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Fauna Productions
Fauna Productions is an Australian TV and film production company established by Lee Robinson, Lionel ('Bob') Austin and John McCallum who met during the making of the film '' They're a Weird Mob'' (1966). Robinson, Austin and McCallum had a view to make productions aimed at the international audience and enjoyed great success with the TV series ''Skippy the Bush Kangaroo'' and ''Barrier Reef''. Fauna Productions is still in business, now being run by two sons of the founders, Philip Austin and Nick McCallum. Select Credits *''Skippy the Bush Kangaroo'' (1966–69) - TV series *'' The Intruders'' (1969) - film *''Nickel Queen'' (1971) - film *''Barrier Reef'' (1971–72) - TV series *'' Boney'' (1972–73) - TV series *'' Shannon's Mob'' (1975–76) - TV series *'' Bailey's Bird'' (1977) - TV series *''Attack Force Z ''Attack Force Z'' (alternatively titled ''The Z Men'') is a 1982 Australian-Taiwanese World War II film directed by Tim Burstall. It is loosely based on act ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
City
A city is a human settlement of a substantial size. The term "city" has different meanings around the world and in some places the settlement can be very small. Even where the term is limited to larger settlements, there is no universally agreed definition of the lower boundary for their size. In a narrower sense, a city can be defined as a permanent and Urban density, densely populated place with administratively defined boundaries whose members work primarily on non-agricultural tasks. Cities generally have extensive systems for housing, transportation, sanitation, Public utilities, utilities, land use, Manufacturing, production of goods, and communication. Their density facilitates interaction between people, government organisations, government organizations, and businesses, sometimes benefiting different parties in the process, such as improving the efficiency of goods and service distribution. Historically, city dwellers have been a small proportion of humanity overall, bu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lee Robinson (director)
Lee Robinson (22 February 1923 – 22 September 2003) was an Australian producer, director and screenwriter who was Australia's most prolific filmmaker of the 1950s and part of the creative team that produced the late 1960s international hit television series ''Skippy the Bush Kangaroo.'' Biography Robinson was born in Petersham, New South Wales and left school aged 12. He worked at the ''Daily Telegraph'' as a copy boy, and wrote short stories prior to the war. He first entered film as a member of the Australian Army History Unit where he filmed Australian troops in Rabaul and East Timor. His commanding officer in the History Unit was the author and screenwriter Jon Cleary. After the war he was going to work for the ABC as a scriptwriter when he received an offer to join the Australian Information Service film unit (later Film Australia) where he directed a film on Albert Namatjira called ''Namatjira the Painter'' (1946). Robinson made several films in the Northern Territory ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
John McCallum (actor)
John Neil McCallum (14 March 19183 February 2010) was an Australian theatre and film actor, highly successful in the United Kingdom. He was also a television producer. Early life McCallum's father, John Neil McCallum Sr., was a theatre owner and entrepreneur, who built and for many years ran the 2,000 seat Cremorne Theatre on the banks of the Brisbane River. After emigrating from Scotland, McCallum Snr. became an accomplished musician and was soon heavily involved in Brisbane's entertainment scene. His mother was an accomplished amateur actress who was born in England. In 1918, McCallum Jr. was born in Brisbane during the opening night of a comedy performance. After his birth, a family friend sent his father a wire: 'Congratulations on two howling successes'. McCallum was exposed to acting at a young age: his early childhood was full of backstage encounters at the Cremorne with the wide variety of performers who frequented his father's theatre. Although McCallum and his two yo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
They're A Weird Mob (film)
