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Patrick Hamilton: Rope, Gaslight, Hangover Square and More

By: Patrick Hamilton
Narrated by: Alan Rickman, Amanda Redman, David Thorpe, John Moffatt, Geoffrey Whitehead, Annette Badland, Nicholas Farrell, Michael Kilgarriff, Steven Pacey, Adam Bareham, Barbara Jefford, full cast
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Summary

A collection of thrilling radio dramas from the celebrated novelist and playwright

Patrick Hamilton is renowned for his gritty, slice-of-life tales chronicling the hopes, dreams and obsessions of London's working class in the inter-war years. This collection brings together his key pieces, together with some lesser-known classics and a bonus 2004 documentary exploring his achievements and legacy.

Hangover Square - Earl's Court, 1939. With war looming, everyone is frantically pursuing a good time. But when composer George Bone becomes obsessed with beautiful, fast-living actress Netta, murder and madness ensue... This brooding adaptation of Patrick Hamilton's masterpiece stars Nicholas Farrell and Amanda Redman.

Rope - Believing they have committed the perfect murder, two students throw a macabre dinner party, where the guests include the victim's father. Will anyone see through their terrible vanity? Alan Rickman and Adam Baring star in this electrifying drama, famously adapted as an Alfred Hitchcock film.

Gaslight - A husband commits to driving his wealthy young wife insane in order to steal from her in this psychological drama which originated the term 'gaslighting'. Starring Barbara Jefford and Michael Kilgarriff.

Twenty Thousand Streets Under the Sky - Patrick Hamilton's semi-autobiographical trilogy tells a story of unrequited love amid the hardship of 1920s London, and comprises The Midnight Bell, The Siege of Pleasure and The Plains of Cement. Steven Pacey, Annette Badland, John Moffatt and Emily Morgan star.

The Governess - Ethel Fry takes a position as a governess in the Drew household, but when the family discovers their baby son has been abducted, the entire house is thrown under suspicion. Starring Margaret Wolfit and Helen Worth

To The Public Danger - A young couple fall into the company of two reckless motorists, whose drunk-driving has fatal consequences. Ivan Samson and Arthur Young star.

The Duke in Darkness - Set in the Chateau Lamorre during the 16th-century French Civil Wars, this stirring tale of imprisonment and escape stars Alec Clunes and John Moffatt.

A Portrait in Black - Biographer Nigel Jones celebrates the centenary of Hamilton's birth and his skill at conjuring up a lost world of seedy boarding-houses, third-class railway compartments, dance halls and fleapit cinemas.

Text copyright © Patrick Hamilton 1929 (Rope), 1935 (Twenty Thousand Streets Under the Sky), 1938 (Gas Light), 1939 (To the Public Danger), 1941 (Hangover Square), 1943 (The Duke in Darkness), 1946 (The Governess)

Cast and credits

Written by Patrick Hamilton

Hangover Square

Rope

Gaslight

Twenty Thousand Streets Under the Sky

The Governess

To The Public Danger

The Duke in Darkness

Extra Content:

A Portrait in Black

©2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd
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Critic reviews

'If you were looking to fly from Dickens to Martin Amis with just one overnight stop, then Hamilton is your man' Nick Hornby

What listeners say about Patrick Hamilton: Rope, Gaslight, Hangover Square and More

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Brilliant collection

An excellent collection of dramatisations by the BBC of the works of Patrick Hamilton. The quality writing, and interesting gritty stories, make it a great listen. The well known drama's Rope and Hangover Square are brilliant, but Twenty Thousand Streets Under the Sky is a gem..

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Really good

Excellent dramas. Some stories have been made into films so I knew how they went. Others not so well known. An easy listen perfect for dog walking. Well acted and worth a credit.

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Brilliant...absolutely brilliant

The final play, Duke in Darkness was not to my taste but the rest of the plays were excellent.

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Stunning. Wowed.

I knew the stories Gaslight and Rope. But twenty Thousand is the masterpiece and heart wrenchingly good. Worth three credits and yet only one used. Stunning. Thanks Audible for bringing me this gem

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Beware the five star reviews

I am getting sick and tired of being lured into buying audio books based on rave 5 star reviews.
Absolutely awful.

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Sorry!

I hated it: there is such a thing as a Dynamic - this was delivered by ‘posh’ people shouting AT THE TOPS OF THEIR VOICES!
Rickman does his best, but the whole thing is a waste of time & money
I was intrigued, as a local artist mounted an entire installation dedicated to the Author:
I couldn’t even finish ‘Gaslight’, so trite was the delivery (reminiscent of BBC Announcers dressing as if for dinner….to read the 9 o’clock news)
Misguided & instantly forgettable

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