australian television information archive

3 Acts of Murder

Aired: Sunday, June 14, 2009 (ABC1)
Ratings: 0.975 million viewers (12th)
Producer: Sue Taylor
Director: Rowan Woods
Writer: Ian David

Just because you give someone the idea for a murder, does that make you responsible for the crime? Crime writer Arthur Upfield (Robert Menzies) believed he was looking for the perfect plot. But when his friend Snowy Rowles (Luke Ford), used the same idea to murder three men, Upfield is forced to confront his own role in their deaths. Set in the early years of the Great Depression, this is the true story of two men whose chance conversation takes their lives down very different paths. Arthur Upfield went on to become one of Australia's most successful crime writers, profiting from the publicity of the murder trial. Snowy Rowles was found guilty and executed at the age of 26.

Starring: Robert Menzies, Luke Ford, Nicholas Hope, Anni Finsterer, Bille Brown, Emma Booth, Bill McCluskey

Links: Official site

False Witness

Aired: January 11 & 12, 2009 (UKTV)
Filmed: May 12 - June 27, 2008
Produced by Screentime Pty Ltd
Executive producers: Des Monaghan, Brendan Dahill, Justin Bodle, Tony Iffland
Producers: Greg Haddrick, Peter Andrikidis
Director: Peter Andrikidis
Writer: Peter Gawler

British diplomat Ian Porter is apprehended at Heathrow airport in possession of 20 kilos of heroin. Porter's unwillingness to co-operate leaves Scotland Yard Inspector Julie Hales believing he is doing business with Russian arms and drugs trafficker Sergei Krousov.
Unaware that Krousov has intentions to sell a suitcase bomb, Scotland Yard offers to cut Porter a deal to turn on Krousov. In return, they'll grant him immunity from prosecution and entry into their International Witness Protection Scheme.
Chief Inspector Hales accompanies Porter and his wife Pippa to Sydney, where chameleon Porter believes his handler at MI6 can manipulate the Australian Federal Police protection team to allow him to complete his mission.
Australian Federal Police agent Mark Wilson and Hales have no idea of Porter's MI6 links, so when their security is stunningly breached all hell breaks loose.

Starring: Dougray Scott, Rachael Blake, Jeremy Lindsay Taylor, Richard Roxburgh, Claire Forlani, Don Hany, Elan Zavelsky, Jonny Pasvolsky, Tony Martin, Socratis Otto, Stephen Curry, Alex Manglet, Shane Briant, Costa Ronin, Alin Sumarwata, Chris Haywood, Doris Younane

A Model Daughter - The Killing Of Caroline Byrne

Aired: Wed, November 04, 2009 (Ten)
Ratings: 1.059 million viewers (12th)
Produced by Screentime Pty Ltd
Executive Producers: Des Monaghan, Greg Haddrick, Rick Maier
Producer: Karl Zwicky
Writer: Peter Gawler
Director: Tony Tilse

In 1995 model Caroline Byrne's body was recovered from the Gap in Sydney: did she jump or was she pushed? A true-crime story from the makers of Underbelly. Based on Robert Wainwright's book The Killing Of Caroline Byrne: A Journey to Justice

Starring: Garry McDonald as Tony Byrne, David Lyons as Gordon Wood, Cariba Heine as Caroline Byrne, Tiriel Mora as Rene Rivkin, Gyton Grantley as Andrew Blanchette, Heather Mitchell as June Dally-Watkins, Terry Serio as Paul Jacob, Lewis Fitz-Gerald as Gary Jubelin, Indiana Evans as Kylie Watson, Sarah Chadwick as Andrea Byrne, Dieter Brummer as Sgt Mark Powderly, Benn Welford as Const. Craig Woods, Brandon Burke as Brian Wyver, Bill Young as Rod Cross, Rel Hunt as Peter Byrne, et al

Saved

Aired: Sunday, April 12, 2009 (SBS)
Ratings: 164, 000
Produced by Big and Little Films
Prodrucers: Michael McMahon, Tony Ayres and Belinda Chayko
Director: Tony Ayres
Writer: Belinda Chayko

Julia is a young mother trying to come to terms with the loss of her newborn to SIDS. While her husband Peter throws himself into work to cope with the tragedy, Julia becomes more despairing and isolated from the world around her. Recognising that she needs a distraction, her sister-in-law suggests that Julia accompany her to the Detention Centre where she volunteers as an advocate for detainees. Julia reluctantly accepts the offer, and while there, meets Amir Farshchi, a young Iranian asylum seeker. Amir claims to be a student persecuted by the Iranian authorities, but the Department of Immigration disputes his identity. Amir is severely depressed, suicidal and close to deportation. Julia is immediately drawn to his vulnerability and throws herself obsessively into his case - much to the disapproval of her in-laws and husband Peter, whose tolerance is tested by the growing closeness between the young detainee and his wife.

Starring: Claudia Karvan, Osamah Sami, Andy Rodoreda, Beverley Dunn, Neil Melville, Sue Jones