''They're a Weird Mob'' is a 1966 Australian comedy film based on the 1957 novel of the same title by John O'Grady under the pen name "Nino Culotta", the name of the main character of the book. It was the penultimate collaboration of the British filmmakers Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. Plot Nino Culotta is an Italian immigrant, newly arrived in Australia. He expected to work for his cousin as a sports writer for an Italian language magazine. However, on arrival in Sydney, Nino discovers that the cousin has abandoned the magazine, leaving a substantial debt to Kay Kelly. Nino declares that he will get a job and pay back the debt. Working as a labourer Nino becomes mates with his co-workers, despite some difficulties with Australian slang and culture of the 1960s. Nino endeavours to understand the aspirational values and social rituals of everyday urban Australians, and assimilate. A romantic attraction builds between Nino and Kay despite her frosty exterior and her con ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Skippy The Bush Kangaroo
''Skippy the Bush Kangaroo'' (known commonly as ''Skippy'') is an Australian television series created by Australian actor John McCallum, Lionel (Bob) Austin, and Lee Robinson, produced from 1967 to 1969 (airing from 5 February 1968 to 4 May 1970) about the adventures of a young boy and his highly intelligent pet kangaroo, and the various visitors to the fictional Waratah National Park, filmed in today's Waratah Park and adjoining portions of Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park near Sydney. Three series comprising 91 30-minute episodes were produced. Additionally, a full-length film titled '' Skippy and the Intruders'' was released to theatres in 1969. Plot and setting Skippy, the show's namesake star, is a female eastern grey kangaroo, that is befriended by 9-year-old Sonny Hammond, who with 16-year-old brother Mark are the children of widower Matt Hammond, the head ranger of Waratah National Park. The stories revolved around events in the park, including its animals, the danger ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Barrier Reef (TV Series)
''Barrier Reef'' was an Australian television series that was first screened domestically in 1971.Albert Moran, ''Moran's Guide to Australian TV Series'', AFTRS 1993 p 74 However, 19 episodes had already premiered on British television on BBC1 between 5 October 1970 and 15 February 1971 and four more aired between 5 April and 3 May 1971 in advance of Australian broadcast. Premise ''Barrier Reef'' was about a group of marine biologists on board a sailing ship called the ''New Endeavour'', researching around the Great Barrier Reef, off Queensland, Australia. ''"It was the first series in the world to feature extensive colour underwater filming on location"''. Cast Main * Joe James as Ted King * Harold Hopkins as Steve Gabo * Ken James as Kip Young * George Assang as Jack Meurauki * Rowena Wallace as Tracey Deane * Helen Morse as Joan Norris * Judy Morris as Gail Smith * John McCallum as Gordon Lewis * Tristan Rogers Guests * Ben Gabriel as Sergeant Dwyer * Judy McBurney as An ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Intruders (1969 Film)
''The Intruders'' (also known as ''Skippy and the Intruders'') is a 1969 Australian film directed by Lee Robinson. It is a spin-off of the popular ''Skippy the Bush Kangaroo'' TV series. Synopsis A gang of criminals led by Meredith is looking for sunken treasure off Mallacoota, pretending to be diving for abalone. Sonny, son of Matt Hammond, the Chief Ranger of Waratah National Park, investigates with their family friend, Clancy. Sonny and Clancy are kidnapped. Skippy comes to the rescue. After a speedboat chase and a fight in the sand dunes, Meredith is captured. Cast *Ed Devereaux as Matt Hammond *Tony Bonner as Jerry King * Ken James as Mark Hammond *Garry Pankhurst as Sonny Hammond *Liza Goddard as Clancy * Ron Graham as Yordan *Jeanie Drynan as Margaret 'Meg' Curtis * Kevin Miles as Meredith *Jack Hume as Curtis * Jeff Ashby as Graigoe * George Assang as Sigigi *John Unicomb as Bernie *Mike Dawkins as Scott *Robert Bruning *Harry Lawrence * Reg Gorman as Boatman (uncredit ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nickel Queen
