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Film Details - Fauna Productions ; Seven Network , 1972-1973
Producers:
John McCallum (Producer)
Joy Cavill (Associate Producer)
Bob Austin (Executive Producer)
Lee Robinson (Executive Producer)
Production Companies:
Norfolk International
Fauna Productions
Finance Organisations:
Australian Film Development Corporation
ZDF Television (Germany)
Seven Network (Australia)
Global Television (UK)
Production Designers:
Bernard Hides (Art Director)
Composer:
Sven Libaek
Cast:
Recurring cast/characters incl. James Laurenson (Detective Inspector Bonaparte - 26 episodes), Kate Fitzpatrick (Constable Alice McGorr - 13 episodes, 1973), David Gulpilil (Balinga - 4 episodes, 1972-1973), Ken Goodlet (Inspector Walters - 3 episodes, 1972-1973), Deryck Barnes (Sgt Colin Harvey - 3 episodes, 1973), Jeanie Drynan (Isobel Matthews - 2 episodes, 1972-1973), Tom Farley (Ben Wickham - 2 episodes, 1972-1973), Serge Lazareff (Dick Lake - 2 episodes, 1972-1973), John McCallum (Alistair Bell - 2 episodes, 1972-1973), Christine McClure (Flora McDonald - 2 episodes, 1972-1973), Lex Mitchell (Jacko - 2 episodes, 1972-1973), Judy Morris (Jill Madden - 2 episodes, 1972-1973), Graham Rouse (Jim - 2 episodes, 1972-1973), Alfred Sandor (Lund - 2 episodes, 1972-1973), Nick Tate (Sgt Peter Irwin - 2 episodes, 1972-1973), Brian Wenzel (Sgt Cox - 2 episodes, 1972-1973), Bindi Williams (Harry Jones - 2 episodes, 1972-1973), Googie Withers (Diana Thompson - 2 episodes, 1972-1973), Edward Ogden (Ed Wessex - 2 episodes, 1972), Anne Haddy (Mary Parker - 2 episodes, 1973), Ric Hutton (Norman Lacey - 2 episodes, 1973), Jack Thompson (Jack - 2 episodes, 1973). See individual episodes for further cast details.
Release Dates:
Episode 1, 'Boney in Venom House,' first telecast in Melbourne on 17 August 1972, Sydney on 24 August 1972, and Canberra on 29 August 1972. Not telecast in Brisbane until 17 November 1972.
Location:
- Film locations included Flinders Ranges, Gulnare, Port Pirie and Wilpena Pound (South Australia).
Awards:
- Logie Awards (1972) : Best Individual Acting Performance - James Laurenson, for Episode 3, 'Boney and the Daybreak Killer' (winner)
- Penguin Awards (1972) Leading Talent in a Drama - James Laurenson (winner)
Notes:
1. Produced by Norfolk International for Fauna Productions and broadcast on the Seven Network. A start-up grant was received from the Australian Film Development Corporation, and the remaining 90% of the finance was raised between the Seven Network (Australia), Global Television (UK), and ZDF Television (Germany). Investment from the United States was ruled out due to a number of onerous conditions being demanded, one of which was to have the lead character played as Caucasian. The budget for each episode was $60,000 (comparatively large for that period), and the episodes were produced in colour and on film. International sales and distribution were arranged before production commenced.
2. Series writing credits: Eric Paice (6 episodes), Tony Morphett (5 episodes), Joy Cavill (3 episodes), Ted Roberts (2 episodes), Peter Yeldham (2 episodes), Ted Willis (2 episodes), Frank Hardy (1 episode), Bob Ellis (1 episode), Ross Napier (1 episode), Joyce Belfrage (1 episode), Bruce Stewart (1 episode), Arthur Young (1 episode).
3. Script Editor: Eric Paice.
4. A documentary titled A Man Called Boney was produced by ATN-7 and telecast (only in Sydney) the week before the programme premiered in that city. The 45-minute film focuses on the cast and crew as they made the series in outback Australia. It also features preview scenes from the series and interviews with producers John McCallum and Lee Robinson (who discuss aspects of Arthur Upfield's novels and the production itself). James Laurenson also examines the character of Boney.
