A Letter From The General

Summary

1962 Anglia Television production, networked by Associated-Rediffusion for ITV, of A Letter From The General by Maurice McLoughlin.

Theatre play

A Letter From The General by Maurice McLoughlin (1916-1970) [more information]

Play synopsis

The central figure of this drama is a Reverend Mother, ‘dealing with the situation that arises as the district surrounding her isolated mission
station in Far East Asia is overrun by Chinese Communist troops. She is faced with making a formidable decision involving great personal risk to her nuns’ (TV Times, 30 November 1962, p. 11).

Production history

Produced at The Edinburgh Festival in 1961 (source: http://www.friardale.co.uk/Television%20and%20Radio/McLoughlin.htm).

Date of transmission

Tuesday 4 December 1962

Time

9.15-10.45pm

Series

Play of the Week

Channel

ITV

Production company

Anglia Television (1959-)

Credits

Director

June Howson

Producer

George More O’Ferrall (1907-1982)

Playwright

Maurice McLoughlin (1916-1970)

Designer

Fred Pusey

Cast

Elizabeth Begley	Sister Magdalen
Georgina Cookson	Ruth Stilton
Basil Dignam	Arthur Stilton
Guy Doleman	Captain Lee
Aithna Gover	Sister Lucy
Gerard Heinz	Father Schiller
Anna Neagle	Reverend Mother
Meg Wynn Owen	Sister Bridget
Margaret Whiting	Sister Henry

Additional details

Play tags

China, as theme or setting; Christianity; Communism; religious order

Print sources

Title

TV Times, 30 November 1962 (Magazine)

Linking notes

illustrated article, p. 11; listing, p. 29