The Monkey’s Paw

Summary

1938 BBC Television production of The Monkey’s Paw by W. W. Jacobs and Louis N. Parker. Radio Times lists this only as ‘a play in three scenes’ (issue 31 December 1937, p. 17) with no cast credits.

Theatre play

The Monkey’s Paw by Louis N. Parker [more information]

Play synopsis

Thriller. Set in the living room of an old-fashioned cottage in a London suburb, this is a theatrical adaptation of W. W. Jacobs’ short story, first published in 1902, in which a talisman grants three wishes - but with dreadful consequences.

Production history

First staged as a one-act play at London’s Haymarket Theatre on 6 October 1903. Published in London in 1910 by Samuel French Ltd. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Monkey’s_Paw#cite_note-1; accessed 5 January 2014.)

Date of transmission

Friday 7 January 1938

Time

9.35pm (20 mins)

Channel

BBC Television

Production company

BBC

Credits

Television Production by

Moultrie R. Kelsall (1901-1980)

Playwright

Louis N. Parker

Original Story by

W. W. Jacobs

Additional details

Origination

Live from studio

Vision original

Monochrome

Later transmissions

Presented again at 3.30pm on Tuesday 11 January 1938 and at 3.30pm on Friday 15 April 1939.

Extant status

No archival copy is known to exist.

Play tags

adaptation of short story; British Empire and colonies; Edwardian drama; thriller

Print sources

Title

Broadcasting (Newspaper listing)

Reference

The Times, 7 January 1938, p. 7

Title

Radio Times, 31 December 1937 (Magazine)

Linking notes

listing, p. 17

Title

Televised Plays: The Monkey’s Paw (Newspaper review)

Author/creator

Anon. (Author)

Reference

The Times, 17 April 1939, p. 3