In the late 1970s Hal McElroy temaed with Hanna Barbera to make a few things out here, including Return to Eden, Ratbags and this telemovie, a pilot for a proposed series. It was known during production as Shadow Effect.
The hero is journo Barry Newman, who spends a lot of time shirtless, as a stud journo (his conquests include a young Julie McGregor) investigating a supposed earthquake. It's actually an atomic bomb set off by a group of crims (including Hey Dad's Robert Hughes) who are holding the government (including Bill Kerr and Vincent Ball) to ransom. Newman figures out what's going on with the help of science reporter Trish Noble.
This is a pretty fair thriller. It's high concept and written by an American but has been adjusted to be set in Australia - it feels real, or real-ish, doesn't feel silly. The narrative focus is split in half, one being led by Newman the other concerning the government and baddies. There's a decent second act twist when the baddies are paid off but die in a plane crash caused by some birds... meaning the bomb is still ticking and the antagonists become the government, determined to cover up everything.
Lots of familiar actors in small roles such as Alwyn Kurts, Sean Scully (army dude), Ken Wayne (some guard), Bruce Spence (computer geek who does a lot of heroic stuff), John Ewart, Willia Fiennell (crusty old dude), Melbourne news reader Sir Eric Pearce (as a newreader), Kevin Miles, Brian Blain (doctor), Norman Kaye (ASIO agent), Brian Wenzel (anothe ASIO agent), playrwight Katherine Thompson (answering the telephone).
It was directed by Arch Nicholson who does a solid job. Maybe his work seems better on TV.
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