australian television information archive

The Balanced Particle Freeway

Debut: 1997
Produced by Rosenbaum Whitbread Film & Television Productions
Executive Producers: Zelda Rosenbaum, Oscar Whitbread
Director: Paul Maloney
Writer: Carol Wilkinson

Welcome to the far-famed and most reliable Balanced Particle Freeway, a magical adventure that can take you anywhere in the world in no time at all! That's what the dragon Mizuchi tells Lili and Bede when he unexpectedly crash lands in their backyard. The children discover that there is an entrance to the Balanced Particle Freeway just outside their back gate and it catapults them from school holiday boredom into high adventure. (90 min)

Cast: Molly McCaffrey, Damien Bodie, Trudy Hellier, Doug Bowles, Peter Hosking, Sheryl Munks, Anne Phelan, John Flaus, Hamish Hughes, Abbe Holmes

The Devil Game (aka Inferno)

Debut: 1997
Produced by Barron Television Ltd
Executive Producers: Paul Barron
Producers: Paul Barron, Julie Monton
Director: Michael Carson
Writers: Julie Monton, Michael Carson

Frankie Smith is an undercover cop, a very good one. Still, Frankie spends so much of her life being someone else that the one person she hardly knows is herself. When Frankie goes in for a new brief, she is taken aback to find they want someone to go undercover into her sister's home town. Not only haven't they talked in eight years, heroin is being brought in by the local trawlers and Frankie's brother-in-law is a suspect. (90 min)

Cast: Jacqueline McKenzie, Guy Pearce, Andy Anderson, Asher Keddie, Martin Lynes, Sandy Winton

Fable

Debut: 1997
Producers: Bill Hughes, Susan Haworth
Director: Malcolm McDonald
Writer: Ian Coughlan

The life of Henry Fable changes dramatically when he comes into contact with the forces of chance and destiny. (88 min)

Cast: Simon Westaway, Melissa George, Marta Dusseldorp, David Franklin, Peter Hardy, Chris Haywood, Richard Piper, Paul Sonkkila

Kangaroo Palace

Debut: Sunday, May 25, 1997
Executive Producers: Rebecca Gibney, Andrew Knight, and Steve Vizard
Producer: Ewan Burnett
Written and created by: Deborah Cox and Andrew Knight
Directed by: Robert Marchand

Kangaroo Palace is a compelling Australian drama with an all-star cast as the story is told of four Australians who leave their birth country for the home of The Beatles, the fashion industry, drugs and night clubs. In London, they confront sex, destiny, love, failure and success. It is 1966 and Catherine Macaleese (Jacqueline McKenzie) is counting the days till she meets her father, a distant childhood memory, and starts a new life with him in England. Heather Randall (Rebecca Gibney) is Catherine's cousin and closest friend who puts her marriage plans on hold to travel on the Oriana. Richard Turner (John Polson), an aspiring journalist, decides to try his luck on Fleet Street, and promises his fiancée, Sandy, that he will return in a few months. Jack Gill (Jeremy Sims), heading along a path of self-destruction, embarks on the journey at the last minute. On board, Jack disappears with the group's money and the trio arrive penniless. The only contact they have is a friend of Jack's, the mysterious Terence Foster-Burrows (Jonathan Firth). He shows little surprise for their predicament and offers them rooms in the Palace.

Cast: Jacqueline McKenzie, John Polson, Rebecca Gibney, Jeremy Sims, Jonathan Firth, Jerome Ehlers, Josephine Byrnes, Alison Whyte

Available on DVD from Chaos.com

The Last of the Ryans

Debut: Wednesday, April 23, 1997 (Nine)
Executive Producers: Bruce Gordon, David Rouse
Producer: Richard Brennan
Director: George Ogilvie
Writer: Graeme Farmer

