A Thousand Skies is a 1985 Australian mini series about the life of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith.
| A Thousand Skies | |
|---|---|
| Genre | mini-series |
| Written by | David Stevens |
| Directed by | David Stevens |
| Starring | John Walton Andrew Clarke Joss McWilliam |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Original language | English |
| No. of episodes | 3 |
| Production | |
| Producers | Ross Dimsey Robert Ginn |
| Camera setup | David Eggby |
| Running time | 3 x 2 hours |
| Original release | |
| Network | Seven Network |
| Release | 9 October – 23 October 1985 |
It was based on the novel The Empty Sky by Tasman Beattie and was partly financed by Film Victoria. The budget was $4.5 million.[1]
Film Victoria invested $120,000 in script development and $400,000 to the production.[2]
Writer-director David Stevens was best known for directing the mini series of A Town Like Alice. When offered the film he was reluctant to make it until he read The Empty Sky and he became intrigued by the character of Keith Anderson.[3]
Stevens said "It is about the nature of greatness and the nature of friendship. It is also a love story - an eternal triangle between three men." The series was shot at 144 different locations. The only sets built were the planes which cost $500,000.[4]
Cast
edit- John Walton as Charles Kingsford Smith
- Andrew Clarke as Charles Ulm
- Joss McWilliam as Keith Anderson
- Jane Menelaus as Thelma McKenna
- Geoff Parry as Bob Hitchcock
- Celine O'Leary as Mary Powell-Kingsford Smith
- Helen Jones as Bon Hilliard
- Phyllis Burford as Kate Kingsford Smith
- Richard Hutson as William Kingsford Smith
- Judith Massey as Mrs. Hilliard
- Paul Karo as English director
- Harold Baigent as Swampy Dawkins
- Nick Holland as Bert Day
- Hardy Stow as Harry Lyon
- David Arnett as Jim Warner
- Denzil Howson as Mr. Hilliard
- Alan Fletcher as John Stannage
- David Frezza as Announcer in San Francisco
- Reg Gorman as Joe the Fireman
Reception
editThe Age called it "emotionally unvinvolving" but said "the series is well worth pursuing."[5]
Another reviewer from the same paper called it "television excellence".[6]
The series rated in the low twenties, which was relatively disappointing.[7]
References
edit- ^ Ed. Scott Murray, Australia on the Small Screen 1970-1995, Oxford University Press, 1996 p241
- ^ "Smithy mini series". The Sydney Morning Herald. 5 June 1984. p. 13.
- ^ McNamara, Marie (3 October 1985). "Smithy the Hero Made Human". The Age Green Guide. p. 1.
- ^ "Smithy's life warts and all". The Sydney Morning Herald Green Guide. 7 October 1985. p. 2.
- ^ "Bold view of Smithy". The Age. 3 October 1985. p. 37.
- ^ Hooks, Barbara (7 October 1985). "Smithy is god like with a few warts too". The Age. p. 2.
- ^ "Nine sets the pace". The Sydney Morning Herald. 19 October 1995. p. 147.
External links
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