Men of Darkness

Summary

1948 BBC live studio production of a translation of Armand Salacrou’s drama about the French resistance, presented under the title Men of Darkness. This was the first-language production of the play.

Theatre play

Les Nuits de la Colère by Armand Salacrou (1899-1989) [more information]

Play synopsis

Examines the betrayal that led to the execution of a French Resistance fighter and the friend who betrayed him.

Production history

First presented in Paris at the Marigny Theatre in 1946.

Date of transmission

Sunday 21 March 1948

Time

8.30-10.00pm

Channel

BBC Television

Credits

Producer

Royston Morley

Playwright

Armand Salacrou (1899-1989)

Adapted for Television by

Royston Morley

Sets / Settings

Barry Learoyd

Cast

Willoughby Gray	Dédé
Victoria Hopper	Pierrette Bazire
Roddy Hughes	Lecoq
Raymond Huntley	Pisancon
Roger Livesey	Jean Cordeau
Joyce Redman	Louise Cordeau
Ivan Samson	Bernard Bazire
George Woodbridge	Rivoire

Additional details

Origination

Live from studio

Vision original

Monochrome

Later transmissions

Presented again at 3.00pm on Tuesday 23 March 1948; revived on Sunday 19 March 1950 at 8.30pm and 8.45pm on Friday 24 March 1950.

Notes

In the 1950 revival by Royston Morley of his production, the following new cast members took the roles detailed: John Chandos (Pisancon); Hugh Pryse (Lecoq), Joyce Heron (Louise Corbeau) and Clement McCallin (Jean Corbeau).

Extant status

No archival copy is known to exist.

Play tags

French drama; Second World War, as theme or setting; wartime, as theme or setting

Print sources

Title

Radio Times, 17 March 1950 (Magazine)

Linking notes

listing, p. 46, illustrated article by Lionel Hale, ‘War in the Darkness’, p. 45, article, p. 44

Title

Radio Times, 19 March 1948 (Magazine)

Linking notes

listing, p. 26; article by Royston Morley, ‘Les Nuits de la Colère, p. 25; article, p. 24