The Troubled Air

The Troubled Air

1953 - United Kingdom

The Troubled Air was Irwin Shaw's novel chronicling the rise of McCarthyism in the USA and in particular the anti-Communist witch-hunt among radio-programme workers. 

Shaw was a victim of McCarthyism himself accused of being a Communist by The Red Channels, a pamphlet that published the names of 151 actors, writers, musicians and broadcast journalists purported to be Communists - who were trying to influence the entertainment industry by manipulation. 

Like many of those named, Shaw found himself blacklisted by Hollywood movie studio bosses and, in 1951, he left the United States for Europe where he lived for the next 25 years. 

The Troubled Air was Shaw's second novel, published in 1951. Whilst living in 'exile' Shaw wrote other bestselling books including Rich Man, Poor Man, which was later adapted into a highly successful miniseries for the ABC Network in America. 

The Troubled Air - BBC play 1953

The Troubled Airconcerns Clement Archer, a director of a popular radio programme, who is told that he must release several actors as well as the composer from the show after the sponsors receive a listing of individuals who have reportedly been involved in Communist activities. When Archer tries to defend his colleagues he is perceived as a collaborator and a Communist sympathiser and eventually sacked, causing his pregnant wife to go into early labour and lose their baby. 

Broadcast as part of the BBC Sunday-Night Theatre series on 22 March 1953, The Troubled Airstarred Patrick Barr as Clement Archer and Joyce Heron as his wife, Kitty (both pictured). One critic of the time described it as "one of the most gripping dramas to have reached television."

Published on April 5th, 2020. Written by Laurence Marcus for Television Heaven.

Read Next...

A man is persuaded to move into a house by its previous (dead) owners. The first fantasy series to appear on US television found its way to the small screen from a 1930's novel

Also released in 1953

Kid Flanagan

A young boxer's career is destroyed by a scheming woman in this one-off BBC play that also starred Sid James.

Also tagged Single Play

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

Quatermass

Scientist, head of the British Rocket Research Group, investigates strange incidents.

Also released in 1953

Albert TV play

Single play based on a true story about an ingenious and daring escape from a German POW camp for Allied naval officers during WW2

Also tagged Single Play

Robin Hood

Early TV outing for Sherwood Forest's famous outlaw.

Also released in 1953

Culloden

The Battle of Culloden, which took place on April 16th, 1746, was the last battle fought on British soil. This docudrama blurred the distinctions between documentary and drama and proved to be ground-breaking television.

Also tagged Single Play

The Adventures of Superman

Classic US television series shot at a rapid rate with four episodes being turned out every ten days at a cost of $15,000 each.

Also released in 1953

After the Funeral

When Alun Owen's play 'After the Funeral' was read by Sydney Newman, head of drama for ABC Television, and William Kotcheff, the television director, they were so taken by his conception of Wales and the Welsh, they decided to see for themselves.

Also tagged Single Play