Joseph Proctor's Money

Joseph Proctor's Money is a 1951 British television play.^[1]

Joseph Proctor's Money
Directed by	Dallas Bower
Written by	Rex Rienits
Based on	novel by W. H. Lane Crauford
Starring	Robert Beatty
Production company	BBC
Release date	January 25, 1951 (1951-01-25)
Running time	80 mins
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

It was based on a 1948 novel by W. H. Lane Crauford.^[2][3][4] It was the first of Crauford's novels to be adapted for television and some rehearsals took place at Robert Beatty's house due to a flue epidemic. The adaptation was by Rex Rineits dubbed by the Evening Standard as "TV's rising star of 1950."^[5]

Premise

Sam Karsh told the police that his first wife. Poppy, had run off to South Africa with his twin brother George. That was a story which needed looking into a little more closely.

Cast

• Robert Beatty as George Marsh/Sam Marsh
• Moira Lister as Poppy Marsh
• Jack Lambert as Inspector Kneller
• Kevin Stoney as Sergeant Thondey
• Honor Blackman as Ruth Marsh

Reception

The Evening Standard called it "a well told surprise packet of mystery" although "marred" by "a hacking cough off stage" during the broadcast."^[6] The Daily Telegraph wrote "it was all over in 20 minutes but somehow kept going on."^[7]

Radio adaptation

Rex Rienits also adapted the play for radio which aired on the BBC 1951.^[8]

This adaptation was performed on Australian radio in 1954.^[9][10]