Festival; The Ghost Sonata. Part 1
- Series
- Festival
- Episode
- The Ghost Sonata. Part 1
- Producing Organization
- British Broadcasting Corporation
- Contributing Organization
- Thirteen WNET (New York, New York)
- AAPB ID
- cpb-aacip/75-257d7zzt
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- Description
- Episode Description
- Two of the most distinguished performers on the British stage Beatrix Lehmann and Robert Helpmann will appear in Strindberg's scathing drama of disillusionment "The Ghost Sonata." They play centers on a solid, wealthy, respectable Stockholm mansion inhabited by what are apparently happy, prosperous people. But Strindberg, in a blazing denunciation of human corruption, reveals the house as a rotting structure full of grotesque figures caught in a web of falsehood, hatred, and disappointment. Strindberg's inspiration is frenzied hatred of human evil. In "The Ghost Sonata" he denounces and exposes corruption with the fervor of an Old Testament prophet and the visionary genius of a Hieronymous Bosch. Long one of the London theatre's most respected stars Miss Lehmann will be remembered by American television audiences as the mother of Coriolanus in Shakespeare's play as it was presented in the recent and widely acclaimed BBC series "The Spread of the Eagle." Mr. Helpmann, actor, dancer, director and choreographer, is one of the most versatile performers on the international theater scene. New York City audiences saw him this year in the spring season of England's Royal Ballet as the narrator in "A Wedding Bouquet." His film credits include "Henry V," "The Red Shoes," and "Tales of Hoffman." Of the 75-minutes drama, produced by the British Broadcasting Corporation, England's Observer said, "It deserves a special advance guard brilliancy prize," and the Guardian said, "Strindberg is worth doing, not only as an influence but in his own right." "The Ghost Sonata: a 1965 presentation of National Educational Television. A 1962 production of the British Broadcasting Corporation. This 75-minute piece was recorded on film. (Description adapted from documents in the NET Microfiche)
- Description
- In this dream play, Strindberg shows his audience a solid, wealthy, respectable mansion in a suburb of Stockholm, a mansion inhabited by well-seeming and prosperous characters. From outside, everything and everyone seems attractive, even enviable. On the inside, the house is revealed as a crazy, rotting structure peopled by grotesque figures inextricably caught in a web of falsehood, hated and disillusion. Strindberg?s inspiration is frenzied hatred of human evil. In The Ghost Sonata he denounces and exposes corruption with the fervor of an Old Testament prophet and the visionary genius of a Heironymous Bosch. Eugene O?Neil viewed Strindberg as ?the greatest interpreter in the theater of those spiritual conflicts which constitute drama.?
- Broadcast Date
- 1965-11-26
- Asset type
- Episode
- Genres
- Drama
- Media type
- Moving Image
- Credits
-
-
Actor: Mervyn, William
Actor: Brett, Jeremy
Actor: Bell, Ann
Actor: Helpmann, Robert
Actor: Kidd, John
Actor: Eccles, Jane
Actor: Wing, Anna
Actor: Heathcote, Thomas
Actor: McMillen, Mary
Actor: Iveria, Miki
Actor: McGrath, George
Actor: Coulette, Yvonne
Actor: Lehmann, Beatrix
Actor: Lawrence, Arthur
Actor: Rae, John
Actor: Gardner, Linda
Composer: Ellis, Osian
Performer: Ellis, Osian
Producer: Burge, Stuart
Producing Organization: British Broadcasting Corporation
Production Designer: Hats, Clifford
Translator: Meyer, Michael
- AAPB Contributor Holdings
-
Thirteen - New York Public Media (WNET)
Identifier: wnet_aacip_2204 (WNET Archive)
Format: 16mm film
Duration: 00:27:47?
-
Thirteen - New York Public Media (WNET)
Identifier: wnet_aacip_2205 (WNET Archive)
Format: 16mm film
Duration: 00:27:47?
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- Citations
- Chicago: “Festival; The Ghost Sonata. Part 1,” 1965-11-26, Thirteen WNET, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC, accessed May 4, 2025, http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-75-257d7zzt.
- MLA: “Festival; The Ghost Sonata. Part 1.” 1965-11-26. Thirteen WNET, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC. Web. May 4, 2025. <http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-75-257d7zzt>.
- APA: Festival; The Ghost Sonata. Part 1. Boston, MA: Thirteen WNET, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC. Retrieved from http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-75-257d7zzt