SUNDAY NIGHT THEATRE: ADVENTURE STORY

UK / BBC / 1×100 minute episode / Broadcast 12 June 1961 in black and white

Writer:Terence Rattigan / Production Design: Clifford Hatts / Producer:Rudolph Cartier

Series: Sunday Night Theatre

The Adventure Story that was an entry in the popular Sunday Night Theatre strand was a production of Terence Rattigan’s 1949 stage play which was previously mounted by the BBC in 1950 but was here given a more prestigious treatment and larger budget.

The story basically told the life story of Alexander The Great from his triumphant conquest of Persia to his death with particular emphasis on his loneliness and insecurities. His unwavering vision of a whole world ruled by him meant, like any power mad despot, he didn’t have much time for personal relationships.

Sean Connery, a year before becoming Bond, was given the lead as Alexander and the cast also starring future Doctor Who companion William Russell.

cast
SEAN CONNERY as Alexander, King of Macedon
WILLIAM RUSSELL as Hephaestion
LYNDON BROOK as Philotas
WILLIAM DEVLIN as Parmenion, Philotas’ Father
ALEX SCOTT as Ptolemy
EDWARD CAST as Perdiccas
MICHAEL BRENNAN as Father Cleitus
NOEL HOOD as The Pythia, Priestess of Apollo
WALTER BROWN as Polystratos
PAUL STASSINO as King Darius
MARGARETTA SCOTT as Queen Mother
ANN DIMITRI as Queen Statira
PAULINE KNIGHT as Princess Statira
ALAN TILVERN as Prince Bessus, Satrap of Bactria
BANDANA DAS GUPTA as Roxana
TUTTE LEMKOW as Mazeres, The King’s Chamberlain
WALTER RANDALL as Palace Official
SIMON LEVY as Persian Officer