Sunday, May 03, 2020

TV series - "Whiplash" (1960-61) another six episodes ***

"Fire Rock" - one of Graves' assistants disappears in aboriginal grounds. His sexy wife Delia Williams asks Graves for help. This is a fun episode. Robert Tudawali has a decent sized part as an aboriginal helping track them - he's cut off from his tribe so has an arc. Wiliams overacts a little as Messalina in the outback but is a lot of fun and has an over the top death dying in boiling mud. Spooky aboriginal exoticism.

"The Hunters" - an adaptation of Morris West's novel The Naked Country. It's ideal because that novel was short and simple... the pursuit of a rancher (Philip Ross) by an aboriginal with Graves stepping in as the policeman. Bettina Welch is the frustrated wife who goes along to help trap him down. This features the two leading aboriginal actors of the era- Henry Murdoch and Robert Tudawali. Impressive sets of the cave at the end.

"Stage Freight" - highly enjoyable Stagecoach esque drama with Graves escorting a group of people and he's worried that a man and a woman who are murderers may be among the passengers. The group include an actress, an undertaker smuggling sly grog, a couple breaking up. Good tension; Margot Lee is tremendous fun as an actress. Written by Australian Ralph Peterson.

"Portrait in Gunpowder" - Graves escorts a French painter, Therese Talbert, across country.  She has a lovely romance with Graves, because both feel like equals. To make it better they wind up hostages by Stuart Wagstaff's gentlemen bushranger. This was fun. I loved how Wagstaff had to deal with his bogan bushranger helpers.

"Ribbons and Wheels" - Aussie writer Ralph Peterson came up with a strong idea: a former driver of Graves (Tom Farley) has gone to work for a shady rival coach line run by Grant Taylor. They use "passing off" to compete. It ends with a race. Fine fun - I wish Taylor's part had been bigger.

"The Wreckers" - I was wondering when Guy Doleman would turn up and here he is, as a bushranger who takes over the coach for nefarious means. Graves enlists Robert Tudawali. Despite him this feels very American but there's plenty of action and decent acting.

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