Secret Service

Secret Service is a play by W. Gilette (1853–1937) [1]

The original text

Set in the American Civil War drama telling of the happenings of a night in Richmond in the spring of 1865.

Translations and adaptations

In 1912 what is today known as a "novelization" of the play was done by Cyrus Townsend Brady under the title Secret Service. Being the happenings of a night in Richmond in the spring of 1865, and published as the work of both authors.

The play was also twice filmed (both times as Secret Service): In 1919 produced by Famous Players-Lasky and directed by Hugh Ford, as a silent film starring Robert Warwick, and distributed by Paramount Pictures.[2]

In 1931 it was remade as a talking picture by RKO in 1931, once more with Warwick in the leading role, now directed by J. Walter Ruben to a script by Bernard Schubert, and released on November 14, 1931, by RKO Pictures.[3]

Performance history in South Africa

1898: Performed in middle of the year in South Africa by a company under the management of the Wheeler Brothers, as part of a repertoire that also included The Tree of Knowledge (Carton), A Marriage of Convenience (Dumas/Grundy) and My Friend, The Prince (McCarthy). The company included George Hippisley, Wilton Heriot, Jessie Bateman, Mabel Lane and Sallie Booth.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secret_Service_(1919_film)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secret_Service_(1931_film)

D.C. Boonzaier, 1923. "My playgoing days – 30 years in the history of the Cape Town stage", in SA Review, 9 March and 24 August 1932. (Reprinted in Bosman 1980: pp. 374-439.)

F.C.L. Bosman. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1912. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: p.406

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