Spyforce
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Spyforce | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Genre | Drama Military Action Espionage Science fiction Serial |
| Created by | Roger Mirams |
| Starring | Jack Thompson Peter Sumner Redmond Philips Katy Wild Stuart Finch Bill Hunter Anna-Maria Winchester Chips Rafferty Russell Crowe |
| Country of origin |  Australia |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 42 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 60 minutes |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | Channel Nine (Australia) |
| Picture format | film |
| Original run | August 8, 1971 – September 21, 1976 (plus re-runs) |
| External links | |
| IMDb profile | |
Spyforce was an Australian TV series produced from 1971 to 1973, based upon the adventures of Australian Military Intelligence operatives in the South West Pacific during World War II. It was produced by the Nine Network in conjunction with Paramount Pictures.
The series centres on the action and adventures of lead actor Jack Thompson's character Erskine, and his main support character, Peter Sumner's Gunthar Haber. It was the first lead role for Jack Thompson. The two are part of an elite unit of special operatives, the Special Intelligence Unit, and their adventures are loosely based upon those of the real Z Special Unit who often operated behind Japanese held lines during the war. Unlike most previous war film's, Spyforce deliberately steered away from the notion that the United States was solely responsible for Japan's defeat, and highlights the important role Australian forces played in the defeat of the Imperial Japanese Army. Producer Roger Mirams was also careful to avoid stereotypes of the genre, and tired formulas for the battle scenes.
The idea appealed to American producers Paramount Pictures, who backed creator Roger Mirams to begin production without having seen a script. He made the pilot episode, Spy Catcher, which impressed Paramount, and the Nine Network immediately bought the local rights. The first episode aired in Sydney on August 8, 1971, and the rest of Australia on August 26, 1971. It was originally intended to produce 26 episodes, but following the success of the first series, Mirams held talks with both Nine Network and Paramount Pictures who backed him for a second series. In all 42 episodes were produced. The series was last aired on Australian television in Adelaide on September 21, 1976, but has been re-run several times since.
Famous antipodean actor Russell Crowe appeared briefly in one episode as a child actor at the age of seven.
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[edit] Synopsis
Spyforce was designed by Roger Mirams to be a wartime espionage action adventure in the format of a weekly, hour long television mini-film. It was very much intended to highlight the important role played by Australian forces in achieving victory in World War II, but also remain exciting and compelling. Despite being based upon a war setting, character development played a key role in Spyforce. They way the main characters interact, and change over time was carefully scripted by Mirams.
Unlike many previous war films, particularly American ones, Spyforce does not portray the protagonists as invincible, who always win an easy victory. Indeed their human failings are made clear, and their plans do not always come to fruition. It does not dwell on torture by Japanese soldiers, or portray Australians as perfect.
The protagonists are members of a secretive special elite unit known as the Special Intelligence Unit, headed by Colonel Cato, who is only responsible directly to the Prime Minister of Australia. Cato's unit is responsible for sabotage and covert operations, often behind enemy lines, against Japanese forces in the South West Pacific during World War II.
Colonel Cato recruits both Erskine and Gunther Haber into the Special Intelligence Unit as civilian operatives due to their intimate knowledge of the South West Pacific and New Guinea. Both are reluctant at first, so Cato fabricates false evidence against them to coerce them into co-operating.
Although some episodes were filmed on location in New Guinea, Thailand, Hong Kong, Macau and also in Changi Prison in Singapore, most of the filming was done in the Australian bushland surrounding Sydney. Several ideal Sydney locations, such as Middle Head Fortifications were also utilised.
[edit] Main Characters
[edit] Erskine
Lead actor Jack Thompson's character, Erskine is the hero and main protagonist of Spyforce. Erskine was an Australian planter in the Australian Territory of New Guinea when the Imperial Japanese Army invaded in 1942. Erskine is a heavy drinking, swearing, womanising and sometimes cold hearted man who has little time for rank or etiquette. He was forced off his plantation by advancing Japanese troops, and resents the Australian Army for not having properly protected his property.
