Gaslight

Summary

BBC production of Patrick Hamilton’s thriller Gaslight, transmitted live from Alexandra Palace.

Theatre play

Gas Light by Patrick Hamilton (1904-1962) [more information]

Play synopsis

This thriller depicts the odd happenings in the living-room of the Manninghams’ house in an unfashionable quarter of London on one evening in the nineteenth century. Mr Manningham is attempting to drive his wife insane by invoking the events of a jewel robbery 20 years earlier.

Production history

First produced at the Apollo Theatre from 31 January 1939, this play has been turned into a film on at least two occasions (with an American version named Murder in Thornton Square).

Date of transmission

Thursday 24 July 1947

Time

8.30-10.00pm

Channel

BBC Television

Production company

BBC

Credits

Producer

Stephen Harrison

Playwright

Patrick Hamilton (1904-1962)

Cast

Jennifer Gray	Nancy
Anthony Ireland (1902-1957)	Mr Manningham
Catherine Lacey	Mrs Manningham
Milton Rosmer	Sergeant Rough
Beatrice Rowe	Elizabeth

Additional details

Origination

Live from studio

Vision original

Monochrome

Later transmissions

Presented again at 3.00pm on Friday 25 July 1947

Extant status

No archival copy is known to exist.

Play tags

19th-century setting; crime; thriller

Print sources

Title

Radio Times, 11 January 1957 (Magazine)

Linking notes

passing mention on p. 15, wrongly dating the production to 1948

Title

Radio Times, 18 July 1947 (Magazine)

Linking notes

article, p. 29; listing, p. 32