Rape of the Belt

Rape of the Belt
Based onplay by Benn Levy
Directed byHenri Safran
StarringTony Ward
Fernande Glyn
Reg Livermore
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
Production
Running time70 mins[2]
Production companyABC
Original release
NetworkABC
Release2 September 1964 (1964-09-02) (Sydney)[1]
Release9 September 1964 (1964-09-09) (Melbourne)[3]
Release4 November 1964 (1964-11-04) (Brisbane)[4]

Rape of the Belt is a 1964 Australian television film based on the play by Benn Levy.[5][6]

Plot

Heracles and Theseus, two celebrated heroes, arrive at Themiscyra, the Amazons' capital, to accomplish the ninth of the Labours of Heracles, stealing Hippolyte's belt. They are confronted by Antiope and Hippolyte.[7]

Cast

Production

Benn Levy's play had been performed by the Elizabethan Theatre Trust in 1960. Star Tony Ward was best known at the time for presenting the show Seven Days.[5] Ward worked out for two months and grew a beard for the role. He injured his leg and used crutches during rehearsals.[8]

Some scenes were shot at Kurnell and Whale Beach.[4]

It was an early TV role for Reg Livermore.[9]

Reception

The Sydney Morning Herald called it "amusingly lively and buoyant."[10]

Filmink called it "a fun watch".[11]

References

  1. ^ "Greek Myth Becomes Comedy". Sydney Morning Herald. 24 August 1964. p. 23.
  2. ^ "TV Guide". 31 August 1964. p. 25.
  3. ^ "TV Guide". 9 September 1964. p. 14.
  4. ^ a b "Heracles Would Horrify Homer". TV Times. 4 November 1964. p. 10.
  5. ^ a b "Homer brought up to date". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 2 September 1964. p. 23. Retrieved 23 April 2020 – via Trove.
  6. ^ Vagg, Stephen (18 February 2019). "60 Australian TV Plays of the 1950s & '60s". Filmink.
  7. ^ "TV Guide". The Age. 3 September 1964. p. 34.
  8. ^ "Out of Character". The Age. 3 September 1964. p. 26.
  9. ^ Livermore, Reg; McMicking, Rob (2003). Chapters and Chances. Hardie Grant Books. p. 57.
  10. ^ "Levy Comedy". Sydney Morning Herald. 3 September 1964. p. 12.
  11. ^ Vagg, Stephen (24 April 2021). "Forgotten Australian TV Plays: The Rape of the Belt". Filmink.


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