person or book cover
Script cover page (Crawford Collection at the AFI Research Collection)
form y separately published work icon Terror on the Loose single work   film/TV   crime  
Issue Details: First known date: 1972... 1972 Terror on the Loose
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

The script held in the Crawford Collection in the AFI Research Collection contains the following character notes (excluding regular characters):

'CARL REID: About thirty. Hard, tough. He's been in trouble as long as he can remember. He knows no other way of life than committing crimes and trying to avoid the consequences. Roz is his soft spot.

'ROZ THOMPSON: Mid twenties. Though young in years, she's been around. Attractive, resourceful, tough. She's completely wrapped up in Carl and would do anything for him. Drives.

'ROCKY WALKER: About forty. One time boxer turned stand-over man. He's almost a match for Carl. Has the same creed of looking after No. 1 first. He is homosexual, but this is not obvious in his appearance or mannerisms.

'TONY GREY: Early twenties. Pleasant, good looking. He is completely out of his depth with Carl and Rocky. Before Gaol he would have led a quiet life working in an office and living at home.

'BENNETT: Thirties. Preferably tall to contrast with Smith. Affable. Easy going.

'SMITH: Thirties. Somewhat overweight. Pessimistic glutton.

'BRIAN YOUNG: Forties. Affable. Considers himself the life and soul of any party. Flying is his life.

'JILL: Twenties. Attractive country girl. Drives.

'JOE: Fifties. Amiable - but tough when confronted by Carl Reid.

'GUARD (JACK): Any age. Few lines.

'GUARD (JIM): Any age. Few lines.

'DOCTOR FOX: Any age. Few lines.

'FARMER: Middle age. No lines.

'EVANS: Forties. Slight, shifty man. Few lines.

'ANDERSON: Forties. Big, bluff, no nonsense man. Few lines.

'TAYLOR: Thirties. Preferably bigger than Evans. Few lines.

'POLICE CONSTABLE: Any age.'

Notes

  • This entry has been compiled from archival research in the Crawford Collection (AFI Research Collection), undertaken by Dr Catriona Mills under the auspices of the 2012 AFI Research Collection (AFIRC) Research Fellowship: see The Writer in Australian Television History.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

      1972 .
      person or book cover
      Script cover page (Crawford Collection at the AFI Research Collection)
      Extent: 70p.
      (Manuscript) assertion
      Note/s:
      • The Crawford Collection holds two copies of the script, both copied on pink paper, and labelled 'Episode 7G' on the front cover.
      • Copy 1 has a notation in blue felt pen in the top right-hand corner of the cover page that reads, 'Tony Paterson.' Above this, in a different blue ink, is the notation 'Film Editor.' Tony Paterson is listed as working as a film editor at Crawford Productions on the company's tribute website (http://www.crawfordproductions.tv).
      • Copy 2 has a notation in the top right-hand corner of the cover page that reads, 'Rae Dunn'. According to the Crawford Productions tribute website (http://www.crawfordproductions.tv), Rae Dunn worked in publicity.
      • Neither copy of the script shows any signs of annotations beyond the cover page.
      • On copy 2, the character notes have been stapled after page 3, instead of immediately after the cover page.
      • The file contains the following ancillary materials, access to which is restricted:
        1. Casting call sheets.

      Holdings

      Held at: AFI Research Collection
      Local Id: SC MAT : 90
Note: Storey notes that Crawford was credited as director, Sheen as film director, and Henry as assistant director.
    • Melbourne, Victoria,: Crawford Productions ; Network Ten , 1973 .
      Extent: 48min. 14 secs (according to the script)p.
      Series: form y separately published work icon Matlock Police Terry Stapleton , Ian Jones , Everett de Roche , Ian Jones , Terry Stapleton , Keith Hetherington , Patrick Edgeworth , Tom Hegarty , Douglas Tainsh , Graeme Koetsveld , Peter A. Kinloch , Sonia Borg , Don Battye , Robert Caswell , George T. Miller , Gwenda Marsh , Cliff Green , Vince Moran , Luis Bayonas , David William Boutland , Phil Freedman , Keith Thompson , Denise Morgan , C.F. Barnes , Robert Bruce , Alan Cram , Vern Perry , Martin Robbins , John Dingwall , George Mallaby , Jim Stapleton , Simon Wincer , Melbourne Australia : Crawford Productions Network Ten , 1971-1976 Z1638563 1971 series - publisher film/TV detective crime

      The Matlock Police series (originally simply titled Matlock) was commissioned from Crawford Productions by ATV-0, in response to the popularity of rival-network police dramas such as Homicide and Division 4. Crawford's was initially reluctant to create another police series, but ATV-0 pressured the company for some time. Eventually, Ian Jones and Terry Stapleton devised the concept of a regional (Victorian) police series to provide viewers with something different. The more relaxed atmosphere of the country-town setting also allowed the writers to delve into the private lives of the main characters, rather than focusing heavily on big-city organised crime. In this respect, the series was situated somewhere between Homicide/Division 4 and Bellbird. The series did, however, cover typical rural policing, including such issues as break and enters, domestic issues, itinerant workers, brawls, petty crime and robberies, road accidents, the occasional homicide, and cattle rustling. On other occasions, the Matlock police also assisted Melbourne police in locating criminals on the run (among other problems). The idea behind the show was to reflect the causes of crime in a small community and show the effects on both the community and the officers themselves.

      The fictional town of Matlock (loosely based on Shepparton in Victoria) is situated inland on the Central Highway, approximately 160 kilometres north of Melbourne. Although the town's population is only seventeen thousand, this increases to around seventy-five thousand when the district is included. The Matlock Police Station is typical of a Victorian country town, with a Uniform Branch and a Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB). The CIB is headed by Detective Sergeant Vic Maddern, who grew up in the Matlock district and is an accomplished bushman. Second in command is Detective Allan Curtis, aged in his mid-twenties. Previously from Melbourne, Curtis has just been sent to his first country posting (against his will) when the series begins. Head of the Uniform Branch is Sergeant Bert Kennedy, an Englishman who migrated to Australia in 1950. A thorough but also easy-going man with a good sense of humour, Kennedy is married to Nell and enjoys the country life in Matlock, so much so that he has knocked back promotion to avoid moving to Melbourne. Several constables are attached to the Uniform Branch, but the most prominent is a motorcycle cop, Constable Gary Hogan, who performs a wide variety of duties. Hogan is about thirty, a friendly, easy-going person who grew up in the country and is always willing to help in whatever work is going.

      Number in series: 90
Last amended 3 Apr 2020 09:46:00
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