Defection! The Case of Colonel Petrov

"Defection! The Case of Colonel Petrov"
Play of the Month episode
Episode no.Season 2
Episode 1
Directed byBill Hays
Teleplay byDonald Bull
Based onThe Case of Colonel Petrov
by Michael Bialoguski
Original air date27 September 1966 (1966-09-27)
Running time100 mins
List of episodes

"Defection! The Case of Colonel Petrov" is a television play episode of the BBC One anthology television series Play of the Month originally aired on 27 September 1966.[1]

It was based on the book The Case of Colonel Petrov by Michael Bialoguski, which has been filmed for American television as "The Case of Colonel Petrov".[2] Bialoguski was a consultant on the show.[3] A number of Australian expatriate actors living in London featured in the cast.[4]

The Age wondered why the story, which took place in Australia and had a massive impact on Australian politics, had been adapted for British television but not Australian television.[5]

It aired in the US in 1968.[6]

Cast

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  • Lee Montague as Michael Bialoguski
  • Nigel Stock as Colonel Petrov
  • Madge Ryan as Dusya
  • Charles Tingwell as Johnson
  • Jerome Willis as Zaryezov
  • Colin Jeavons as Kislytsin
  • George Roubicek as Bradley
  • Lyndel Rowe as Jessie
  • Walter Sparrow as Roberts
  • George Pastell as Pakhomev
  • James Bree as Lifanov
  • Honora Burke as Sonya
  • Robert Marsden as Koukharenko
  • Kenneth Colley as Yolinichev
  • Alec Mango as Prudnikov
  • Lala Lloyd as Lily Klodnitsky
  • Peter Van Dissel as Chomentowski
  • John Kidd as Mackenzie
  • Willoughby Gray as Colonel Trex
  • Lloyd Lamble as Beckett
  • Michael Golden as Generalov
  • David Joel as Reporter
  • Deirdre Denham as Air hostess
  • William Curran as Thompson
  • Charles Rea as Narrator (voice)

Reception

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The Observer called it "efficient".[7]

References

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  1. ^ "TV Guide". Evening Standard. 27 September 1966. p. 4.
  2. ^ "Petrov Case as US TV Drama". The Sydney Morning Herald. 17 April 1956. p. 3.
  3. ^ "PETROV AFFAIR MADE TV PLAY". The Canberra Times. Vol. 41, no. 11, 488. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 21 September 1966. p. 18. Retrieved 1 May 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "Madge Ryan as Mrs Petrov in BBC play". The Canberra Times. Vol. 41, no. 11, 495. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 29 September 1966. p. 28. Retrieved 1 May 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "Teletopics". The Age TV and Radio Guide. 29 September 1966. p. 3.
  6. ^ "True Life Defection Subject of Show". The Daily Herald. 20 May 1968. p. 23.
  7. ^ Richardson, Maurice (2 October 1966). "Television". The Observer. p. 25.
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