''Nickel Queen'' is a 1971 Australian comedy film starring Googie Withers and directed by her husband John McCallum. The story was loosely based on the Poseidon bubble, a nickel boom in Western Australia in the late 1960s, and tells of an outback pub owner who stakes a claim and finds herself an overnight millionaire. Plot Meg Blake is the widowed owner of a pub in a small desert town in Western Australia. Corrupt American mining executive Ed Benson starts the rumour of a nickel discovery to sell shares to gullible investors. Meg heads the rumour and stakes the first claim. Benson promotes her as the "Nickel Queen". Hippie Claude Fitzherbert follows Meg into Perth high society and becomes her lover. Benson is exposed as a fraud, Fitzherbert deserts Meg and runs off with Benson's wife and Meg is reunited with an old suitor from her hometown. Cast *Googie Withers as Meg Blake *John Laws as Claude Fitzherbert *Alfred Sandor as Ed Benson *Ed Devereaux as Harry Phillips *Peter Gwynne ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Boney (TV Series)
''Boney'' is an Australian television series produced by Fauna Productions during 1971 and 1972, featuring New Zealand actor James Laurenson in the title role of Bony (character), Detective Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte. Two series, each of thirteen episodes, were filmed. They were adapted from the twenty-nine novels by Arthur Upfield featuring his title character, published from 1929 to 1964. The series is centred on Bonaparte, a highly educated, multiracial police inspector. His father was a white man and his mother was an Indigenous Australians, Australian Aboriginal. The casting of Laurenson, a white man who performed in dark make-up, was strongly criticised by the Australian Aboriginal community. They believed the part should have gone to an Aboriginal actor. Cast Main/regular * James Laurenson as Bony (character), Detective Inspector Bonaparte (Boney) (seasons 1 and 2) * Kate Fitzpatrick as Constable Alice McGorr (season 2 only) Guests (partial) Production Australian ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Shannon's Mob
''Shannon's Mob'' is an Australian TV series about an Australian intelligence agency. It was the last TV series from Fauna Productions, who were responsible for ''Skippy the Bush Kangaroo'' among others. Synopsis FIASCO (The Federal Intelligence and Security Organisation) is a top-secret department whose existence was known only to a few and was answerable only to the Prime Minister. Under the control of one time Scotland Yard cop Dave Shannon, the main characters were agents Andrew Blake ( Robin Ramsay) and Michael Jamieson (Frank Gallacher) who often worked undercover. Cast Main * Robin Ramsay as Andrew Blake * Frank Gallacher as Michael Jamieson Guests * Alastair Duncan * Alwyn Kurts as Alan Merritt (1 episode) * Angela Punch McGregor as Prostitute (1 episode) * Ben Gabriel as Aklov (1 episode) * Cecily Polson as Edith Thomas (1 episode) * Chantal Contouri as Tara (1 episode) * Chris Haywood as Richard Pollard (1 episode) * Diana Perryman as Mrs Pellini * Elke Neidhardt * ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Bailey's Bird
''Bailey's Bird'' is an Australian TV series which was filmed in Asia. It was about a pilot and his son operating a charter operation in South East Asia. at Albert Moran, ''Moran's Guide to Australian TV Series'', AFTRS 1993 p 66 Cast * Hu Pryce * Mark Lee as Nick * Hussein Abu Hassan as Inspector Hamid * Noor AzizahEpisodes #Hijack # ...[...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Attack Force Z
''Attack Force Z'' (alternatively titled ''The Z Men'') is a 1982 Australian-Taiwanese World War II film directed by Tim Burstall. It is loosely based on actual events and was filmed in Taiwan in 1979. It was screened at the Cannes Film Festival on 18 May 1981. The film is noted for starring Mel Gibson and Sam Neill, who were relatively unknown in the US at the time but who went on to become international stars. The plot concerns Captain P.G. Kelly (Gibson), who leads a team from the elite Z Special Unit against the Empire of Japan during the Second World War. The film fictionalises the exploits of the Z Special Unit, which was also known as Z Force. It was a joint Australian, British and New Zealand commando unit. Its main brief was to conduct reconnaissance and sabotage missions throughout Japanese-occupied Southeast Asia. Plot In the Straits of Sembaleng, five men are dispatched by submarine in Klepper canoes to rescue survivors of a shot-down plane on a nearby island which ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
