Australian TV Plays: You Can't See Round Corners (12 July 1967)

Mini series. 26 eps x 30 mins.

Premise

Frankie McCoy, a bookie from Paddington, Sydney, is drafted into the Australian Army during the Vietnam War.

He ends up deserting and going on the run. His girlfriend Margie breaks up with him so he seeks solace in the arms of a more sexually experienced woman, Myra. He incurs gambling debts and robs a store, accidentally killing Myra. As the military police close in he is killed by a car.

Cast

Ken Shorter as Frankie McCoy
Lyndall Barbour as Mrs. McCoy
Rowena Wallace as Margie Harris
Judith Fisher as Peg Clancy
Carmen Duncan as Myra Neilson
Slim DeGrey as Mick Patterson

Original novel

The novel was published in 1947. It ws well-received critically, winning second prize in The Sydney Morning Herald's novel contest, losing to Ruth Park's The Harp in the South. There's some articles from the time here and here.

Production

Richard Lane did an oral history with Graham Shirley. He said J Oswin of ATN-7 wanted to do a serial based on a well known book. Lane suggested You Can't See Round Corners. It was decided to update the action from World War Two to Vietnam to make it more relevant. This meant relocating the story from Paddington, which had become gentrified, to Newtown, then still working class.

Lane says he knew Cleary who approved the changes. Lane researched the Newtown area. He says the first 12 episodes were based on the novel then the story departed.

Lane says they looked hard to find the lead, auditioning many men. Then they found Ken Shorter. Lane said they liked how Shorter seemed working class and Australian, not too polished.

This was Rowena Wallace's first professional dramatic TV series. She was recommended by Barry Creyton who was originally going to play the role of Frankie McCoy, the role that went to Ken Shorter^.

The series garnered controversy on release because of a scene where Frankie, an army deserter, runs his hand up Margie's skirt. Wallace says she had no idea Shorter was going to do this, which is why her reaction was so authentic. Many stations around Australia cut the scene.

The majority of episodes were written by Richard Lane. Eventually he left the show to work on other projects and Michael Boddy took over.

It was shot in Sydney.

Peter Weir worked on the show as a production assistant.

Reception

The series rated well. The following year ATN-7 decided to make another mini-series, The Battlers.

Lane won an Awgie for his script at the first Awgies - see here.

Harry Robinson did hit pieces on Michael Boddy's scripts - see one here.

Feature Film

Oswin decided to authorise a film version. The story was reshot in colour using a new camera. The film did quite well at the box office. Lane says Channel Seven executives were surprised how well it was done. It was shot in colour.