Adventures Of Marco Polo – Details, episodes & analysis

Produced in Australia and first broadcast in 1940, "The Adventures of Marco Polo" was a 52-episode two-a-week series created by George Edwards, a well-known figure in Australian radio. Already recognized for a series of successful multi-episode literary adaptations ("The Corsican Brothers", "Frankenstein"), the series was based on the original book and adapted for radio by Maurice Francis. Produced by and starring Edwards, along with his actress-wife Nell Stirling and Tom Farley, Warren Barry, and Eric Scott, the serial captured the attention of listeners thanks to a highly charged dramatic narrative that emphasized action over dialogue. Featuring a score combining original compositions with well-known classical pieces, the series garnered excellent notices - as can be demonstrated by this review in the newspaper "Listen In", published in March 1940:

"The continuity has been written with a sparsity of dialogue and rapidity of action, suited to the episodic nature of the presentation. As a result one is always left with the impression of intriguing happenings just ahead. This rapidity of tempo, combined with the element of mounting suspense, suggests that the serial will retain its grip on listener interest."

Indeed it did. Research shows that the syndicated series was repeated many times throughout the 1940's and 1950's on Australian radio and also well-received in overseas markets, where it was distributed on 16" vinyl transcriptions.