A Town Like Alice (miniseries)
A Town Like Alice | |
---|---|
Based on | novel by Nevil Shute |
Written by | Tom Hegarty Rosemary Anne Sisson |
Directed by | David Stevens |
Starring | Helen Morse Bryan Brown Gordon Jackson |
Theme music composer | Bruce Smeaton |
Country of origin | Australia |
Original language | English |
No. of episodes | 3 x 2 hours |
Production | |
Producer | Henry Crawford |
Running time | 301 mins |
Production companies | Mariner Films Australian Film Commission Victorian Film |
Budget | $1.25 million[1] |
Original release | |
Network | Seven Network |
Release | 12 July 1981 |
A Town Like Alice is a five-hour 1981 Australian television adaptation of Nevil Shute's novel of the same name. Produced by the Seven Network, and directed by David Stevens, it was the second major adaptation of the book.[2]
In the United States it was shown on PBS under the Masterpiece Theatre banner, a rare non-British production to be so aired.
Cast
- Helen Morse as Jean Paget
- Bryan Brown as Joe Harman
- Gordon Jackson as Noel Strachan
- Peter Kowitz as TAA pilot
- Arkie Whiteley as Annie
Production
It was the most expensive Australian television series at the time. It was filmed on location in England, Malaysia and western New South Wales.[3]
Reception
The series was a huge ratings success in Australia, getting a 49% viewing share.[4]
Awards
The series won an International Emmy Award for drama in 1981[5] and won a Logie Award in the Best Single Drama or Mini Series category at the 1982 awards with Morse, Brown and Jackson winning Logies for their performances.[6]
References
- ^ "The magic of Helen Morse". The Australian Women's Weekly. National Library of Australia. 18 June 1980. p. 10 Supplement: FREE your TV Magazine. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
- ^ Ed. Scott Murray, Australia on the Small Screen 1970-1995, Oxford Uni Press, 1996 p217
- ^ Stanley, Raymond (15 September 1979). "'Alice' to set TV landmark". Screen International. p. 9.
- ^ Sadlier, Kevin. "Death of the Australian mini-series". Sydney Sun Herald. p. 47.
- ^ "'Town Like Alice' Wins International Emmy". St Petersburg Times. 25 November 1981. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
- ^ "1982 – The Logie Awards". Yahoo!7. Archived from the original on 28 January 2015.
External links