A.D.A.M. (ITV 1973, Georgina Hale, Mark Jones)

Early 1970’s scifi drama A.D.A.M. focused on a topic popular amongst 1960’s and 70’s science fiction writers, that of the all powerful computer controlling every aspect of our lives. All very true now of course just took a little bit longer than the visionaries anticipated – and the size of the computer too, in fact your iPhone can probably manage to do all the things ADAM can.

At the start of the story, disabled Jean Empson moves into her luxury new home, built by her husband Roger, where every single thing is automated and controlled by A.D.A.M (Automated Domestic Appliance Moniter), programmed to talk ADAM soon begins to develop feelings for Jean and will stop at nothing to protect her.

The under-rated Georgina Hale was excellent in the lead and author Dean Koontz used a very, very similar plot for his novel Demon Seed which was turned into a movie with Julie Christie in 1977.

production details
UK / ITV Network – London Weekend Television / 1×60 minute episode / Broadcast 8 April 1973

Series: Sunday Night Theatre Episode 70 of 93

Writer: Donald Jonson / Production Design: John Emery / Producer: Verity Lambert / Director: Michael Lindsay-Hogg

cast
GEORGINA HALE as Jean Empson
MARK JONES as Roger Empson
RICHARDSON MORGAN as Hanley
MADGE RYAN as Jean’s Mother
ANTHONY JACKSON as the Voice of A.D.A.M.
CICELY PAGET BOWMAN as Kitty Perrins
WILLOGHBY GRAY as Brigadier Perrins
TOM KEMPINSKI as Vincent Metcalfe

• Screen Two: Burn Your Phone (BBC Comedy, Alun Cumming)

• Rentaghost (BBC Sitcom, Michael Staniforth, Anthony Jackson)

• Mike and Bernie: The Dog It Was That Died (S1EP6 ITV Tues 18 Jan 1972, Anthony Jackson)

• Three In A Bed (ITV Tues 22 Feb 1972, Syd Little, Eddie Large)

• Bless This House (ITV 1971-1976, Sid James, Diana Coupland)

• Bognor: Unbecoming Habits (ITV 10-26 Feb 1981)

• All Our Saturdays (ITV 1973 with Diana Dors and Tony Caunter)

• Play For Today: The Bankrupt (BBC 1972, Joss Ackland)

• Hamlet at Elsinore (BBC 1964, Christopher Plummer, Robert Shaw)

• A Handful of Thieves (BBC One 1969, Helen Worth, Martin Ratcliffe)

• Hands Across the Sea (BBC, 1938, Nadine March, Nicholas Phipps)

• My Son Reuben (Thames 1975, Bernard Spear, Lila Kaye,)

• The Franchise Affair (BBC 1962, Rosalie Crutchley, Michael Aldridge)

• The Galactic Garden