Trial by Jury TV Movie 1974 - Gilbert and Sullivan

Cast
The Learned Judge Eric Shilling
The Plaintiff Norma Burrowes
The Defendant John Brecknock
Counsel for the Plaintiff Denis Dowling
Usher Harold Blackburn
Foreman of the Jury Lehmann Bedford
Ambrosian Opera Chorus
English Chamber Orchestra
Designer: Peter Phillips
Director: Peter Potter
Conductor: Charles Mackerras
Broadcast on Granada Television
24 December 1974

[@pollywaffledoodah3057]

This was brilliantly done - such a hoot! The usher had such a deep, rich bass baritone - as did the judge, and the barrister. So mellow and majestic! The melodic, jaunty tenor of the caddish defendant was a joy to listen to. How I love to see the pomposity of the law lampooned like this! Really rather radical for 1875 - mid-Victorian, buttoned-up Britain.

[@francisfischer7620]

Oh my goodness! I've loved Trial by Jury since I was a child. (now 70). This is the most stupendous production I've ever seen!! Bravo!

[@moraynichol]

A superb production - with Charles Mackerras and those performers it has to be great. Thank you for posting this.

[@philipleather3496]

Excellent...and you can hear every word!!!!!!!

[@tonybethparkes2864]

This is truly amazing... one of the best "Trials" I've ever seen. Thanks for sharing the video! This is the way G&S should be done, with singing and acting given equal weight. The voices are operatic quality, but the words are crystal clear. I wish every G&S show had been recorded at this level. (The so-called Brent Walker series of the 1980s was extremely variable, from quite good to abysmal.) Charles Mackerras, of course, was a huge G&S advocate and one of the best conductors ever to tackle the operas. Denis Dowling, seen here as the Counsel, sang Pooh-Bah on the Sadler's Wells "Mikado" audio set (readily available on the secondhand market).

[@francisfischer7620]

Well said!

[@Tenortalker]

The cast is full of wonderful singers , many who are no longer with us. Just lovely Norma Burrowes who is left now and lives in Canada I believe. A fabulous production.

[@treesny]

I remember seeing Norma Burrowes as an absolutely delightful Blonde in Mozart's Abduction from the Seraglio in Giorgio Strehler's legendary production at the Saltzburg Festival in the 1970s.

[@wurlitzer895]

What a fabulous performance! Full of joyous humour and sung with verve and real enthusiasm. Sullivan's score is second to none, with melody and pastiche combined to superb effect and Gilbert's lyrics are utter genius. This must surely be a benchmark performance. On a tangent, I agree largely with tonybethparkes' assessment of the 'Brent Walker' series. Some of that series were dire thanks to serious miscastings, whereas others I found to be compelling. But I thoroughly enjoyed this last half hour or so!! Best wishes to you all - and many thanks indeed to the uploader of this video.

[@michaelblanc2912]

I was in this production in college i wasn't in the chorus but the janitor

[@commandert5]

Probably the best Jury out there altogether, and so little known

[@peteroloughlin3226]

Brings back wonderful memories… I was a jury man in our high school production in 1974 in Sydney, Australia

[@Renenko]

Back before Australians gave up their guns

[@pauloxborrow5523]

Just joyful -a delight

[@SteveBilokin]

brings back memories of when I played the judge role back in 1984. Always my fave G and S

[@danilo22uk]

I know where you got this from LOL

[@MrTonyHeath]

visually: 7/10 but the sound is about 3/0.