Definition
Write Me a Murder is a 60‑minute Australian television play that was broadcast in 1965 as part of the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) anthology series Wednesday Theatre.
Overview
The episode formed the 47th entry of the series’ first season. It was directed by Henri Safran and the teleplay was written by Kenneth Hayles. The production was filmed in Sydney and first aired in the Australian states of New South Wales and Victoria in early December 1965. The narrative follows a classic “whodunnit” structure set in a decaying mansion, focusing on whether the murderer will ultimately be apprehended.
Etymology / Origin
The title Write Me a Murder is a literal request for the composition of a murder story, reflecting the episode’s focus on the creation and unraveling of a murder mystery. No additional historical or linguistic derivation for the phrase has been documented beyond its use as the play’s title.
Characteristics
- Genre: Murder mystery / drama.
- Length: Approximately 60 minutes.
- Production design: Francesca Crespi handled set design, creating the atmosphere of a deteriorating country house.
- Cast:
- Rhod Walker as Clive Rodingham
- Alan Edwards as David Rodingham
- John Gray as Charles Sturrock
- Judith Fisher as Julie Sturrock
- Gwen Plumb as Elizabeth Wooley
- Bob Haddow as Constable Hackett
- Direction: Henri Safran emphasized the tension between the mystery of “who did it” and the suspense of “will the murderer be caught.”
- Reception: Contemporary reviews were mixed. The Bulletin criticized the episode for presenting a “mummified corpse of a traditional British murder mystery” with a “mouldy plot,” suggesting that the production struggled to revitalize the conventional genre conventions.
Related Topics
- Wednesday Theatre – the ABC anthology series that showcased original plays, adaptations, and stage productions throughout the 1960s.
- Australian television drama of the 1950s–1960s – a period marked by frequent adaptations of theatrical works and the emergence of locally produced mystery and thriller scripts.
- Henri Safran – director known for his work in Australian television and later feature films.
- Kenneth Hayles – screenwriter credited with several television dramas during the era.
- Murder mystery genre – a narrative form focusing on the investigation and resolution of a homicide, popular in both British and Australian broadcast media of the mid‑20th century.