Prisoner (season 1)

The first season of the television soap opera Prisoner (widely known as Prisoner: Cell Block H in the United States and the United Kingdom, and Caged Women in Canada) premiered on Network Ten on 27 February 1979 and consisted of 79 episodes, airing twice weekly, sometimes with two episodes airing on the same night from 8.30 pm. The season concluded on 28 November 1979.

Prisoner was originally devised by television producer Reg Watson, as a sixteen-part serial or mini-series in late 1978. Production of the series commenced on 31 October, 1978. The initial emphasis of the series was to give viewers a true indication of what life was like behind the bars of a women's prison. As the series had reached its tenth episode, its popularity had grown and the decision was taken to extend from sixteen episodes to twenty, and then, an on-going series. Therefore, the production of the series was increased from one hour per week to two hours. Original cast members including Marilyn Mason (Margaret Laurence) and Jeanette 'Mum' Brooks (Mary Ward) departed the series and did not exceed episode sixteen. However, Mary Ward did return for future episodes. Carol Burns (Franky Doyle) chose to leave the series, fearing her performance of Franky would suffer at this increased production rate, and remained until episode 20. Amanda Muggleton (Chrissie Latham), who appeared as a guest character in episodes three and four, was written back into the series at the request of viewers as she had become such a popular character. She returned in episode 65 and appeared in several episodes as a recurring character, but it was not until 1982 that she returned once again, only this time as a series regular.

In 1979, Burns received a Penguin Award for her portrayal of Franky.

Cast

• Patsy King ... Erica Davidson
• Fiona Spence ... Vera Bennett
• Elspeth Ballantyne ... Meg Jackson
• Peta Toppano ... Karen Travers
• Kerry Armstrong ... Lynn Warner (episodes 1–44)
• Val Lehman ... Bea Smith
• Carol Burns ... Franky Doyle (episodes 1–20)
• Colette Mann ... Doreen Anderson
• Sheila Florance ... Lizzie Birdsworth
• Barry Quinn ... Greg Miller
• Margaret Laurence ... Marilyn Mason (episodes 1–16)
• Mary Ward ... Jeanette 'Mum' Brooks (episodes 1–16; recurring: 30–33; 61–67)
• Richard Moir ... Eddie Cook (episodes 1–16)
• Christine Amor ... Jean Vernon (from episode 14)
• Lesley Baker ... Monica Ferguson (from episode 15)
• Gerard Maguire ... Jim Fletcher (from episode 40)
• Sigrid Thornton ... Roslyn Coulson (from episode 63)
• Monica Maughan ... Pat O'Connell (from episode 65)

Recurring and guest cast

• Amanda Muggleton ... Chrissie Latham (episodes 3–4; 65–77)
• Bryon Williams ... Dr. Weissman (from episode 28)
• Joy Westmore ... Joyce Barry (from episode 29)
• Penny Stewart ... Kathleen Leach (from episode 30)
• Jude Kuring ... Noeline Bourke (from episode 30)
• Judith McGrath ... Colleen Powell (from episode 48)
• Reylene Pearce ... Phyllis Hunt (from episode 21)
• Ian Smith ... Ted Douglas (from episode 61)

Episodes

Home Media

Various episodes from season one were available in VHS format in the early 1990s in the United Kingdom. The first twelve episodes were made available over six tapes, with two episode per tape. The first four episodes and episode 20 were released in compilation DVD sets in Australia and the United States.

The Complete first season has been released on DVD over five volumes in Australia and in three volumes in the United Kingdom.

Australia

• Volume 1 - 19 October 2006 (episodes 1–16)^[1]
• Volume 2 - 19 October 2006 (episodes 17–32)^[2]
• Volume 3 - 20 November 2006 (episodes 33–48)^[3]
• Volume 4 - 20 November 2006 (episodes 49–64)^[4]
• Volume 5 - 17 March 2007 (episodes 65–79, also includes the first episode of season two - episode 80)^[5]

United Kingdom

• Volume 1 - 10 November 2008 (episodes 1–32)
• Volume 2 - 1 June 2009 (episodes 33–64)
• Volume 3 - 12 October 2011 (episodes 65–79, also includes the first 17 episodes of season two - episodes 80–96)

References

External links

• List of Prisoner episodes at TV.com