The Purple Jacaranda
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by Nancy Graham
- James Condon
- Margo Lee
- Ronald Morse
- Diana Perryman
- Walter Sullivan
- John Unicomb
| The Purple Jacaranda | |
|---|---|
 Ad from SMH 28 Jun 1964 | |
| Genre | Drama |
| Based on | The Purple Jacaranda by Nancy Graham |
| Written by | Richard Lane |
| Starring |
|
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 7 |
| Production | |
| Producer | Colin Dean |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | ABC Television |
| Release | 28 June – 9 August 1964 |
The Purple Jacaranda was an Australian television mini-series which aired on ABC in 1964, based on a novel by Nancy Graham and billed as the national broadcaster's first suspense serial. Cast included James Condon, Margo Lee, Ronald Morse, Diana Perryman, Walter Sullivan and John Unicomb.[1][2]
It was first broadcast on 28 June 1964, in Sydney.[3] The final episode was shown on 9 August.[4]
Anne James is asked by Colonel Thomson of "Security" (ASIO) to visit and stay with her friend Darcy, now married to David Crawford. The Crawfords live at "Jacaranda House", in Sydney. Anna has misgivings but eventually agrees.
Cast
- Margo Lee as Anne James
- Diana Perryman as Darcy Crawford
- Ronald Morse as Colonel Thomson
- Walter Sullivan as David Crawford
- James Condon as artist Max Stevenson
- Nick Tate as Bill
- Camilla Christensen as Kelly
- John Unicomb as Bannister
- Aileen Britton as Housekeeper
- John Fegan as Detective
Episode guide
| No. | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 28 June 1964 | |
|
Anne James, living in Perth, is confronted by Colonel Thomson of Security who asks her to travel to Sydney and stay with her friend Darcy, who has recently married David Crawford. | ||
| 2 | 5 July 1964 | |
| 3 | 12 July 1964[5] | |
| 4 | 19 July 1964[6] | |
| 5 | 26 July 1964[7] | |
| 6 | 2 August 1964[8] | |
| 7 | 9 August 1964[4] | |
Background
In the early 1960s, ABC aired a series of historical mini-series: Stormy Petrel (1960), The Outcasts (1961), The Patriots (1962), and The Hungry Ones (1963). The Purple Jacaranda, however, featured a then-contemporary setting. It was based on a 1958 radio serial which in turn was based on a novel. Exteriors for the mansion were shot in Sydney.[9][10]
Colin Dean said historical "serials take years of research and steeping in the period. Writers can't produce one at a moment's notice. I quite like this year's change to a modern serial, but I would be sad if we stopped doing historical serials. They are very rewarding."[11]
The set designer was Desmonde Dowling.[9] The main interior set, a private house, was built at the ABC Studios in Gore Hill, Sydney; exteriors were shot at the municipal library in Mosman. Other locations included the Commonwealth Centre[vague] and the northern Sydney beaches.[3]
