TV Freak Scott Goodings is crazy about TV. Scott's first TV memory is an
episode of "Matlock Police" called "A Piece Of Cake". His first experience of
the medium in colour was seeing a Hector The Cat road safety commercial through
the window of the CBA bank in Cheltenham in 1975. Catch his regular reviews at
Quickflix
.
Australian Mini-Series
In the mid 70s, America started exporting their latest television genre to the
world – the miniseries. Shows like “Rich Man, Poor Man”, the African-American
saga “Roots”, and the epic “Holocaust” began flooding world markets. Pretty
soon Australians were bombarded by local networks making miniseries of their
own. There was the occasional touch of melodrama in “Return to Eden” and
“Flair”, book adaptations like “A Fortunate Life”, “A Town Like Alice” and “My
Brother Tom”, but for the most part it was the historical “Eureka Stockade”,
“Cyclone Tracy”, the Ashes “Bodyline”, “The Anzacs”, “The Cowra Breakout”,
“Changi” etc etc….. Check out these Australian epics.
- Scott
Seven Little Australians (1973)
Check out the opening episode on
Seven Little Australians (1973)
In between his iconic role as Detective Sergeant Mackay in “Homicide” and
headmaster Charles Ogilvy in swinging 70’s teen school drama “Class of ’74”,
Leonard Teale donned the Victorian uniform of Captain John Wolcott and played
the stuffy and strict 1880’s father of seven tearaway kids. By the time it
first aired I’d read the classic Ethel Turner novel on which the miniseries was
based. I think I laughed when Bunty (Mark Shields-Brown) finally got busted
after hitting the Captain’s horse with a cricket ball making it lame, and I
think I may have even cried when the tree fell … oops, can’t give away the sad
ending. Of the child stars, Barbara Llewellyn as Meg went on to be John
Hargreaves’ veterinary assistant in “Young Ramsay”, and Anna Hruby as Nell
ended up as tragic Paddy Lawson in “Prisoner”, drowned head first in a
Wentworth Detention Centre sink by Nola McKenzie. You can also occasionally see
the “Seven Little Australians” young step-mum Esther (Elizabeth Alexander) as
Frank Campion’s (John Howard) cold-hearted wife in “All Saints”.
Power Without Glory (1976)
Check out the opening episode on
Power Without Glory (1976)
Almost thirty years after author Frank Hardy had been tried for criminal libel
for his novel “Power Without Glory”, the ABC finally got around to producing
its own twenty six hour adaptation of the fictional John West and his family.
Ignore what may appear by modern standards to be stilted sets, and instead
concentrate on the script and performances. This is the kind of glorious epic
television aficionados can only dream of the national broadcaster attempting
today. Of course Martin Vaughn is outstanding as the omnipresent West, but a
young John Wood and Michael Aitkens impressed so much as West’s offsiders Sugar
Renfrey and the doomed Piggy Lewis that the ABC gave them their own
contemporary drama “The Truckies” a few years later. Watch for “Cop Shop’s”
Constable Roy Baker (Gil Tucker) as boxer Lou Darby, Graeme Blundell as
gangster Snoopy Tanner, Graham Kennedy in one of his first dramatic outings as
crusading journo Clive Parker, and John Michael ‘Hollywood’ Howson as a fashion
designer.
Against The Wind (1978)
Check out the opening episode on
Against The Wind (1978)
Long before Mel Gibson’s anti-Sassenach ‘freedom’ rant in “Braveheart”, back in
the 70s former TV cop Gerard Kennedy (Detective Sergeant Frank Banner in
“Division 4”) was doing a fine line in blood curdling anti-English imperialist
tirades himself. As convict settler Dinny O’Byrne in “Against the Wind”, his
impassioned ‘Death or liberty!’ is a call to arms to his repressed comrades
urging them to strike back against corrupt officals. It’s a defining moment in
this historic miniseries set in the early 1800’s colony of New South Wales on
the verge of the Rum Rebellion. Starring as transported convict Jonathan
Garrett, singer Jon English went from typecast muso/druggie in Crawford’s cop
shows to front of “TV Week” heart-throb. Not only did he score the girl (Irish
actress Mary Larkin as Mary Mulvane), he got a hit record with the show’s theme
“Six Ribbons”.
