Broadcast: Thursday, 7th September, 1967
Character: Konrad von Kroll
Some Background
‘Love Story’ was a series of 60-minute television plays that were produced by Associated Television (ATV) in the UK and aired on the Independent Television Network (ITV) between 1963 and 1974. There were 128 episodes made.
The Story
Above: Peter as Konrad von Kroll with June Barry as Lisa
Robert Mueller’s ‘It’s A Long Way To Transylvania’ featured a splendid and immensely stylish performance by Peter Wyngarde as Konrad von Kroll, an aged former screen vampire making a personal appearance at a small town cinema. Lisa (June Barry) attending a diminutive press conference after the unremarkable event was soon swooning over the antique horror star, with his still hypnotic gaze and his reminisces of Boris Karloff and Bella Legosi in the days when even blood was richer.
While the play dragged a little in the middle but revived towards the end, which came when the the elderly actor has a fatal heart attack while chasing his young admirer through the damp woods of an imaginary Transylvania.
This was quite an original piece and a perfect vehicle for Peter’s sinister brand of charm.
| Notes: ‘It’s A Long Way To Transylvania’ was written by former newspaper journalist, Robert Mueller, who also penned ‘Night Conspirators’ – a play in which Peter starred both on TV and the stage. The ‘Love Story’ episode was one of Peter’s personal favourites. He did, however, feel that he was too young at the time that the play was recorded and had hoped that it might one day be remade with him in the lead. |
PETER WYNGARDE: The Official Website 