The Listerdale Mystery (1934 in the UK) and Witness for the Prosecution and Other Stories (1948 in the US). The plays were only broadcast in the London area as this was the only part of the UK that could receive television transmissions at this time. None of these transmissions were recorded for future viewing as television recording equipment had not been invented.
[edit] Love from a Stranger (1938)
The first play was transmitted on Wednesday, November 23 1938 live from Alexandra Palace. It lasted for 90 minutes and was broadcast at 3.30pm. It starred Bernard Lee, now better known for his role in the James Bond film series. The script used was that of the stage play by Frank Vosper.
Director/Producer: George More O'Ferrall
Cast:
- Bernard Lee
- Edna Best
- Henry Oscar
- Eileen Sharp
- Esma Cannon
- Miles Otway
- Morris Harvey
- Beatrice Rowe
- Sam Lysons
[edit] Love from a Stranger (1947)
The second version of the Vosper's play was transmitted on Sunday, May 25 1947, again live from Alexandra Palace, at 8.45pm in a seventy-five minute broadcast. The stars of this version were Joy Harrington and Henry Oscar. The play was broadcast again two days later when the cast and crew repeated their Sunday performance at 3.00pm on Tuesday, May 27. Three days later BBC Radio broadcast Three Blind Mice which was later turned into a short story and in 1952 opened as The Mousetrap, the longest running play in stage history.
Director/Producer: George More O'Ferrall
Cast:
- Joy Harrington played Cecily Harrington
- Henry Oscar played Bruce Lovell
- Arthur Wontner played Dr Gribble
- Elizabeth Kirkby played Mavis Wilson
- William Roderick played Nigel Lawrence
- Edna Morris played Louise Garrard
- Sam Lysons played Hodgson, the gardener
