The Stranger (Australian TV series)
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television broadcasting |
| Founded | 1964 |
| Headquarters | Australia |
| Products | Television program |
Synopsis
A schoolteacher discovers a young man named Adam unconscious outside his home and takes him in. Adam soon forms friendships with the headmaster’s children, Bernard and Jean, along with their companion Peter. He reveals that he is an extraterrestrial being sent to Earth to locate a new habitat for his civilization. Accompanied by another alien, Varossa, they hail from a culture that lacks written texts and depends entirely on memory. In the second season, when Peter is abducted, the children seek assistance from the Australian Prime Minister, which leads them on an expedition to the aliens’ native world, Soshuniss.
Production
The Stranger began as a six-episode radio drama broadcast on the BBC Home Service in December 1963. It was penned by G.K. Saunders, a writer from New Zealand, with David Spenser portraying Adam Suisse. The television adaptation in Australia followed just four months later, retaining Saunders as the scriptwriter. The production was overseen by Storry Walton and directed by Gil Brealey, while Geoffrey Wedlock handled production design. Two series, each containing six episodes, were produced during 1964 and 1965. The program achieved significant popularity in Australia and was subsequently sold back to the BBC. Series 1 was aired on BBC1 in early 1965, followed by Series 2 in 1966.
Ron Haddrick featured prominently as Adam in the television adaptation. Janice Dinnen and Bill Levis took on the roles of Jean and Bernard Walsh respectively, with Michael Thomas portraying their friend Peter Cannon.
An interesting aspect of the series was Saunders’ invention of a distinctive alien language. The extraterrestrials spoke English but with an unusual accent; Adam’s fluency in multiple languages initially led others to mistakenly believe he was Swiss.
The production involved collaboration with CSIRO, with several pivotal scenes shot at Parkes Observatory, showcasing its radio telescope during the opening credits. CSIRO also contributed expertise to the design of the alien spacecraft that lands at Sydney Town Hall, where the extraterrestrials hold a meeting with the Prime Minister, a role played by esteemed actor Chips Rafferty.
In 2019, ABC undertook a digital restoration of the entire series and subsequently made it available on their streaming service ABC iview as well as on YouTube starting January 2020.
Adaptation
More than ten years after the original broadcast, Saunders adapted the series into a novel published by Whitcombe & Tombs in 1978.
External links
- The Stranger available on ABC iview