The Ridge and the River (radio drama)
| Genre | Drama play |
|---|---|
| Running time | 70 mins (7:30 pm – 8:40 pm) |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Language | English |
| Home station | 2FC |
| Syndicates | ABC |
| Written by | Edmund Barclay |
| Directed by | Eric John |
| Original release | February 8, 1953 |
The Ridge and the River is a 1953 Australian radio play based on the novel The Ridge and the River.[1]
It was adapted for radio by Edmund Barclay. The play was originally broadcast in February, and was recorded again in June with a slightly different cast.[2]
The ABC recorded the play again in Sydney in February 1956, directed by Raymond Menmuir,[3] and in Brisbane in September 1958.[4]
Premise
An Australian commando patrol in the northern islands during the war is led by Corporal Shearwood. He is upset by the arrival of a young lieutenant who knows nothing of local island conditions.
Cast
February 1953 production
- Brian Wright as Narrator[5][6]
- Nigel Lovell as Corporal Shearwood
- Rodney Taylor as Corporal Malise
- Reginald Goldsworthy as Private Wallace
- John Tate as Major Lovatt
- Bruce Stewart at Lieutenant Wilder
- Walter Sullivan as Private Manetta
- Robert Levis as Private Sweet
- John Ewart as Private White
- Ossie Wenban as Private Evans
- Sidney Chambers as Beetle the Cook
- Lloyd Berrell as Womai
June 1953 production
- George Simpson-Lyttle as Narrator
- Rodney Taylor as Corporal Shearwood [7]
- John Meillon as Lieutenant Wilder
- Brian Wright as Major Lovatt
- Reginald Goldsworthy as Corporal Malise
- Barrie Cookson as Private Manetta
- Ossie Wenban as Private Evans
- Ben Gabriel as Private Wallace
- Richard Meikle as Private Sweet
- John Ewart as Private White
- Sid Chambers as Beetle, the Cook
- Gordon Chater as Womai
- Denys Burrows as Mummawa
1956 production
- Don Sanderson as Narrator
- Toby Harris as Corporal Shearwood
- Lew Luton as Lieutenant Wilder
- John Nash as Corporal Malise
- Geoffrey Baker as Major Lovatt
- Rex Hodell as Private Wallace
- Arthur Greenfield as Private Manetta
- Arthur Hall as Private Sweet
- Earle Cross as Private White
- John Bowen as Private Evans
- Alfred Raynor as Beetle, the Cook
- Bernard Barry as Womai
- John Miller as Mummawa
1958 production
- Clive Harburg as Narrator
- Donald McTaggart as Corporal Shearwood
- Kerry Francis as Lieutenant Wilder
- Brian Tait as Major Lovatt
- John Miller as Corporal Malise
- Rae Humphries as Private Wallace
- Hugh Curnow as Private Sweet
- Dick McCann as Private White
- Toby Harris as Private Evans
- Douglas Stark as Beetle, the Cook
- Bernard Barry as Womai
- Harold Cox as Mummawa
References
- ^ Vagg, Stephen (10 October 2025). "Forgotten Australian Films: Jungle Patrol". Filmink. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
- ^ "Plays and Players". The Sun. No. 13, 522. New South Wales, Australia. 12 June 1953. p. 14 (LATE FINAL EXTRA). Retrieved 29 June 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ Australian Broadcasting Commission. (1939), "RADIO PLAYS for NEXT WEEK A.B.C.", ABC Weekly, Sydney: ABC, nla.obj-1427435503, retrieved 21 September 2023 – via Trove
- ^ Australian Broadcasting Commission. (1939), "A.B.C. radio plays for the week", ABC Weekly, Sydney: ABC, nla.obj-1448387495, retrieved 21 September 2023 – via Trove
- ^ "Plays and Players". The Sun. No. 13, 415. New South Wales, Australia. 6 February 1953. p. 12 (LATE FINAL EXTRA). Retrieved 21 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Radio plays for Next Week ABC", ABC Weekly, 15 (6), Sydney, 7 February 1953, retrieved 21 September 2023 – via Trove
- ^ Australian Broadcasting Commission. (13 June 1953), "RADIO PLAYS for NEXT WEEK A.B.C.", ABC Weekly, 15 (24), Sydney: ABC, nla.obj-1689409835, retrieved 21 September 2023 – via Trove