''The Coastwatchers'' is a docudrama television film about

coastwatchers The Coastwatchers, also known as the Coast Watch Organisation, Combined Field Intelligence Service or Section C, Allied Intelligence Bureau, were Allied military intelligence operatives stationed on remote Pacific islands during World War II ...

made in 1959 by producer

Roger Mirams Roger Eastgate Holden Mirams (16 April 1918 – 26 February 2004) was a New Zealand-born film producer and director, whose career extended over 60 years. Mirams co-directed ''Broken Barrier'', the only local dramatic feature film made in New Zeala ...

for

Pacific Films Pacific Films is a film production company in New Zealand. It is not to be confused with other companies with the name, including the film company in Hawaii that produced Phantom Below''. History The Pacific Film Unit was established in Wellin ...

. It starred

Ken Goodlet Kenneth Edwin Goodlet (11 October 1921- 15 November 2006) was an Australian actor with extensive credits in film, radio, TV and theatre, known for Ned Kelly (1970), Bluey (1976) and The Long Arm (1970). Select Credits *'' One Morning Near Troo ...

and Kevin Colson and was written by John Sherman and directed by Mirams. It was a

backdoor pilot A television pilot (also known as a pilot or a pilot episode and sometimes marketed as a tele-movie), in United States television, is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell a show to a television network or other distri ...

for a TV series that did not eventuate. However Mirams later used the ideas for the series in ''

Spyforce ''Spyforce'' is an Australian television series that aired from 1971 to 1973 on Nine Network. The series was based upon the adventures of Australian Military Intelligence operatives in the South West Pacific during World War II. It was produced ...

'' (1971–72). The pilot was entitled "Operation Plum Pudding".

Plot

During World War Two, Australian coastwatcher Don Marshall operates on a small island off New Guinea. He is entrusted with relaying information to Allied headquarters. As the Japanese advance, Marshall learns that two civilians have not been evacuated. He knows that both are aware of his coastwatching activities, and that one of them - a German born planter - may betray him. When he learns that the daughter of one of the civilians has remained he must evacuate them on a destroyer. The Japanese arrive on the island with dogs to track down Marshall. Marshall's radio batteries are running flat and to re-charge them he must use a noisy charger.

Cast

as Don Marshall *Philip Stainton *Peter Carver *Kevin Colson *Tekarpul *James Okhi *Patricia Kerr

Production

Roger Mirams had worked for a number of years in New Zealand. He moved to Australia to cover the 1956 Olympic Games and decided to stay. He established an Australian subsidiary of Pacific Films in Melbourne, in partnership with Chris Stewart Jim Davies. Pacific's first Australian series was ''The Coastwatchers''. In May 1960 Mirams reported he was looking for a Catalina boat for the series, which he planned to make in New Guinea. "In a series such as this, accuracy and authenticity are vital," said Mirams. Mirams shot two half hour pilots for the series. Shooting took place on location in New Guinea over a three week period in June 1960. Jimmy Okhi was an American born Japanese. Other non whites were played by various Chinese students from Hong Kong and Malaya. The episodes were screened before members of both Houses of Parliament in Canberra in December 1960 as an example of the sort of work Australian producers could do in television. Mirams showed the episodes to Australian service chiefs in Canberra in March 1961. Mirams sought finance to make 26 episodes but was not successful. It was made with the co operation of Naval Intelligence and the Royal Papuan Constabulary.

Reception

Famous coastwatcher

Reg Evans Reginald Evans (27 March 1928 – 7 February 2009) was a British-born actor active in Australian radio, theatre, television and cinema from the 1960s, after having started his career in his native England. Biography Evans started drama while ...

, who helped save the life of

John F. Kennedy John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), often referred to by his initials JFK and the nickname Jack, was an American politician who served as the 35th president of the United States from 1961 until his assassination ...

, was shown a preview and said the show was "authentic in detail and an excellent portrayl of how things were for coast watching service." ''The Age'' said "photography is striking and the story, leading to an action-filled climax, has a wide appeal." A reviewer from the same paper said it "was a brave try which carried considerable impact, held attention to the last and obviously was lovingly and proudly produced... an example of what Australian commercial enterprise can do... the action was sustained in a cat and mouse story that was good mass appeal stuff." ''Filmink'' said Ken Goodlet was "born to play this type of role" and felt "Mirams could’ve easily expanded the running time to 80 minutes and had a decent B picture on his hands. As it is, The Coastwatchers makes a good, tight 51 minutes."

References

External links

*
''The Coastwatchers''
at National Film and Sound Archive {{DEFAULTSORT:Coastwatchers, The (film) 1959 in Australian television Australian television docudramas 1960s English-language films