Uneasy Paradise


Uneasy Paradise is a 1963 Australian television film directed by William Sterling. It is a 60-minute drama set in Melbourne about a gambler married to Sally. He loses much money at a club run by Paolo.
Australian drama was relatively rare at the time.

Premise

Neville is a gambler married to Sally. He loses much money at a club run by Paolo.

Cast

  • Peter Aanensen as Neville
  • Terri Aldred as Sally
  • Syd Conabere as Billy
  • Edward Howell as Paolo
  • Jules Caffari as Gambler
  • James Lynch
  • Douglas Kelly
  • Ian Boyce
  • Roly Barlee
  • Ron Pinnell
  • Stewart Weller
  • Lewis Tegart
  • Ray Angel

Production

The show was written by Melbourne writer Laurence Collinson. It was based on a true story and was written as part of a challenge by Sterling at a UNESCO conference in Adelaide. William Sterling decided to treat the subject matter "neo-realistically".

Reception

The Sydney Morning Herald wrote that the plot "carried a spell of authenticity which was broken only by a contrived and comfortable ending" in which Sterling's production "exploited camera angles and action scenes vividly enough to make the-television medium, seem eminently suitable for an effective if somewhat sordid play that took all the tricks except the final, one of a satisfactory, ending."
The Age criticised the writing saying, "every development could be telegraphed."