The Bells

Summary: 1950 BBC live studio production of the Victorian melodrama by Leopold Lewis, The Bells.
Theatre play: The Bells by Leopold Lewis [more information]
Play synopsis: 'Set in Alsace, the border country between France and Germany, the play centres on burgomaster and family man Mathias, who, fifteen years before, on the night of 24 December 1818, to pay off his mortgage debt, had robbed a wealthy Polish Jewish seed merchant named Koveski who had come to Mathias’ inn, killing him with an axe and throwing his body into a lime kiln. Over time Mathias goes insane with guilt, and begins to hallucinate the ghost of the Polish Jew. Only the murderer and the audience, but nobody on stage, can hear the bells on the Jew’s sledge jingling or see his ghostly face. Finally, Mathias dreams that he is on trial for the murder and, confessing his guilt, is condemned to death by hanging. Waking, he tries to pull the imaginary noose from around his neck, and dies of a heart attack. (adapted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bells_(play); accessed 7 September 2014)
Production history: Opened on 25 November 1871 at the Lyceum Theatre in London.
Date of transmission: Tuesday 14 March 1950
Time: 8.30-9.40pm
Channel: BBC Television
Production company: BBC

Producer

Michael Barry

Playwright

Leopold Lewis

Sets / Settings

Barry Learoyd

Dances Arranged by

Mary Loraine

Cast

This record has been viewed 514 times.

British Universities Film & Video Council