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Ben Hall (TV series)

Ben Hall is a 1975 Australian TV series based on the bush ranger Ben Hall.[1][2] It stars Jon Finch as Ben Hall, Evin Crowley as Biddy Hall, John Castle as bushranger Frank Gardiner, Brian Blain as Sir Frederick Pottinger, Jack Charles as Billy Dargin and John Orcsik as John Gilbert. Neil McCallum was the creator-producer and the series editor was Colin Free.[2]

Ben Hall
Genreadventure
Written byTony Morphett
Ted Roberts
Directed byDon Chaffey
Carl Schultz
Frank Arnold
StarringJon Finch
Vincent Ball
Brian Blain
ComposerBruce Smeaton
Country of originAustralia
United Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes13
Production
ProducerNeil McCallum
Camera setupGeoff Burton A.C.S.
Peter Hendry
Running time60 mins
Original release
NetworkABC (Australia)
BBC (UK)
Release6 July 1975 (1975-07-06) (UK)

It was a co-production between the ABC, BBC-TV, and 20th Century Fox.[3] It was called the most ambitious drama production of the ABC with a budget of $1 million.[4]

The series was filmed in the Megalong Valley, New South Wales and in the suburb of Belrose.[2]

McCallum said "The series is not an accurate story of the life of Ben Hall. It is impossible in 13 one-hour programs to reconstruct a man's life over a period of ten years. What we have done is to be meticulous in reconstructing the period in which he lived so that the series represents, I think, a very real picture of Australia in the 1860s."[3]

Cast

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Source:[2]

Main

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Support

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Production

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Filming started 30 December 1974. It took six months to film.[5]

Release

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A documentary was made to promote the series Ben Hall in the Making.

Episodes

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  1. Nobody's Man (UK 6 July 1975, Aust 7 September 1975). It promises to be a good year for cattleman Ben Hall until ex-convict bushranger Frank Gardiner escapes from a road gang to the Wheogo district, bringing the New South Wales Mounted Police after him and his ruthless companions, Piesley and Troy. w Ted Roberts d Don Chaffey.
  2. The Vow (UK 13 July 1975, Ast: 4 September 1975). A cattle muster becomes a shambles when Gardiner and his friends arrive. Escaped convict John Piesley Is out to kill Ben Hall. Piesley and Gardiner arrive at the cattle muster at the McGuires'. w Frank Nesbitt d Don Chaffey.
  3. The Promise (UK: 20 July 1975, Aust: 21 September 1975). Gardiner plans to use Ben Hall's wedding as a diversion to rescue Johnny Gilbert from Wheogo prison. w Allan Prior d Don Chaffey.
  4. The Cruel Season (UK: 27 July 1975, Aust: 28 September 1975). Hall loses most of his stock in drought. His wife asks him to sell his horses and move. w Eleanor Witcombe d Frank Arnold.
  5. Blind Justice (UK: 3 Aug 1975, Aust: 5 Oct 1975). Bushranger Saucepan Bill shoots an armed guard. Ben Hall's horse is recognised and Ben is arrested for murder. w Tony Morphett d Frank Arnold.
  6. Going Home (UK: 10 Aug 1975, Aust: 12 Oct 1975). Struggling financially due to drought, Ben leaves his pregnant wife to go work in the gold rush. w: Tony Morphett.
  7. The Rock (UK: 17 Aug 1975, Aust: 19 Oct 1975). Feeling he has nothing to lose, Hall joins Frank Gardiner and his gang to rob a coach at the rock. w Tony Morphett d Peter Maxwell.
  8. Yellowback (UK: 24 Aug, Aust: 26 Oct 1975). The police organise a manhunt in the mountains and arrest Ben's wife as a ploy. w Jesse Lasky Jr & Pat Silver d Don Chaffey.
  9. A Greater Love (UK: 31 Aug 1975, Aust: 2 Nov 1975). Many innocent homesteaders are arrested in the campaign against the bushrangers. w Lindsay Galloway d Don Chaffey
  10. The Attack (UK: 7 Sept 1975, Aust: 9 Nov 1975). Ben Hall disguises his men as troopers in command of a convict road-gang to surprise an army coach and later Sir Frederick Pottinger.w Ted Roberts d Don Chaffey.
  11. The Legacy (UK: 14 Sept 1975, Aust: 16 Nov 1975). Ben plans to use Pottinger in a daring rescue scheme on behalf of the valley settlers to obtain legal rights to their land. w Ray Johnson d Frank Arnold.
  12. The Pursued (UK: 21 Sept 1975, Aust: 23 Nov 1975). Ben is outlawed under the Felons Act and has a price on his head. w Ray Johnson d Don Chaffey.
  13. Once Upon a Time (UK: 28 Sept 1975, Aust: 30 Nov 1975). Ben Hall plans to leave but won't go without his wife and child. Sgt Garland is determined to capture and kill him. w: Ted Roberts d: Don Chaffey.

References

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  1. ^ Albert Moran, Moran's Guide to Australian TV Series, AFTRS 1993 p 74
  2. ^ a b c d Ben Hall, an ABC, BBC-TV, 20th Century Fox television drama series. Booklet-guide published by Australian Broadcasting Commission, 1975. 78 pages. ISBN 0-642-97449-7
  3. ^ a b "BEN HALL". The Australian Women's Weekly. National Library of Australia. 5 November 1975. p. 44. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
  4. ^ Cunningham, James (4 January 1975). "Ben Hall is shooting in the bush". Sydney Morning Herald. p. 3.
  5. ^ "Ben Hall start". The Age. 19 December 1974. p. 33.
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