Sally

Sally

1964 - United Kingdom

Vanessa Redgrave made her Independent Television drama debut on December 6, 1964, in the Armchair Theatre production, Sally. This three-character play, written by William Woods (Probation Officer, No Hiding Place), featured Redgrave (Call the Midwife) in the eponymous role as a young, talented artist struggling with insecurities. She shares her studio flat with her creative ambitions and a chronic battle to keep her surroundings in order. Sally’s artistry is apparent, yet her confidence is undermined, partly due to her pronounced limp, a feature that makes her self-conscious, and also by the pressure of meeting the mother of her barrister lover, Charles, played by Nigel Stock (Sherlock Holmes). Charles is married, with children, and Sally has been commissioned by him to paint a portrait of his mother, Mrs. Drummond, portrayed by Joyce Carey (Father Dear Father), a woman who becomes a source of emotional tension in Sally's life.

Sally starring Vanessa Redgrave

The character of Mrs. Drummond is rich with overtones, with Carey’s portrayal adding layers beyond the scripted role. She initially appears as a cold and demanding figure, echoing her son’s accusation that she has rendered "love a dirty word." As the plot unfolds, it becomes clear that Mrs. Drummond embodies a blend of selfishness and cruelty that both contrasts and parallels Sally’s sensitivity. Meanwhile, Charles, the story’s weakest link in personality, is portrayed by Stock as a largely passive character, a man of few convictions, whose only real assertion in life has been to love Sally. Stock’s performance brings an empathetic quality to Charles, despite the character’s lack of strength and decisiveness.

The play centres not on Charles himself but on how both women perceive him, creating a sharp character study and drawing out the emotional and psychological complexities of each relationship. The Scotsman’s critic, Peggie Phillips, praised the play as 'a moral tale in the deepest sense,' viewing it as a reflection on the bleak realities of adultery and societal judgment. She commended the entire production for its authenticity, describing the characterizations as deeply compelling. In her view, the play’s themes left little to be romanticised about infidelity or social disgrace, highlighting instead the painful consequences.

Sally starring Vanessa Redgrave

However, one particular viewer from Portsmouth was so unimpressed with the production that they were moved to write to the Daily Mirror; 'For sheer boredom, ITV's play, Sally, must surely go to the top of the list. Week in and week out, almost without exception, the same old shallow stories are on offer. Where they find their writers I cannot imagine. What a crime to inflict an actress of Vanessa Redgrave's talents with such terrible material.'

Published on October 29th, 2024. Written by Laurence Marcus for Television Heaven.

Read Next...

Johnny Quest

Cartoon series for kids inspired by James Bond.

Also released in 1964

Alice in Wonderland TV play

The earliest television version of Lewis Caroll's fantasy masterpiece was broadcast before most people in Britain had televisions...

Also tagged Single Play

Impromptu

Improvised comedy sketch show

Also released in 1964

Out of This World

British TV's first attempt at a science fiction anthology series.

Also starring Nigel Stock

The Final Test by Terence Rattigan BBC 1951

An ageing cricketer's last match is marred by his poor final innings, but the arrival of his pretentious, sport-hating son brightens the day in Terence Rattigan's debut television comedy.

Also starring Joyce Carey

The Gathering Storm

It's the mid-1930s and MP Winston Churchill (Albert Finney), once the most dynamic Member of Parliament, finds both his public and private life in turmoil in this award winning co-produced UK & US drama.

Also starring Vanessa Redgrave

First Night

First Night presented a series of new plays written for television with an emphasis on action and conflict. The series debuted on BBC with Alan Owen's The Strain on 22 September 1963 and ran through until 1964.

Also starring Vanessa Redgrave

The Time Machine 1949

Earliest television outing for H.G. Wells' classic sci-fi tale about a time traveller

Also tagged Single Drama

Father, Dear Father

Generation gap comedy starring middle-aged divorcee Patrick Glover, the author of a series of pulp fiction novels, who is left to bring up his two teenage daughters (Anna and Karen) in trendy Hampstead when his wife, Barbara, runs off to marry his best friend.

Also starring Joyce Carey