House of Bond
| Company type | Mini-series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television |
| Founded | 2016 |
| Headquarters | Australia |
| Products | Drama television series |
House of Bond is a two-part Australian drama mini-series centered on the life of business magnate Alan Bond. Produced in 2016, it was broadcast on the Nine Network on 24 and 25 April 2017.
Synopsis
The narrative of House of Bond spans Alan Bond's professional journey from the 1960s through to the early 2000s. The first installment focuses on his emergence as a property mogul and entrepreneur, culminating in his leadership of the syndicate that secured victory in the 1983 America's Cup. The second part explores his international business ventures and eventual collapse amid the controversies linked to WA Inc, including the bailout of Rothwells Bank and the breakup of Bell Resources.
Cast
- Ben Mingay portraying Alan Bond
- Rachael Taylor as Diana Bliss
- Adrienne Pickering in the role of Eileen Bond
- Sam Neill as Roland 'Tiny' Rowland
- Anne Louise Lambert playing Josie Rowland
- Gyton Grantley as Peter Beckwith
- Samantha Jade in the role of Tracey Tyler
- Anne Looby
- John Howard
- Johnny Ruffo portraying Peter King
- Roy Billing as Doozer Hughes
- Paul Gleeson
- Jack Campbell as John Bertrand
- John McNeill representing Sir Frank Packer
- Lorna Lesley as Mrs Hughes
- Marcus Graham playing Michael Williams
- Michael Beckley as Kevin Bradley
- Arky Michael portraying Paint Boss
- Airlee Dodds in the role of Susanne Bond
- Bill Young as Frank Bond
- Bob Baines as RPYC Commodore
- Noel Hodda cast as Judge
- Vanessa Moltzen
Reception
The mini-series faced disapproval from Alan Bond’s widow, Eileen Bond, who described it as "appalling," while his family released a statement condemning it as "inaccurate and sensationalised." In contrast, the brother of Diana Bliss commended Rachael Taylor’s empathetic depiction, suggesting his sister would have approved.
From a critical perspective, House of Bond generally received positive reviews. Both The Age and TV Week selected it as 'Pick of the Week,' with TV Week awarding a perfect 5/5 rating and praising Adrienne Pickering’s performance. The Age characterized the series as "luxurious and ambitious," whereas News.com.au referred to it as a "riveting yarn." Debi Enker from The Sydney Morning Herald highlighted its Shakespearean tragedy elements, effectively capturing the flamboyance of the period alongside insight into Alan Bond’s dramatic ascent and decline. Nonetheless, The Daily Telegraph (Sydney) considered it a "flop," and TV Tonight assigned a 2.5-star rating.
Viewership
On its concluding night, the mini-series averaged 657,000 viewers across Australia's five mainland capital cities, winning its timeslot and showing an increase in ratings compared to the previous evening.
DVD release
The series was made available on DVD by Universal Home Video on May 11, 2017.