The Last Outlaw (1980)
Check out the opening episode on
The Last Outlaw (1980)
Writers of ‘Against the Wind”, Ian Jones and Bronwyn Binns, again team up for
this take on the Ned Kelly legend produced to coincide with the centenary of
the hanging of Australia’s best known bushranger. Probably the definitive film
or television production on the Kelly legend so far - ahead of the much
maligned (generally by people who have never seen it) 1970 Mick Jagger vehicle
directed by Brit Tony Richardson, and the 2003 Gregor Jordan/Heath Ledger
‘kangaroo western’ - which isn’t surprising considering Jones is one of the
leading Kelly historians. John Jarratt does a decent Aussie Irish accent as
Ned, with Steve Bisley alongside as confidante Joe Byrne. Debra Lawrence (later
Pippa in “Home and Away”) plays eldest Kelly sister Maggie, while Sigrid
Thornton as young sister Kate still hadn’t escaped those quiet girl next door
roles of the late 70s.
The Dismissal (1983)
Check out the episode
The Dismissal (1983)
Max Phipps and Ruth Cracknell score the roles any lefty actors would give their
eye teeth for – playing Gough and Margaret Whitlam – in this Kennedy-Miller
dramatisation of the 1975 constitutional crisis that saw Governor-General Sir
John Kerr dismiss Prime Minister Whitlam. John Stanton does an impassive and
amoral Malcolm Fraser, with Robyn Nevin as an almost disappointingly clichéd
Lady Macbethish Lady Kerr. There are sympathetic portrayals of Sir John Kerr
(John Meillon), and scandalised Labor government ministers Jim Cairns (John
Hargreaves) and Rex Connor (Bill Hunter). Check out the almost pantomime feel
to Phipps’ Whitlam reaction to his sacking (‘the bastard’s sacked us’), while
getting down to his daily luncheon ritual.
Vietnam (1987)
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Vietnam (1987)
Dramatising the social impact of our involvement in the Vietnam War, another
Kennedy-Miller production was directed by John Duigan (shortly before “The Year
My Voice Broke”) and Chris Noonan (“Babe”, “Miss Potter”). Head of the Canberra
Goddard family Douglas (Barry Otto) is secretary to the PM; son Phil (Nicholas
Eadie) sees his conscription lottery number come up and is soon off to war;
while daughter Megan (Nicole Kidman) becomes a major figure in the anti-war
protest movement back home. Check out the harrowing climax to the opening
installment when Phil’s mate Ritchie (Brett Climo) is stuck on a mine that
explodes only once you step off it. Ritchie’s given the alternatives of
stepping off slowly and being killed, or attempting to jump clear and perhaps
survive minus some limbs. Brother and sister Phil and Megan have a reunion of
sorts near the end when she appears on a radio talkback show opposing the war -
only for her recently repatriated brother to phone in.
Scales of Justice (1983)
Check out the episode
Scales of Justice (1983)
The forerunner to 90s ABC crime dramas like “Blue Murder” and “Wildside”, it’s
no surprise to find Michael Jenkins directing what is effectively three
self-contained dramas linked by the central theme of corruption in an
Australian state police force. The first episode part sees Simon Burke (child
star of Fred Schepisi’s 1976 “The Devil’s Playground”) all grown up as the wide
eyed Constable Webber, fresh out of the academy, who discovers there’s no place
for whistle blowers in this police force. Webber attends a routine burglary
false alarm at a shop, but is stunned when he catches his superior Sergeant
O’Rourke (Bill Hunter) out the back shoving furs into the boot of their police
car. Webber feels compromised when he later finds one of the stolen items
stuffed in his locker, and is compelled to file a report. When called in to
explain his actions, he’s definitely not expecting to be thrown out of the
force and called ‘scum’ by his commanding officer. The scene involving the
unreasonable and dismissive transfer of a female constable to a country station
also chills. A great ensemble cast is rounded out by John Hargreaves, Nick Tate
(back from “Space 1999”), Max Cullen, John Meillon and the underrated Tony
Barry as Nipper Jackson.
