Adapted from the short story Monsieur Parent by Guy de Maupassant, Act of Separation is a period piece that explores the disintegration of a marriage through suspicion and betrayal. Jack Watling plays Henri Parent, a man whose quiet life is upended when his housekeeper, played by Gwen Nelson, makes pointed remarks regarding his wife’s loyalty. This friction leads Henri to dismiss the servant, yet the seeds of doubt regarding Henrietta remain planted.
The production is a notable example of early seventies television drama that has largely slipped from public memory. It features Keith Bell, brother of Tom Bell, as Paul Limousin, and writer Ilona Ference also appears in a supporting role. The narrative focuses on the internal struggle of a husband forced to look at his domestic situation with fresh eyes. This standalone broadcast captures the specific social tensions of its era while remaining faithful to the source material. It highlights the fragile nature of trust within a household where gossip and secrets threaten the established order of the family unit.
Production Details
UK / ITV Network – London Weekend Television / 1x60 minute Episode / Broadcast 9 August 1970
Writer: Ilona Ference
Story: Guy de Maupassant
Production Design: Don Fisher
Music: Richard Roderick Jones
Executive Producer: Cecil Clarke
Director: Anthony Kearey
Main Cast
Jack Watling as Henri Parent
Lisa Daniely as Henrietta
Keith Bell as Paul Limousin
Gwen Nelson as Julie
Erik Chitty as Maitre Gaspard
Jill Richards as Marie
Illona Ference as Mme Zoe
Gabrielle Blunt as Mme Germaine
Michael McEvoy as George (17)
Nicholas Kearey as George (10)
Justin Toot as George (5)
Edward Deemer as Alphonse
