Learning on ScreenThe Scarlet Pimpernel
- Summary
- 1950 BBC live studio production of Orczy and Barstowe’s romantic adventure drama The Scarlet Pimpernel.
- Theatre play
- The Scarlet Pimpernel by Emmuska ['Baroness’] Orczy (1865-1947) and Montague Barstowe [more information]
- Date of transmission
- Sunday 5 February 1950
- Time
- 8.30-10.30pm
- Channel
- BBC Television
- Production company
- BBC
Credits
- Producer
- Fred O’Donovan (1889-1952)
- Playwright
- Montague Barstowe
- Playwright
- Emmuska ['Baroness’] Orczy (1865-1947)
- Pianist
- Tom McCall
- Sets / Settings
- James Bould
- Dances Arranged by
- Viola Merrett
- Cast
David Aylmer Citizen Herbert Sheila Beckett Sally Braddock Sally Jellyband Michael Brennan Captain of the Guard Edgar K. Bruce Jellyband James Carney Sir Percy Blakeney Bryan Coleman Lord Anthony Dewhurst Amy Dalby Mère Brogard Joan Duan Graveley Edwards Lord Grenville Dennis [Denis] Fraser Armand St Just Thomas Gallagher Brogard Nicholas Gee Doreen Harrop Walter Horsbrugh Comte de Tournai Felix Irwin Messenger Viola Merrett Alexis Milne Evelyn Moore Lady Portarles Richmond Nairne Vicomte de Tournai Kenneth Osbourne Alison Petrie Suzanne de Tournai Sybil Rares Comtesse de Tournai Peter Rennie Citizen Raymond Rollett Prince of Wales Margaretta Scott Lady Marguerite Blakeney Anthony Sharp Chevalier Paul de Grignon Richard Sherren Sydney [or Sidney] Tafler Chauvelin Herbert C. Walton Mr Hempseed Robert Weedon John Witty Sir Andrew Ffoulkes
Additional details
- Origination
- Live from studio
- Vision original
- Monochrome
- Later transmissions
- Presented again at 8.30pm on Thursday 9 February 1950, and revived in 1951 (Programme ID 1322).
- Notes
- 'The Scarlet Pimpernel, to be produced twice this week by Fred O’Donovan, will be one of the most ambitious productions yet televised from Alexandra Palace. The cast numbers about forty players and the whole of the action will be contained in two studios. Use will not be made of film. The designer, James Bould, will aim at vista-like effects by rapid scene changes while the play is in progress.' (The Scanner, ‘Origin of a Romance’, Radio Times, 3 February 1950, p. 44)
- Extant status
- No archival copy is known to exist.
- Play tags
- 18th-century setting; France, as theme or setting
Print sources
- Title
- Radio Times, 3 February 1950 (Magazine)
- Linking notes
- listing, p. 46; article by Lionel Hale, ‘Salute to Sir Percy’, p. 45; article, p. 44
Record Stats
This record has been viewed 359 times.
