The Long Arm (TV series)
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television production |
| Founded | April 1970 |
| Headquarters | Melbourne , Australia |
| Products | Police drama television series |
The Long Arm was an Australian television police drama series that premiered in April 1970 and comprised a total of 19 episodes.
Synopsis
Created in black-and-white by Ansett Television Films alongside the Ten Network, The Long Arm was developed to rival well-known police dramas produced by Crawford Productions, including Homicide and Division 4. The narrative took place primarily in Melbourne, with occasional scenes set in Sydney. This joint venture between Channels 0 and Ten provided increased funding and resources, enabling the use of original musical scores and filming entirely on film, contrasting with the videotape format favored by competitors. The episodes drew inspiration from actual criminal cases, such as the Ryan & Walker Christmas prison escape, while also incorporating soap opera-style storylines that delved into the detectives' personal lives.
Production history
Under the production leadership of Ron Beck, the cast featured Robert Bruning, Sandy Harbutt, Lyndall Moor, and Barbara Mason, supported by recurring appearances from Kenneth Goodlet and Tony Ward. Despite contributions from accomplished writers like Tony Morphett and guest performances by actors such as Ron Randell, the series did not achieve a substantial viewership. Media tycoon Reg Ansett publicly voiced his disappointment regarding its ratings. The program attracted criticism for its use of graphic make-up effects, which were deemed unsuitable for its prime-time broadcast slot. Approximately one-third of the episodes were directed by Colin Eggleston.
Following the show's cancellation, Sandy Harbutt transformed one episode into the cult classic biker movie Stone. Additionally, filmmaker Simon Wincer launched his career working on this series before transitioning to the more commercially successful Matlock Police, which replaced The Long Arm at Ansett's behest.
Main
- Robert Bruning portraying Insp. Dallas Buchanan
- Sandy Harbutt as Det. Const. Kim Riverton
- Lyndall Moor playing Trish Towns (credited as Lyndal)
- Barbara Mason as Veleen Towns
Recurring
- Kenneth Goodlet in the role of Sergeant Ted Driscoll
- Tony Ward as Insp. Mike Hammond, N.S.W. Police
Guests
- Guest appearances included Anne Charleston, Barbara Stephens (actress), Bill Hunter (actor), Brian Wenzel, Don Crosby, Gus Mercurio, Jeff Kevin, John Ewart, Kat Loader, Lesley Baker, Marion Edward, Maurie Fields, Michael Long (actor), Neva Carr Glyn, Noeline Brown, Owen Weingott, Patsy King, Redmond Phillips, Ron Randell, Ron Shand, Ruth Cracknell, Serge Lazareff, Stewart Ginn (actor), Terry Gill, Val Jellay, and Vincent Gil across various episodes.
External links
- The Long Arm on Classic Australian Television
- The Long Arm at the National Film and Sound Archive