Despite this, Erskine is an excellent soldier, although often prone to disobeying, or bending orders. He is quick to the trigger, and not afraid of tackling the Japanese head on if necessary. He also has a ruthless streak, but can be cold and calculating at times.
He despises Gunther Haber initially, and resents being forced to work with him. But as the two ment get to know each other, both realise they have a similar dishonest roguish character, and begin to bond.
[edit] Gunther Haber
Erskine's main side kick is Gunther Haber played by Peter Sumner. He is a German planter with a plantation on New Britain, and he too was forced to flee the advancing Japanese. Because of his German heritage, he is initially interned in a Prison Camp in Australia, but later is recruited by the Special Intelligence Unit for his linguistic skills and intimate knowledge of New Guinea.
Haber is a cultured German, who is the complete foil for Erskine's rough and ready character. They are also love rivals, and initially the bitterness is strong between the two. However, as they begin to succeed together in their missions, a grudging mutual respect develops.
At the beginning Erskine calls Haber 'Adolf' as a slight, but after the men begin to bond, he continues to use the nickname in a more friendly affectionate way.
[edit] Colonel Cato
Colonel Cato played by Redmond Philips, is the Commanding Officer of the Special Intelligence Unit, and is only directly responsible to the Prime Minister of Australia. He is astutely intelligent, a clever strategist, very cunning and calculating, and is willing to do whatever is necessary to achieve his goals. Cato is not beyond bending the rules, and manipulates both Erskine and Haber into co-operating with the Special Intelligence Unit.
[edit] Lieutenant French
Lieutenant French, played by the petite acress Katy Wild is Colonel Cato's secretary, and despite her cute good looks, she has her finger on the pulse of the operations. Although primarily limited to administrative duties in the Units headquarters office, French doe occasionally operate in the field. Unlike Erskine and Haber, French is a member of the Australian Army, and holds the rank of Lieutenant. French has a crush on Erskine, and he an attracted admiration for her, but their relationship always remains platonic.
[edit] Captain Pollock
Captain Pollock, played by Bill Hunter was a primarily support role. He was an Australian Army captain who appeared in the first 11 episodes, primarily when the Special Intelligence Unit had to interact directly with the Australian Army.
[edit] Captain Bergen
Captain Bergen, played by Stuart Finch replaced Captain Pollock as the Australian Army's main officer in later episodes of Spyforce.
[edit] Barrow
Barrow played by Max Cullen was a psychopathic criminal that Colonel Cato used to use to brutally interrogate prisoners, due to his aggressive personality. Barrow only appeares in the first and fourth episodes.
[edit] Jill Stewart
Arna-Maria Winchester's Jill Stewart is an ASIO undercover operative who is a master of disguise. She was born in Burma and has contacts throughout the South West Pacific and particularly in New Guinea. Stewart is a master linguist, fluent in five languages, and is also a firearms expert.
[edit] Episodes
- Pilot. Spy Catcher
- 1. The General
- 2. Death Railway
- 3. Portuguese Man Of War
- 4. The Prisoner
- 5. The Bridge
- 6. The Trader
- 7. The Escape
- 8. 27 Hours
- 9. The Volunteers - Part One
- 10. The Volunteers - Part Two
- 11. The Countess
- 12. The Cripple
- 13. The Assassin
- 14. The Tunku
- 15. The Gunner
- 16. The Saviour - Part One
- 17. The Saviour - Part Two
- 18. The Samurai
- 19. The Bunker
- 20. Reilley's Army
- 21. The Courier
- 22. The Doctor
- 23. The Major
- 24. The Lovers
- 25. The Chase
- 26. The Diplomat
- 27. The District Commissioner
- 28. The Troupers
- 29. The Encounter
- 30. The Breakout
- 31. The Interrogator
- 32. The Raiders
- 33. The Forger
- 34. The Correspondent
- 35. The Double Agent
- 36. The Misfits
- 37. The Mission
- 38. The Journey
- 39. The Decoy
- 40. The Murder
- 41. The Trail
- 42. The Rolls That Went To War