The Great Bookie Robbery (1986)
Check out the episode
The Great Bookie Robbery (1986)
Anyone hanging out for “Underbelly”, the Nine Network miniseries about the 00’s
Melbourne gangland war currently in production should check out “The Great
Bookie Robbery”. It’s sad that in the halcyon days when Bondy ruled the waves,
one Kerry Packer miniseries recreating Australia securing the 1983 America’s
Cup, “The Challenge”, got lots of attention and promotion, while this gem was,
and generally remains, criminally ignored (pardon the pun). If you know
anything about the unsolved 1976 armed hold up of Melbourne’s Victoria Club,
where bookies settling up after the Easter carnival races were relieved of
between six and twelve million dollars (depending on who you talk to), and have
a fair knowledge of the 1970’s Melbourne underworld feuds, you’ll know who most
of the ‘fictional’ characters are meant to represent. John Bach and the late
Bruno Lawrence head up the armed gang, while the always sinister Paul Sonkkila
and Ray Meagher (a brilliant baddie before he settled down as Alf ‘flamin’
galah’ Stewart in “Home and Away”) are the rival Temple brothers. Look out for
the city of Melbourne looking as good as it did in its “Homicide” and
“Stingers” days, and Gary Files (who was playing Madge’s brother Tom in
“Neighbours” around the same time) as a dodgy used car salesman who loves
goldfish but ends up swimming with them.
Blue Murder (1995)
Check out the final
Blue Murder (1995)
This dramatic reconstruction of 1980s police corruption and the Sydney gangland
scene was not shown in NSW until 2001 – six years after it screened in the rest
of Australia – such was the concern it could influence ongoing court cases in
that state. In the meantime, pirated copies filtered across the border. Ian
David’s script is based on underworld figure Neddy Smith’s autobiography and
journalist Darren Goodsir’s book “In the Line of Fire”. Michael Jenkins’
(“Wildside”) signature documentary-style direction and use of actual locations
give a sense of authenticity, as do the performances of the two leads: Richard
Roxburgh as armed hold-up squad detective Roger Rogerson and Tony Martin as
Neddy Smith. Gary Sweet broke his good-guy mould of the time playing
out-of-control rent-a-kill Christopher Dale Flannery – mop-top wig and all.
Very graphic and violent, “Blue Murder” is brilliant crime genre television.
Bastard Boys (2007)
Check out the episode
Bastard Boys (2007)
“Bastard Boys” is the kind of political docu-drama the BBC churns out all the
time, with nary a whiff of comment from the governments of the day; which
brings us to the absurd criticism this dramatisation of the 1998 waterfront
industrial dispute at Melbourne’s Webb Dock between the MUA (Maritime Union of
Australia) and Patrick Stevedores received from the current Australian
government. Prime Minister Howard labelled it ‘lopsided political propaganda on
the national broadcaster’, while Senator Fierravanti-Wells called it a
‘pro-left agenda during an election year’. From the other side of the political
spectrum, former ACTU Secretary Bill Kelty was concerned scriptwriters had ‘put
words into their Kelty’s mouth that the original Kelty never said’ – yet surely
his outrage stemmed from the ludicrous wig actor Francis Greenslade donned for
his portrayal of Kelty. Brouhaha aside, “Bastard Boys” tells the story of the
dispute from four points of view; then ACTU Assistant Secretary Greg Combet,
lawyer Josh Bernstein, fictional dock worker Sean McSwain, and Patrick
Stevedores’ managing director Chris Corrigan. Standout performances come from
Jack Thompson as an old school unionist and Colin Friels as MUA National
Secretary John Coombs.
Scott's previous editorials...
-
Australian
Mini-Series August, 2007
-
TV on the
streets of your town July, 2007
-
TV's Winter
Wonderland June, 2007
-
Our Mums… on
TV May, 2007
-
TV’s April
Fools April, 2007
-
The Study of
Quickflix TV March, 2007
-
Valentine's
Day... it's a good day for a wedding February, 2007
-
A TV Tribute
to Cricket January, 2007
-
Animated
Villans February, 2006
-
Villans
January, 2006
-
TV Xmas
Treats December, 2005
-
The
Soundtrack to our Lives November, 2005
-
Vale Ronnie
Barker October, 2005
-
80's TV : A
beginner's guide September, 2005
-
TV's Greatest
Dads August, 2005