Episodes
Within These Walls: Get The Glory Down (ITV 22 Nov 1975, with Ann Mitchell)
In Get The Glory Down inmate Louella Baines is very much top dog amongst the West Indian inmates. When she has a run in with new inmate Joyce she ends up putting a curse on her. When the curse seems to come true Louella starts to believe she really does have supernatural powers. And so do the other inmates.
Thinking she has great power Louella seeks help from both the prison Chaplain and Father O’Callaghan who both are of little use to her. She very quickly ropes in most of the women on her wing into her new ‘religion’ The Sisters of the Tabernacle. It’s a kind of Pentecostal offshoot complete with Speaking in Tongues.
The fabulous Ann Mitchell returns for her second appearance as trouble making Kathleen Marsh, she quickly cottons on to the fact that Louella is up to no good. She learns that Louella plans to build a church when she is released, and is asking all of her ‘congregation’ to ask friends and family to contribute funds. When she is released, Kathleen, having managed to get a list of possible contributors, and starts campaigning to raise money. When Miss Clarke goes to see Kathleen, thinking she is very quickly getting back into her fraudulent ways, she is surprised to find that Kathleen has also fallen under Louella’s spell.
Quite an intriguing episode, almost the whole wing believes in Louella and although you think that she may well be coming the con it seems that she does in fact genuinely believe she has a gift. The twist with Kathleen also believing in Louella is a nice touch too.
production details
UK / ITV – Thames / 1×50 minute episode / Broadcast Saturday 22 November 1975 at 9.30pm
Writer: Peter Wildeblood / Production Design: Bryan Bagge / Director: Bryan Izzard
Series: Within These Walls
cast
Googie Withers as Faye Boswell
Jerome Willis as Charles Radley
Sonia Graham as Martha Parrish
Beth Harris as Miss Clarke
Denys Hawthorne as Dr Mayes
Mona Bruce as Mrs Armitage
Ann Mitchell as Kathleen Marsh
Jumoke Debayo as Officer Carto
Suzanne Stone as joyce Obekwe
Nadia Cattouse as Louella Baines
Marsha Millar as Coral
Floella Benjamin as Barbara
Valerie Holliman as Alison
Ann Way as Eileen
Paul Greenhalgh as Dr Russell
Michael Sheard as Chaplain
Rio Fanning as Father O’Callaghan