In February 1967, Ronald Ryan was hanged for the murder of Prison Warder George Hodson, shot while Ryan was attempting to escape from Pentridge Prison. The jury found Ryan guilty after a controversial trial, despite Philip Opas QC passionately arguing his clients innocence. The mandatory penalty for murder was death, but since the previous 35 death penalties had been routinely commuted, no one believed Ryan would hang. The Premier, Henry Bolte, saw the case as a contest of wills and brushed aside all appeals and petitions, including one signed by seven of the jurors who sat on the Ryan case. Based on meticulous research, The Last Of The Ryans tells the true story of Ronald Ryan - about his wife Dorothy, and their three young daughters; his friendship with Prison Governor Ian Grindlay, the man who had to hang him; and his conversion by Father Brosnan who so convinced Ryan that redemption was real that Ryan went to the gallows in expectation. (95 min)

Cast: Richard Roxburgh (Ronald Ryan), Zoe Bertram (Dorothy Ryan), Tom Long (Peter Walker), Paul Sonkkila (Governor Grindley), Tony Barry (Father Brosnan), Ian Mune (Henry Bolte), Douglas Hedge (Philip Opas), Julie Herbert (Celia Ryan)

One Way Ticket

Debut: 1997
Executive Producers: Andrew Brooke, Kris Noble
Producer: Ian Bradley
Director: Richard Franklin
Writers: Michael Brindley, Karin Altmann

Deborah Carter (Rachel Blakely) a married prison officer, is seduced by convicted criminal Mick Webb (Peter Phelps), and persuaded to help him, and his friend Bertie Freeman, to escape. Inspired by real events in the life of prison officer Heather Parker who assisted in the escape of Peter Gibb and Archie Butterly. (120 min)

Cast: Rachel Blakely, Peter Phelps, Chris Haywood, Jane Hall, Joseph Spano, Russell Fletcher, Doug Bowles, Frank Gallacher, Terry Gill, Dennis Miller, Richard Moir

Reprisal

Debut: 1997
Produced by JNP Movietel Pty Limited
Producers: James Davern, Ray Alchin
Director: Robert Marchand
Writer: Peter Yeldham

Sixteen years after returning home, three disillusioned Australian Vietnam conscripts use their army skills to plan and execute the country's biggest bank robbery. And they get away with it. Seven years pass and a petty criminal convicted as the driver in the heist is released from gaol. When his body is fished out of the harbour the grim murder reignites the case. (93 min)

Cast: Peter Phelps, John Stanton, Steve Jacobs, Sonia Todd, Clodagh Crowe, Daniel Rigney, David Franklin, Georgie Parker, Peter Fisher, Shane Withington, Mouche Phillips, Pat Bishop

Simone de Beauvoir's Babies

Debut: 1997
Executive Producers: Stephen Vizard, Andrew Knight, Jackie O'Sullivan, Sue Masters
Producers: Denise Patience, Deborah Cox, Andrew Knight
Director: Kate Woods
Writer: Deborah Cox

After a twenty year school reunion, a group of partnerless women decide to re-evoke the solidarity of their teenage years and make a pack to procreate—en masse. Not everyone gets a baby but everyone wins a prize. For some it's creative commitment for others it's true love. (4 x 60 min)

Cast: Sonia Todd (Karla), Anne Looby (Louise), Sally Cooper (Sue), Leverne McDonnell (Dianne), Phillip Gordon (Spud), David Wenham (Ian), Philip Holder (Charles), Jacek Koman (Ryko)

Available on DVD from Chaos.com

Without Warning

Debut: 1997
Produced by JNP Movietel Pty Limited
Executive Producers: Kris Noble, James Davern
Producer: Ray Alchin
Director: Catherine Millar
Writer: Peter Yeldham

It was an ordinary day when successful film producer, Megan Turner, and her director husband, David, were flagged down by a goodlooking highway patrol officer who seemed friendly. WITHOUT WARNING is the story of sexual pursuit and intimidation that almost destroys the Turner's marriage and, in the end, leads to violence and murder. (93 min)

Cast: Steve Bastoni, Arky Whitely, Kym Wilson