The Iron Harp
The Iron Harp is a 1958 British television play from Granada Television that marked the television debut of Richard Harris. The success of the play led to Harris being given a seven year contract with Associated British.
Richard Harris was paid £50 for his performance. Academic Philip Purser called the play a "surprise success" which led to the head of Granada Television, Sidney Bernstein, to telling "the drama department that that should be their aim from now onwards: high in the ratings, praised by the critics and no actor costing more than fifty guineas."
Premise
In April 1920, an English officer, Captain John Tregarthen, has been kidnapped by the IRA. An IRA leader, Sean Kelly, orders Trengarthen's execution is ordered as a reprisal for the death of IRA members. This causes a crisis in conscience for the officer's blind guard, Michael O'Riordan, who has befriended Tregarthen.Cast
- Richard Harris as Michael O'Riordan
- Robert Urquhart as Captain John Tregarthen
- David Kelly as Sean Kelly
- Tony Quinn as Shamis
- Maureen Connell as Molly Kinsella
- Donal Donnelly as Scanlon
- Arthur Howard as Peter Tolly
- Barry Keegan as Dermot
- Robert Mooney as Phelam
- James Booth as 1st Black and Tan Soldier
- Max Faulkner as 2nd Black and Tan Soldier
Original stage play
The script was based on a stage play by Joseph O'Conor that debuted in 1955. The play won the Foyle Award for the best new play. It was produced in 1957 by the Bristol Rep in a production starring O'Conor. The Guardian called it "a considerable play".The play was published.
Reception
The Guardian felt "the attitudinising sowed some doubt in the viewer." The Liverpool Post felt Harris "scored an indelible success... an inspired performance."The following year, Harris and director Cliff Owen collaborated on another television play with an IRA theme, Rest in Violence.