Objector (Australian Playhouse)
25th episode of the 1st season of Australian Playhouse
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"Objector" is the 25th television play episode of the first season of the Australian anthology television series Australian Playhouse.[1] "Objector" was written by Tony Morphett and produced by Brian Faull[2] and originally aired on ABC[3] on 3 October 1966.
Episode 25
| "Objector" | |
|---|---|
| Australian Playhouse episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 1 Episode 25 |
| Teleplay by | Tony Morphett |
| Original air date | 3 October 1966 |
| Running time | 30 mins |
Morphett went on to become one of the leading writers in Australian television.[4]
Plot
A man is conscripted to fight in Vietnam. He wants to go to court to argue against his conscription and his father, a war veteran, calls him a coward.[5]
Cast
- John Derum as the son
- Syd Conabere as the father
- Julie Costello as the girlfriend
Production
Reception
The Bulletin TV critic said the "play kept wandering from prose poetry to plain Australian and back again, like a novice punter trying to pick a two-horse race without a form guide."[7]
The Age said it was "a drama so true to life it hurt."[8] A different critic from the same paper said it "wasn't really a play. It was merely sort of a visual illustration of a voice told by a narrative in the background. The viewer was supposed to exercise his imagination... An actor is supposed to play a part."[9]
The same paper later called it "a noteworthy example how a dramatist can contribute to a worthy understanding."[10]
Filmink said " As would be expected from a script by Morphett, it’s well constructed, strong drama – one of the best scripts in the whole Australian Playhouse series."[11]
