Australian TV Plays: Contrabandits (22 Sept 1968-5 Dec 1968)

Production

David Goddard had worked on Z Cars in Britain. He said Eric Tayler had travelled from England by ship and met an Australian railways executive who pitched an idea about a railway detective. Tayler told this to Goddard who wasn't keen to do a police show but felt Sydney's harbour was unique and wanted to go a show about the harbour police. Eric Tayler researched it and came back saying there was something in the customs inspectors. Goddard dubbed it Z Boats and they developed the series.

Goddard later said "It's taken more than two years of intensive concentration and training in all branches of production to reach Contrabandits. I feel that episodes have been as good as the best of Z Cars - because they have been produced properly by Eric Tayler and his team. From the start I was keen to get as much drama as possible on the air, to allow everyone to learn, if you like. We learned a lot from Australian Playhouse and Nice'n' Jucy. We have built up a nucleus of actors."

Goddard worked with Denis Quilley and John Bonney in England, the latter in the Kipling series.

Colin Free said had open door policy for new writers which "made my life hell".

Review Dec 1967 called "fun to watch" see here.

Sept 1968 Colin Free piece here.

Long gap between season one and two. Blamed on lack of money but Eric Tayler said was scripts. Started again March 1968 see here.

Episode Guide - see Classic Oz TV here

CAST:
Denis Quilley as Chief Insp. Ted Hallam
Janet Kingsbury as Mardi Shiel
John Bonney as Bob Piper
Ben Gabriel as Jim Shurley
John Gregg as Charles Keally (eps 9 - 30)
Bob Haddow as Ross

CREW:
Producer.......ERIC TAYLER
Script Editor.......COLIN FREE
Theme music.......ARNOLD BUTCHER

Sept 1967 article about how much show relies on foreign talents see here.
AWARDS:
1967 Penguin: Ben Gabriel - Best Supporting Actor.
1968 Awgie: Colin Free - Major Award: Most Outstanding Script For The Year for ep. 1 ‘Cage A Tame Tiger’.
1968 Awgie: James Workman - ep. 8 ‘Target, Smokehouse’. see here
1968 Penguin: Eric Tayler - Best Producer. see here
1968 Penguin: Dennis Quilley - Leading Talent Commendation, Drama.
1968 Penguin: Janet Kingsbury - Supporting Talent Commendation.

See 'How Broke is the ABC' article below..

martyn Sanderson a New Zealander see here.

Series 1
1. Cage A Tame Tiger 22 Sept 1967 w Colin Free d Eric Tayler - positive review here
2. Bait And Little Fishes 29 Sept 1967 w Martyn Sanderson and Nigel Roberts
3. Horse On The Wing 6 Oct 1967
4. Corner Of The Market 13 Oct 1967
5. Sweet And Sour 20 Oct 1967 w Allan Trevor
6. A Drop In The Ocean 27 Oct 1967 w Allan Trevor
7. Madame Ukelele 3 Nov 1967
8. Target, Smokehouse 10 Nov 1967 w James Workman d Wilf Buckner
9. Films Are Just For Kicks First John Gregg 17 Nov 1967
10. Deadly Harvest 24 Nov 1967
11. A Case Of Kinetics 1 Dec 1967
12. Man On The Hook 8 Dec 1967 d Albie Thoms
13. Time Out 15 Dec 1967 w Colin Free d Eric Tayler
Series 2
14. Closed Circuit 15 Aug 1968 - review here
15. Samson Out Of Joint 22 Aug 1968
16. Money For Jam 29 August 1968
17. In For A Penny 5 Sept 1968 w John Martin d Brian Faull GS Robert Helpmann
18. The Professionals 12 Sept 1968
19. Double Exposure 19 Sept 1968 w Robert Peach d John Croyston
20. Game For Two Players 26 Sept 1968 w Martyn Sanderson
21. Tiger By The Tail 3 Oct 1968 w Colin Free d Eric Tayler
22. According To Arcadius 10 Oct 1968 w Colin Free d Bian Faull
23. Write-Off 17 Oct 1968 w Brian Wright d Ken Hannam
24. A Mention In Despatches 24 Oct 1968 w Colin Free
25. Fool’s Gold 31 Oct 1968 w John Martin d Ken Hannam
26. Collectors Piece 7 Nov 1968 w Martyn Sanderson
27. File It Under Personal 14 Nov 1968 w Colin Free
28. Double Entry 21 Nov 1968 w Ron Harrison d John Croyston
29. Blind Man’s Bluff 28 Nov 1968 w Martyn Sanderson d Brian Bell
30. A Good Way To Go or What a Way to Go 5 Dec 1968 - review here and here.