Fields of Fire (miniseries)

Fields of Fire
Based onCane
by Robert Donaldson
Written byMiranda Downes
Robert Marchand
Directed byRobert Marchand
StarringTodd Boyce
Melissa Docker
Kris McQuade
Nicholas Hammond
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes2 x 2 hours
Production
ProducersDavid Elfick
Steve Knapman
Budget$4 million[1]
Original release
NetworkNine Network
Release14 June (1987-06-14) –
15 June 1987 (1987-06-15)

Fields of Fire is a 1987 Australian mini series about cane cutters in Queensland just prior to and during World War II.

Plot

In 1938, Englishman Bluey arrives in the north Queensland town of Silkwood. Two sisters are interested in him, Kate and Dusty. Their mother is Silkwood's matriarch.

Production

The budget was $4 million, $150,000 of which came from the Queensland Film Corporation.[2] It was shot in Harwood Island, Ulmarra, Clarence River.[1]

Fields of Fire II

Fields of Fire
Also known asFields of Fire II
Based onDavid Elfick
Robert Marchand
Written byPatricia Johnson
Directed byRobert Marchand
David Elfick
StarringTodd Boyce
Melissa Docker
Anne Louise Lambert
Joseph Spano
Nicholas Hammond
No. of episodes2 x 2 hours
Production
ProducersDavid Elfick
Irene Korol
Budget$3.75 million[1]
Original release
NetworkNine Network
Release22 May (1988-05-22) –
23 May 1988 (1988-05-23)

Fields of Fire II is a 1988 sequel set in the late 1940s.

Plot

In 1946 Franco becomes a black marketeer and marries Gina. Bluey marries Dusty after the war.

Fields of Fire III

Fields of Fire
Also known asFields of Fire III
Written byPatricia Johnson
Directed byDavid Elfick
Irene Korol
StarringPeta Toppano
Noni Hazlehurst
Nicholas Hammond
No. of episodes2 x 2 hours
Original release
NetworkNine Network
Release16 July (1989-07-16) –
17 July 1989 (1989-07-17)

There was a third Fields of Fire in 1988 which dealt with the story in the 1950s.[3]

Plot

In 1951 Gina and her brother Paolo are successful cane growers. Gina is attracted to Rinaldo. The Menzies government holds an anti-communist referendum.

Main cast list

Character Actor Series
Fields of Fire Fields of Fire II Fields of Fire III
Bluey Todd Boyce
Dusty Melissa Docker
Burgess Nicholas Hammond
Elsie Kris McQuade
Kate Anna Hruby
Kate Anne-Louise Lambert
Tiny Ollie Hall
Jacko John Jarratt
Whacker Harold Hopkins
Chook Patrick Ward
Acreman Paul Bertram
Dave Ken Radley
Albie Philip Quast
Red Jack Mayers
Lofty Bill Young
Franco Terry Serio
Franco Joseph Spano
Gina Peta Toppano
Paolo Robert Ruggiero
Shorty Dan Simmonds
Shorty Danny Ruggiero
Dawn Noni Hazlehurst
Rinaldo Martin Sacks
Basia Gosia Dobrowolska
Iris Michele Fawdon

References

  1. ^ a b c Ed. Scott Murray, Australia on the Small Screen 1970-1995, Oxford Uni Press, 1996 p193-194
  2. ^ Roan Callick, "AFTER A DECADE, THE FILM CORPORATION FINALLY FADES TO BLACK", Australian Financial Review, 22 October 1987 p 2
  3. ^ "THE GUIDE". The Canberra Times. Vol. 63, no. 19, 633. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 10 July 1989. p. 25. Retrieved 28 February 2017 – via National Library of Australia.