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An Awful Silence

Television (Full Length) – 1972

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This quirky sci-fi tale about a mysterious group of bodysnatchers living in a mansion shared the 1973 Feltex Award for Best Drama. Stylishly showcasing 1970s Wellington, it was one of the first local TV dramas filmed in colour. Davina Whitehouse won a Feltex as the eccentric woman being trailed by two detectives and one witness (Gliding On's Susan Wilson). There are also early appearances by Paul Holmes (in the first scene) and Alan Jervis (The Killing of Kane). Vincent Ley’s script won a Ngaio Marsh teleplay contest, while director David Stevens was later Oscar-nominated for Australian movie Breaker Morant.

I have breathed life into a dead body. By the time he grows a beard even his mother will not recognise him.
– Dr Tree (David Tinkham)

Key Cast & Crew

Davina Whitehouse

As: Mrs Oliver

Vincent Ley

Writer

Susan Wilson

As: Jane McCarthy

David Stevens

Director, Producer

Michael Keir-Morrissey

As: Detective Sergeant Aldrich

David Tinkham

As: Dr Tree

See all 25 credits

Produced by

NZ Broadcasting Corporation

Source

Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision - TVNZ Collection

Acknowledgements

NZ On Screen acknowledges the talent and creatives for allowing NZ On Screen to reproduce this title on this website.

Music

Music performed by the NZ Symphony Orchestra

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More Information

Interview with director David Stevens, The Listener, December 1972