The Skin of Our Teeth (film)

The Skin of Our Teeth is a 1959 Australian television play based on the play by Thorton Wilder. It starred John Ewart.

Premise
The story of life on Earth as lived by Mr and Mrs Antrobus, and their two children - and their maid, Sabina.

Cast

 * John Ewart as Henry
 * Leonard Teale as Mr Antrobus/Mr Everyman
 * Aileen Britton as Mrs Antrobus/Mrs Everyman
 * Diana Davidson as Sabina the maid
 * Beryl Marshall as Gladys
 * Robert Hunt as Fortune Teller
 * Nick Tate as Telegraph Boy

Production
The film was directed by Alan Burke who had directed a production of Skin of Our Teeth on stage in Canberra in 1953 and had spent a day talking to Wilder in the US at the latter's New Haven home. Burke had met him through a letter of introduction while on a UNESCO scholarship. Burke considered the meeting with Wilder one of the most important of his life.

"He is the most knowledgeable man I've ever met," said Burke. "He is a great humanist and has great faith in mankind."

Two sets were used, one for the Antrobus house the other for Atlantic City boardwalk.

Reception
Burke said although the play had "tiny ratings... it represented the big break-through in the production of television plays."