Cirrus@Austlit

'Late at night Dr John Newton was called out to attend an accident case. A life hung in the balance - but whose?'

Source: Radio Times, 11 June 1970, p.51.

Developed by Guy Thayer as a co-production between Artransa Park Studios and Trans Pacific Enterprises, Riptide starred American actor Ty Hardin (former star of the western series Bronco, which ran from 1958 to 1962) as Moss Andrews, an American businessman who travels to Australia after the sudden death of his Australian wife, and works through his bereavement by assisting his father-in-law in operating a charter-boat business, a purpose that is frequently thwarted as he crosses the paths of various villains.

Apart from Hardin, the cast was Australian, including such short-lived roles as medical student Neil Winton, his girlfriend Judy Plenderleith, and Moss's father-in-law Barney Duncan (whose character disappeared when the actor portraying him died during the series' run). (See notes below for more details on Australian guest stars.)

According to Don Storey in Australian Classic Television, the series cost around $70,000 an episode, and made extensive use of expensive props (largely nautical, but also including cars and helicopters). However, the plots were frequently stigmatised as ridiculous: Storey notes that 'These comments are quite valid - the plots in Riptide are ridiculous', but Moran, in his Guide to Australian TV Series, counters that 'it did not deserve these brickbats. It is a reasonably entertaining adventure series in the tradition of Adventures in Paradise'.

Described by the BBC as 'A present-day Australian adventure series':

Men from something like 40 countries all over the world are working for the Snowy Mountains Authority - Australia's mammoth engineering project, where emotions and adventure run high and trouble shooters are often necessary. 16 dams, 7 hydroelectric plants, 100 miles of tunnels, and a power output of 3km kilowatts - conserving river water and irrigating millions of miles of land. These stories concern the lives of the sort of people who are making this possible.

Source: Radio Times, 2 October 1969, p.40.

An adventure series following a charter plane working the Mediterranean.

A six-part spy thriller set in Russia.

For detailed, episode-by-episode synopses, see below.

A series of stories about the roaming of a ship called the Cleo, and its various passengers and crew.

An eight-part radio serial about Ned Kelly and his gang.

An eight-part radio serial dramatising the life of John Flynn ('Flynn of the Inland').

A 12-part serial following the fortunes of emancipationist William Redfern, explorer William Charles Wentworth, and Governor Lachlan Macquarie.

A sympathetic exploration of Governor William Bligh's time in charge of the infant colony of New South Wales, some two years after the infamous Bounty mutiny. The series focuses on his troubled relationship with the NSW Corp, and especially Captain John Macarthur.

This series was a British production that included extensive second unit shooting in Central Australia overseen by Michael Noonan. The central characters were the doctor, the pilot, and the nurse. Each episode was self-contained, each covering a separate medical case.

Source: Moran's Guide to Australian TV Series

'In the first episode, American Doctor Greg Graham secures leave of absence from his Research Institute in San Francisco to stand in as Flying Doctor in Australia, for old friend Doctor Jim Harrison whose eyes have been injured in an accident.'

Source: The Classic TV Archive (Sighted 3/10/2011)

'John Ewart stars as Kenney, a bodgie, who lives in the King's Cross area with his ex-criminal father.'

Source:

[Television guide], The Age, 27 August 1959, p.18.

When Smiley lets it be known that he desperately wants to own a rifle, Sergeant Flaxman promises him one if he can prove himself a responsible citizen by helping others and keeping out of trouble. The sergeant keeps score of Smiley's deeds and misdeeds by marking 'nicks' on a tree outside his father's blacksmith shop. Trouble starts brewing, however, when Smiley's father makes a bet that the boy will not be able to earn the eight nicks required to get his gun. In one of his 'misadventures,' Smiley is suspected of stealing a cache of gold and becomes a fugitive from justice after running away in shame. When the real thief is later caught, Smiley is rewarded with a .22 calibre rifle.

Nothing is currently known of the plot of this radio play.

A serial following the adventures of the Australian Royal Flying Doctors Service.

All episodes are credited to Rex Rienits.