Seagulls Over Sorrento (TV play)


Seagulls Over Sorrento is a 1960 Australian television play. It was based on the popular stage play Seagulls Over Sorrento and was produced by Crawford Productions for Melbourne's HSV-7, airing on 1 May 1960. It screened on TCN-9 in Sydney on Sunday 12 June.
It was the first full-length TV play made by an independent production company in Australia, in his case Crawfords. Australian TV drama was relatively rare at the time.
A kinescope recording of the production exists.

Cast

It was the second time live drama had appeared on HSV-7. The first was The Caine Mutiny Court Martial.
Hodge, James, Taylor and Bleazby had appeared in the 1952 J.C. Williamson's production of the play. Hodge came out of semi retirement to star. It was reportedly the 594th time he had played the part.

Reception

A critic from the Sydney Morning Herald "thought it came off pretty well as a TV show" with an "excellent cast".
The critic from The Age said "it was adequately presented but lacked atmosphere. The players were scared of the TV cameras for the first half hour."