A Dead Secret is a 1957 play by Rodney Ackland. It is a murder drama set in 1911 London and is based on the Seddon murder trial.

Plot

Insurance agent Frederick Dyson owns a house in London with his wife. Among the lodgers is a misery elderly woman, Miss Lummus, who hoards her money in the house. When she is murdered, Dyson is charged with the crime.

1959 British television version

A version aired 3 March 1959 as part of British television series ITV Play of the Week. The adaptation was by John McKeller. This version is believed to be lost.^[1]

1959 Australian television version

A television version aired 21 May 1959 on Australian broadcaster ABC. This version aired live in Melbourne,^[4] and was kinescoped for interstate broadcasts. It is not known if the kinescope still exists.

It was made when Australian drama was very rare.^[5] It starred Bryce Archer who was in the film Smiley Gets a Gun.^[6]

Cast

• Bruce Archer as Alfie, Miss Lummus' adoptive son
• Kenneth Goodlet as Frederick Dyson
• Elizabeth Wing as Mrs Dyson
• Moira Carlicion as Miss Lummus
• Bettina Kauffman
• Edward Howell
• Campbell Copelin
• Lewis Tegart
• Carol Armstrong

Reception

The TV critic for the Sydney Morning Herald thought that the "potential dramatic richness" of the play "was not fully exploited" because the director "had little time—or space—to create the atmosphere which can come much more easily to a stage director". However he did think the production "was, without any startling virtues, nevertheless a satisfactory piece of domestic entertainment.^[7]

1963 Australia radio version

A radio version aired 15 December 1963 on Melbourne Australia radio station LO.^[8]

1963 Australian television version

An Australian television version aired 1963 on ABC.^[10][11]

Cast

• Ron Haddrick as Frederick Dyson
• Marion Johns as Mrs Dyson
• Lyndall Barbour as dead woman
• Thelma Scott as Henrietta Spicer
• Walter Sullivan as Arthur Lovecraft QC
• Tom Farley as Dyson's Father