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*12 November
*12 November
*19 November
*19 November
*3 December - Tolley is conned into a fashion parade and Wayne is conned back into gym work.
*3 December - written by John Abbott - Tolley is conned into a fashion parade and Wayne is conned back into gym work.
*(1 August Melbourne?)When Tolly and Wayne arrive in a small bush town to fight the local championship they land in trouble due to the attitude of local citizens toward Aboriginals.
*(1 August Melbourne?)When Tolly and Wayne arrive in a small bush town to fight the local championship they land in trouble due to the attitude of local citizens toward Aboriginals.
(5 August Melbo) Tolley's younger sister sets out to make an issue of Wayne's imprisonment.
(5 August Melbo) Tolley's younger sister sets out to make an issue of Wayne's imprisonment.
Line 75: Line 75:
==Reception==
==Reception==
Reviewing the pilot episode ''The Age'' praised it as "exciting, sustaining, action viewing".<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Age|date=11 July 1968|page=22|title=Teletopics|page=2 (Guide)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/122077688/?terms=%22the%2Bbattlers%22%2B%22vincent%2Bgill%22}}</ref>
Reviewing the pilot episode ''The Age'' praised it as "exciting, sustaining, action viewing".<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Age|date=11 July 1968|page=22|title=Teletopics|page=2 (Guide)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/122077688/?terms=%22the%2Bbattlers%22%2B%22vincent%2Bgill%22}}</ref>

In December the ''Sydney Morning Herald'' said "the show has not delivered a knock out" blaming poor writing.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Harry|last=Robinson|newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald|date=4 December 1968|page=6|title=Plots that kill|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/120578886/?terms=%22the%2Bbattlers%22}}</ref>
==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}

Revision as of 08:55, 16 July 2020

The Battlers
Newspaper ad from 26 Jun 1968
Written byJohn Abbott
Edward Hepple
Jonh Kiddell
Michael Wright
Directed byJacques d Vigne
StarringJohn Armstrong
Bill Hunter
Mark McManus
Carmen Duncan
Vincent Gil
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes26
Production
ProducerJohn Walters
Running time30 mins
Original release
Release26 June 1968 (Sydney)

The Battlers is a 1968 Australian TV series about an aboriginal boxer. It was inspired by the story of Lionel Rose.[1]

Plot

Tolly McCall is the lightweight boxing champion of Australia whose career is threatened with injury. His wife Janet is relieved that he will no longer box. Tolly becomes obsessed with a young aboriginal boxer, Wayne.

Cast

  • Mark McManus as Tolly McCall
  • Carmen Duncan as his wife Janet
  • Vincent Gil as Wayne Small, an aboriginal boxer
  • Jannice Dinnen
  • Gordon Glenwright as Tolly's manager, Bongo Byrne
  • Janice Dinnen as Donna McCall
  • John Armstrong as Tolly's trainer, Monk
  • Les Foxcroft
  • Lucky Grills
  • Bill Hunter

Production

It was followed the production of You Can't See Round Corners. It was originally known as The Doongara Kid.[2] The story was inspired by Lionel Rose. Vincent Gil was trained in boxing for the serial by Bill McConnell.[3]

It was shot at ATN's studio in Epping, Sydney and on location at Le Perouse, the stadium, and travelling tent shows.[4]

Selected episodes

  • Ep 1 - Tolly is told he cannot fight again. He goes to the country to think things over. While there he discovers his Aboriginal partner on a log cutting job is an excellent fighter. Tolly decides to train him.
  • Ep 2 - Tolly and his wife disagree on their future plans and all depends on Wayne's first fight.
  • Ep 3 - in an effort to get Tolly back to Sydney, Janet offers to help two of his friends set up a gym.
  • 24 July - Wayne and Tolly are tried in the magistrate's court for assault and fined accordingly.
  • 31 July - Janet heads for the country town where Tolly is imprisoned in an attempt to heal the breach between them
  • 7 August - things get better between Janet and Tolly until he discovers she is working for her old lover, Halliday
  • 14 August (21 August Melbourne)- the day of Wayne's first fight arrives and he is missing, distraught over the trouble he thinks he has caused between Janey and Tolly
  • 21 August - Janet is still missing and Tolly is convinced she has left with Halliday
  • Wayne hopes Tollly will change his mind about managing him and rejects Bongo's offer.
  • 28 August - Tolly visits the doctor and finds out the fractures in his head will never heal
  • 4 September - Tolly gets a job as a chauffeur, meets an attractive woman who recognises him and they become involved.
  • 11 September - Wayne hopes that Tolly will change his mind about managing him and refuses Bongo's offer of management.
  • 18 September - Wayne gets his first bout at the South Sydney Leagues Club. Tolly and Janet discuss matrimonial problems.
  • 25 September - Wayne hits the big time and starts earning a lot of money. Donna goes to work for the Herald and has to do a story on an English racing driver.
  • 1 October
  • 8 October
  • 15 October
  • Ep 18 (23 October)
  • 5 November
  • 12 November
  • 19 November
  • 3 December - written by John Abbott - Tolley is conned into a fashion parade and Wayne is conned back into gym work.
  • (1 August Melbourne?)When Tolly and Wayne arrive in a small bush town to fight the local championship they land in trouble due to the attitude of local citizens toward Aboriginals.

(5 August Melbo) Tolley's younger sister sets out to make an issue of Wayne's imprisonment. (12 August Melbour) Tolley's wife Janet arrives but she will not pay the fine

  • Tolly goes to Paula Bradley's flat for dinner.
  • Janet decides to start divorce proceedings
  • Monk's involvement with shady characters leads to unexpected developments.
  • Bongo and Tolly sign up a new lightweight from Melbourne.
  • Wayne starts going back into boxing by doing easy fights

Reception

Reviewing the pilot episode The Age praised it as "exciting, sustaining, action viewing".[5]

In December the Sydney Morning Herald said "the show has not delivered a knock out" blaming poor writing.[6]

References

  1. ^ Albert Moran, Moran's Guide to Australian TV Series, AFTRS 1993 p 74
  2. ^ Robinson, Harry (4 March 1968). "They've run out of Excuses". Sydney Morning Herald. p. 11.
  3. ^ "Training of "The Kid"". The Age. 4 June 1968. p. 10 (The Guide).
  4. ^ Marshall, Valda (16 June 1968). "New Local Drama Series on ATN 7". Sydney Morning Herald. p. 97.
  5. ^ "Teletopics". The Age. 11 July 1968. p. 2 (Guide).
  6. ^ Robinson, Harry (4 December 1968). "Plots that kill". Sydney Morning Herald. p. 6.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Battlers_(TV_series)&oldid=967949331"