The Dismissal (miniseries)
| Industry | Film and television production |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Australia |
| Products | Television miniseries, films |
The Dismissal is a 1983 Australian television miniseries that portrays the 1975 constitutional crisis in Australia. The project was developed and directed by a team including filmmakers such as George Miller, Phillip Noyce, and Mad Max screenwriter Terry Hayes, with cinematography handled by Dean Semler. Comprised of six episodes, each lasting one hour, the series debuted on Network Ten on 6 March 1983, aligning with the timing of the 1983 federal election, and was subsequently aired in the United Kingdom.
Produced by Kennedy Miller with a production budget of $2.6 million, the miniseries secured the 19th position on the 50 Years 50 Shows ranking of Australia's most notable television programs.
During the 1970s, various efforts were made to create a film titled King Hit based on the same historical events. This involved writers Erwin Rado and Bruce Grant, with directors such as Phillip Noyce and Paul Cox attached at different stages of development.
Cast
- Max Phipps portraying Labor Prime Minister Gough Whitlam
- John Meillon as Governor-General Sir John Kerr
- John Stanton in the role of Liberal Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser
- John Hargreaves playing Deputy Prime Minister Jim Cairns
- Bill Hunter as Labor politician Rex Connor
- Ruth Cracknell in the role of Margaret Whitlam
- George Ogilvie as Labor Senator Jim McClelland
- Peter Sumner portraying Treasurer Bill Hayden
- Vincent Ball as Labor Senator and Senate President Justin O'Byrne
- Ed Devereaux in the role of Phillip Lynch
- Arthur Dignam portraying Eric Robinson
- Stewart Faichney as Billy Snedden
- Robyn Nevin playing Anne Kerr, Lady Kerr
- Tom Oliver as Liberal Senator Reg Withers
- Sean Scully portraying Doug Anthony
- Martin Vaughan as independent Senator Albert Field
- John Clayton in the role of Barry Cohen
- Lucky Grills (uncredited) as George Harris, President of Carlton Football Club
- Les Foxcroft playing Jim Cope / The First Speaker
- Dennis Miller as Gordon Scholes / The Second Speaker
- Veronica Lang appearing as Reporter
- Peter Carroll serving as Narrator / Liberal MP
- Neela Dey portraying Junie Morosi
- Tim Eliott as Frederick Wheeler
Reception
Achieving significant viewership success in Australia, the series garnered a 42% share of the audience ratings.
See also
External links
- Articles with short description
- Network 10 original programming
- 1980s Australian television miniseries
- 1983 television films
- 1983 films
- Historical television series
- Films set in the Australian Capital Territory
- 1975 Australian constitutional crisis
- Cultural depictions of politicians
- Cultural depictions of Australian people
- Cultural depictions of prime ministers