Hi,
I’ve got another batch of Snappys today. I’ve spoken about this show before; for years it was my grail, something I had heard about and missed and was desperate to find. It’s the “Miss Belle” episode from the British television series, “Journey to the Unknown.” When the series started in September of 1968 I watched it each week. Back then I also went to the theater. When the theater season started I would go through the new plays and decide what I wanted to see and order tickets. Consequently on Thursday October 24, 1968, I found myself at the theater seeing “Her First Roman” with Richard Kiley and Leslie Uggams, a musical version of Caesar and Cleopatra. Ironically I remember that it was a rainy night and my Mother tried to talk me out of going but I was determined. Imagine my dismay when the next day I was reading the newspaper and there was an article discussing Miss Belle. Not a complimentary one either as I remember, the reviewer clearly thought it was a sick concept and this seemed to be the general response. The series ran on US television only the once with no repeats and I don’t believe it was repeated in the UK either. After reading the review I got out the TV Guide and this was the blurb I read:
“Miss Belle,” a psychological drama of repression. For seven years spinster Belle Weston has devoted her life to raising her sister’s child. Belle is determined the youngster will be a proper young lady—despite the fact that “Roberta” is a boy.
Be still my beating heart!
Belle was played by Barbara Jefford, Roberta by Kim Burfield and Drake, who tries to save Roberta, or Bobby as he calls him, was played by George Maharis. Kim made only a few other appearances and then appears to have left the profession. “Miss Belle” is based on a short story by Charles Beaumont, “Miss Gentilbelle” that appeared in a collection of his short stories, “The Hunger and other Stories. “I have heard rumors espoused that he based it on an incident in his early life. It was made into a short under that title by Tara Miele in 2000. A version of it was also filmed in 1961 under the title Ursula.
It took me years of searching before I found a 16mm version which I had transferred to VHS. The film had a red tint to it which you’ll notice in the clips. Anyone who can manipulate them into a better quality please feel free. I’ve only seen an occasional clip on the web but the episode is now on YouTube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTsm6jC24Hk So, hope you enjoy Miss Belle as much I did.
Andy G
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Topic: Favorite TV Show Crossdressing (Read 88221 times)
