Seven Little Australians (TV series)
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by Ethel Turner
| Seven Little Australians | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Drama |
| Based on | Seven Little Australians by Ethel Turner |
| Written by | Eleanor Witcombe |
| Directed by | Ron Way |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Original language | English |
| No. of episodes | 10 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Charles Russell |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Production companies | ABC Ethel Turner Productions Australian Film Development Corporation |
| Original release | |
| Network | ABC |
| Release | 26 August – 28 October 1973 |
Seven Little Australians is a ten-part Australian television series that aired on ABC Television in 1973.[1] The mini-series was based on Ethel Turner's best-selling novel, Seven Little Australians.[2][3][4]
The series was largely faithful to the book; differences include the fact that Judy was thin and waiflike in the book, she is more solidly built in the series. Meg's hair was long and dark, but in the book her hair is long and blonde.
Cast
- Major characters
- Barbara Llewellyn as Margaret "Meg" Woolcot
- Mark Clark as Philip "Pip" Woolcot
- Anna Hruby as Elinor "Nell" Woolcot
- Jennifer Cluff as Helen "Judy" Woolcot
- Tania Falla as Winifred "Baby" Woolcot
- Mark Shields-Brown as John "Bunty" Woolcot
- Christian Robinson as Francis Rupert Burnand Woolcot, "The General"
- Leonard Teale as Captain Woolcot
- Elizabeth Alexander as Esther Woolcot
- Ruth Cracknell as Martha
- Secondary cast
- Brian James as Colonel Bryant (ep. 1, 7)
- Anne Haddy as Mrs. Bryant (ep. 1)
- Jenee Welsh as Bridget (ep. 1–5, 7, 9)
- Martin Vaughan as Pat (ep. 1–3, 7)
- Lynne Murphy as Miss Marsh (ep. 2, 5)
- Kenneth Laird as Colonel Whitmore (ep. 2)
- Stuart Finch as First Officer (ep. 2)
- Brendon Lunney as Alan Courtnay (ep. 3–4, 6, 10)
- Judy McBurney as Aldith (ep. 3–4, 10)
- Catherine Errol as Marion (ep. 3)
- June Salter as Miss Ada (ep. 3)
- Lee Denfield as Miss Flora (ep. 3)
- Alan Wilson as James Graham (ep. 3)
- James Kemsley as Andrew Courtnay (ep. 3)
- Dennis Grosvenor as Station Attendant (ep. 3)
- Redmond Phillips as Dr. Gormiston (ep. 4, 7)
- Aileen Britton as Mrs. Gormiston (ep. 4)
- Roger Cox as Dray Driver (ep. 4)
- Shirley Donald as Maid (ep. 4)
- Frank Gallacher as Postman (ep. 5, 7)
- John Morris as Chemist (ep. 6)
- Peter Gwynne as Mr. Hassal (ep. 7–10)
- Betty Dyson as Mrs. Hassal (ep. 8–9)
- Alfred Bell as Mr. Gillet (ep. 8–10)
- Steve Dodds as Tettawonga (ep. 8)
- Noel Campbell as Jacky (ep. 8)
- Marg Timbery as Cook (ep. 8)
- Bill Sceanes as Mulligan (ep. 8)
- John Armstrong as Brown (ep. 9–10)
- Nigel Lovell as The Doctor (ep. 10)
- Colin Taylor as Man (ep. 10)
- Shirley Broadway as Woman (ep. 10)
- Robert Quilter as Pastor (ep. 10)
Production
The project had been in development at the ABC for a number of years. Head of television drama, John Cameron, praised the contribution of American Charles Russell in working on the script. Cameron wrote, "For the adaptation to work, Charles insisted that the story had to be built around the father and his inability to express his deep love for his children, particularly his eldest daughter."[7]
Cameron says investment funds came in part from Global Television and Twentieth Century Fox.[7][8]
Filming started 2 January 1973. It was filmed in Sydney and on location near Bowral and Canberra.[9] Cameron also recalled "Although it [the mini series] turned out very well, there were difficulties at every turn, and at some time during the production every member of the production team,... came to me to report that we could not do it, and should abandon the project."[7]