Play of the Week: Flight From Reality (ITV 13 Apr 1964, Philip Madoc, Leonard Rossiter)

In Flight From Reality John Graham, played by Philip Madoc, returns home after 10 years in America. He catches up with his three oldest friends, all of whom have changed in the intervening years. John was always considered the bright one of the group and the other three are concerned that they may be somehow diminished in his eyes. But of course the same could be said of John too.

Speaking in the weeks TV Times writer Leo Lehman said the play was about friendship and whether you can reach that stage where you can really be yourself.

Philip Madoc headlined as John, always a strong presence, his film and TV career had started in 1961 and he spent much of that decade in supporting roles before becoming something of a household name with his role as the German Lutzig in world war II drama Manhunt. The cast also included a young Annette Crosbie, Benjamin Whitrow, William Lucas and Leonard Rossiter who at the time had recently had a regular role in BBC crime drama series Z Cars. Always a popular player he achieved TV legend status in the 1970’s thanks to Rising Damp and The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin.

production details
UK / ITV – ATV – HM Tennant / 1×70 minute episode / Broadcast Monday 13 April 1964 at 9.10pm

Writer: Leo Lehman / Production Design: Stephen Doncaster / Director: John Hale

cast
William Lucas as Vincent
Leonard Rossiter as Patrick
Richard Leech as Paul
Jan Waters as Jill
Annette Crosbie as Frances
Philip Madoc as John
Jean Trend as Rose
Frederick Peisley as Harris
Kirk Martin as Gregory
John Tucker as Club Waiter
George McGrath as Colonel
David Graham as Club Porter
Paul Bogden as Hotel Waiter
Ben Whitrow as Assistant Hotel Manager
Honora Burke as Landlady
Robert Frowe as David
Michael Lynch as Redman
Jack Rowlands as Redman’s Friend

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